Mitsubishi Motors was at the recent 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show to unveil to the public for the first time its upcoming compact vehicle, the 2017 Mitsubishi Mirage.
Skipping a year, the 2017 Mitsubishi Mirage would serve as the successor of the 2015 model, continuing the Mirage line has been Mitsubishi's line of compact, budget vehicles.
In a statement, Mitsubishi is proud to showcase the features in the 2017 Mirage that is new to the Mirage lineup such as a new exterior design, new seat fabrics, and newly redesigned components such as the steering wheel and shift panel. In addition, the vehicle is equipped with a 300-watt Rockford Fosgate audio system.
The most notable feature in the 2017 Mitsubishi Mirage however, is its compatibility for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. This makes the said model the first Mitsubishi vehicle in the United States to offer compatibility to these two phone-car integration technologies. Mitsubishi first introduced such compatibility for some of its vehicles in Europe.
The engine specifications of the 2017 Mirage do not differ with the current 2015 model with its 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine. But the 2017 Mirage offers a new camshaft design that bumps power output to 78 horsepowers and 74 pound-feet of torque. Manual and continuously variable transmissions remain available, with a hill-start assist feature available for the latter transmission types.
The Mitsubishi Mirage has traditionally been as a vehicle that is, as CNET puts it, "an epitome of bang for your buck." While the 2017 Mitsubishi Mirage serves to continue that tradition, its features serve as an indication that the Japanese automaker is ready to step up its game in the compact vehicles scene.
"The Mirage finally found a mirror. Its styling update marks a big improvement over the old Mirage," cars.com noted in its initial impressions of the vehicle.
Pricing for the 2017 Mirage has yet to be announced but it is expected to be available in the market by spring of 2016. The vehicle will remain to have its iconic compact feature but with additional features for a one of a kind driving experience.
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