Mitsubishi 380
| Mitsubishi 380 | |
|---|---|
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| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Mitsubishi Motors Australia |
| Production | 2005–2008 |
| Assembly | Australia: Clovelly Park, South Australia |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Mid-size family car |
| Body style | 4-door sedan |
| Layout | FF layout |
| Platform | Mitsubishi PS platform |
| Related | Mitsubishi Galant |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 3.8 L 6G75 V6 |
| Transmission | 5-speed manual 5-speed automatic |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,750 mm (108 in) |
| Length | 4,837 mm (190.4 in)–4,855 mm (191.1 in) |
| Width | 1,840 mm (72 in) |
| Height | 1,480 mm (58 in) |
| Curb weight | 1,625 kg (3,583 lb)–1,670 kg (3,680 lb) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Mitsubishi Magna/Verada |
The Mitsubishi 380 is a mid-size family car that was offered between 2005 and 2008 by Mitsubishi Australia. Available only as a sedan, it marked the end of Australian production by the Japanese manufacturer.
The 380, given the model designation DB, was the successor to the Mitsubishi Magna/Verada line of vehicles first introduced in 1985 (and 1991 for the Verada) but was only available as a sedan. The company spent over A$600 million developing and producing the car, which is heavily based on the ninth generation Mitsubishi Galant designed in the United States. The 380 continued the Mitsubishi Australia tradition of producing front-wheel drive sedans for the Australian market, and along with the Toyota Aurion, competed against the rear-wheel drive Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore vehicles.
Even before the car's launch in October 2005, the 380 was stigmatised as the "make or break" model for Mitsubishi Australia. After a slow sales start, the line-up was updated with the Series II in April 2006, with the entry level model receiving price discount of nearly 20 percent. To generate further interest in the car, a Series III revision came on 29 July 2007 with mainly cosmetic changes. These updates failed to lift sales, and with production still unprofitable, Mitsubishi ceased manufacture of the 380 in March 2008.
The development of the 380 began in 2002, when company executives in Japan gave approval to Mitsubishi Australia to commence work on two closely related vehicles. The first of which was a right-hand drive variant of the ninth generation Mitsubishi Galant, designated the codename PS41. This was to be the replacement for the Magna and Verada. The second, which was planned to be launched in 2007 was a long-wheelbase version known internally as PS41L to be produced in both left- and right-hand drive configurations. However, as Mitsubishi's financial woes worsened, and DaimlerChrysler pulled-out of the DaimlerChrysler-Mitsubishi alliance, PS41L was abandoned in 2004 and the likelihood of PS41 making it into production looked doubtful. Company research conducted in mid-2004 revealed that 84 percent of Australians believed that Mitsubishi would cease production in Australia. To reinstate consumer confidence in the brand, before the launch of the 380, a series of television commercials began airing in December 2004. Centralised around Mitsubishi Australia's then CEO Tom Phillips, the advertisements promoted the introduction of an industry-first five-year/130,000-kilometre (81,000 mi) warranty. Mitsubishi reworked a slogan from former Chrysler chairman Lee Iacocca, concluding their commercials with the tagline, "if you can find a better-built, better-backed car anywhere, then buy it".
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