This is what I have been told regarding changes for Series 2. From what I know there will be no curtin airbags, no reach adjustable steering and no engine improvements.

380 ES; changes from series 1 are luxury style grille with chrome fins, 380 ES badging.

380 SX; new model for series 2 to sit under VRX, sports tuned suspension with strut tower, 17" alloys, electronic traction control, front fog lamps, sports syle mesh grille, sports bumpers, chrome exhaust tip, sports seats, Multi-function centre display, sports instrument metre, 6 disc in dash CD with 8 speakers, leather wrapped control surfaces and chrome gearshift surround. Has std head and tail lamps and no boot lid spolier.

380 LX; changes from series 1 are delete sports tune suspension, delete 17" six spoke alloys, delete electric sunroof. Alloys now 16" 6 spoke and 380 LS model deleted.

380 VRX; changes from series 1 are leather trim, electrochromatci rear vision mirror, illumintated vanity mirrors, flocked sunvisors with extentions, 17" 8 spoke alloys.

380 GT; changes from series 1 are sunroof as an option.

All models get Series 2 badging.


That is about all I know......not totally happy with the changes myself, although the SX is a good model to add.

I like the look of the SX model, that sounds like a potential winner provided the pricing is right, and it looks like they have up'd the equipement of the VRX which is a good thing IF they don't raise the price.

Changes for the ES model are positive, and its good that its now called ES and not just 380, that was a dumb idea to just leave it called 380 in the first place. However i think its important that the ES price starts at 29,990 for the manual just like the 380 limited edition. I think thats a much more competitive price.

I don't understand why they have gone away from the two stepped luxury models and deleted the LS and just have a (downgraded) LX model.. they have gone to a two stepped sports range so it would make sense to keep the two stepped luxury range i would have thought. I hope atleast the LX comes down in price to compensate for the loss of equipment levels! And whats been taken away better be on the options list (and when its optioned up to series I levels it has to be not 1 cent more expensive then the series 1). I think its fairly important for them to re-think about the interior trim combinations for this model too, particularly the wood finnish, far too tacky!!! Look at honda accord euro for how to do a luxury sedan interior!

The GT model i liked to begin with so i have no drama's with that one

I think the most important thing tho is the price drops by about $2000 on each and every model to make the car more competitive. They priced the original against commodore and falcon was an overwhelmingly dumb thing to do because they will NEVER sell as many units as commodore and falcon and they should accept that and position themselfs as the slightly cheaper (but hopefully better) alternative to the commodore and falcon.

Just my 2.2 cents...

EDIT: almost forgot, the VRX and GT really really NEED to have 18" mags not 17's...

No engine improvements = lose. We'll wait n see what happens, it'll still be a great car.

i dont see how its necessarily a lose cos theres no power improvements. The engine is already the major highlight of the car! Its just as fast if not faster then all of its rivals, it uses less fuel then all its rivals, and its a better engine to use then all of its rivals thanks to its free revving nature, what more do you want? specific kw ratings isn't the most important factor

specific kw ratings isn't the most important factor

it can be in the bragging rights / marketing to the uninformed public type sectors.

Bugger. When I look at the new pricing, I should have waited and purchased a 380 instead of a Magna. At the new price,
ES - $27,990
ES (a) - $29,990
SX - $32,990
SX (a) - $34,990
VRX - $36,990
VRX (a) - $38,990
LX (a) - $42,990
GT (a) - $44,990

They will be hard to go past, especially compared to the Falcodore.

Good luck to MMAL. Here's hoping they do well out of this.

So the Magna Sports comes back with a vengence.

The pricing restructure looks good though - is that official, what was your source?

i reckon its drive away pricing that really helps sell a car.

because people dont think that they are being ripped off by being dragged in at 27,990 and then being told its another few hundred for this, a bit more for this, oh, lets add a thousand over here... you dont walk out with very much change out of 30k.

My opinion anyway....

Bugger. When I look at the new pricing, I should have waited and purchased a 380 instead of a Magna. At the new price,
ES - $27,990
ES (a) - $29,990
SX - $32,990
SX (a) - $34,990
VRX - $36,990
VRX (a) - $38,990
LX (a) - $42,990
GT (a) - $44,990

They will be hard to go past, especially compared to the Falcodore.

Good luck to MMAL. Here's hoping they do well out of this.

hey where did you get that info from?? ****ing brilliant new pricing if you ask me!!! except the LX.. for a car that has a downgrade in wheel size, suspension and lost its sunroof the price still seems a touch high.. but the ES, SX and VRX pricing is freekin unbelievable!!! I was thining about buying a 380 not that long ago but decided i couldn't afford one, maybe i now need to reconsider!!!! lucky i haven't bought anything in the mean time...

380--Gawd they got to start moving em now? great value, Still petrol prices will still have a great effect on all new car sales, now this puts price pressure on Ford & Holden.....also help lower prices of all used Magna's & others..

Taken from here: http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mellor.nsf/story2/16C0333ACF4A5066CA25715D001171D2

Also price drop for Lancer and Outlander.

380--Gawd they got to start moving em now? great value, Still petrol prices will still have a great effect on all new car sales, now this puts price pressure on Ford & Holden.....also help lower prices of all used Magna's & others..

yep it will put price pressure on ford and holden particularly if it starts selling! Holden in particular has the problem that the VE is going to cost slightly more then the current VZ and the tip is holden is absolutely stretched to the max to get the price even down that far! let alone 27990... faaaaaaaaaaark

Skimmed thru the linked article and couldn't see it....... any word on when series 2 is being released???

Didn't series 1 only debut in October?? it seems a little soon if you ask me. Would have thought they'd at least give the current 'generation' (if you can call it that) at least 12-18 months in the market place - it's not like the 380 has been as bigger flop as the AU falcon lol .

why the **** ahve the removed the sunroof from the LX and made it an option on the GT? thats just absolutely stupid if you ask me.. for me, i expect top of the range models to come with this sort of stuff as standard.. (mind you, you look at the ford/holden equivilents, sunroof is optional for those).. if sunroof is removed; there should be an instant $2000 price drop to compensate, simple.

That way, if people want to add it, it wont be costing them anymore than the previous model..

They should also (hopefully they have) look changing the dash plastics/door trims.. they just look too cheap and tacky.. (they should have the pull grips on the rear doors, not just the front. that alone will make the rear trims look less "cheap")

curtain air bags should be standard (look at mazda 6 etc.. a mega sales success - has ****loads of air bags).. and other 'nifty' features such as HID headlights for GT model, auto illuminating lights across the range, sat nav for GT optional on others, power folding door mirrors etc etc should be added to "spice them up" a bit..

if i had the money, and the GT had features like HID/auto headlights, sat nav, power folding door mirrors etc, id buy one..

I read somewhere that the majority of 380s built are VRX up, obviously, the SX is an attempt to push the sports style down to the lower brackets in an attempt to create a price volume seller.

since the 380 is opposing the falcon and commodore range, i.e large car market

they should, look at these cars, look on feature list, look on the option list, and adjust the car to accomodate

also i believe they should accomodate the vrx's performence to match the xr6t and ss commo,

when ever they bring out the ralliart version, the performence should be appoaching the range of fpv and hsv,

i don't think they researched the market good enough in their design

since the 380 is opposing the falcon and commodore range, i.e large car market

they should, look at these cars, look on feature list, look on the option list, and adjust the car to accomodate

also i believe they should accomodate the vrx's performence to match the xr6t and ss commo,

when ever they bring out the ralliart version, the performence should be appoaching the range of fpv and hsv,

i don't think they researched the market good enough in their design


if you look at the feature and option list as well as pricing you would see that with the new pricing they actually are far better value then commodore and falcon. As for the VRX, it is priced at the N/A XR6 and SV6, not the XR6T and SS, therefore theres no need to match those power outputs, only the power outputs of the n/a XR6 and SV6

yea i can see your point

Making the sunroof optional is good coz not everyone likes'em, but deleting the 17" rims from the LX is incredibly dumb.

The 380 looked underwheeled coz its wheel arches are a smidge too big, I don't understand why they've downsized.

I also can't see any evidence to suggest the implementation of an increase in model differentiation - I hope we see some of this...

But you can't go past that pricing :shock:... Me? I think I'm gonna get me a 380 SX!:D

Me? I think I'm gonna get me a 380 SX!:D
Here! Here!:D

Series 2? - no Mivec engine, no 190kW version, no AWD version, no significant styling changes. Somebody did previously say on these forums that the rumours about the above were exactly that - rumours.

FF

Series 2? - no Mivec engine, no 190kW version, no AWD version, no significant styling changes. Somebody did previously say on these forums that the rumours about the above were exactly that - rumours.

FF

meow!

Series 2? - no Mivec engine, no 190kW version, no AWD version, no significant styling changes. Somebody did previously say on these forums that the rumours about the above were exactly that - rumours.

FF
Don't feed the trolls kids!

After reading this thread it looks like series 2 will be a winner. Provided it's actually promoted properly, I can see this 380 really doing well.

lol
After reading this thread it looks like series 2 will be a winner. Provided it's actually promoted properly, I can see this 380 really doing well.

FK... I am sorry for not replying to this thread... our cable has been dodgy (thanks Telstra!).

Yeah, I reckon the 380 series 2 will be more successful. If this SX model is priced at around $33 - $35k it will attract ALOT of buyers. It has more then the base and costs less then the VR-X with VRX handling...nice (doesn't have VRX looks though...:()! But, because their is no engine improvements I don't think it will impact the 380 sales severely as 175kw of power is enough for most people and styling and the position of the brand was scaring people off. If they could still give the sports models atleast 10 more kw it would help but still look at the numbers Holden are selling of the commodore and everyone knows it's a POS.... but, styling and cheap manufacturing costs (aka. Elizabeth lol ) are factors in their favour. And the perception ppl have to Holden is a lot better then what people think of Mitsubishi. I mean no one would consider Holden closing, but, on the other hand nearly 50% of people I speak to think Mitsubishi Australia will.

If the 380 update does finally give the 380 some ballz with decent marketing it should, with no problem meet it's targets and hopefully secure the jobs of thousands of Australian's, bring the Mitsubishi Australia factory into profit and hopefully secure future localised models. I just hope they get off their asses and release ASAP!

This is great news for Mitsubishi, at that price these cars should easily sell in the 1500 - 2000 per month braket.

I can see dealers having trouble getting enough SX models, lets just hope the new advertising is as good as the price!

Its also good to see that Series I ES owners will be compensated!

Ok, It seems now that Mitsubishi has swapped the postition of the LX and the VRX around.

The new SII LX is the same as a SI LS (plus leather trim). When you say delete sunroof I hope it means it's not standard, but, still available as an option.

I think the 380ES will give other brands a run for their money now. As dealers won't have to discount their cars fleets will buy it as they won't lose a sh*tload when it comes to resale.

The 380SX will be a key volume seller as well, I think people will be forced to 'backorder' on this model due to it's pricing!

If Mitsubishi releases this as of May 1st I wouldn't be suprised if their sales are close to or above their target by June-July.

Maybe 25,000 sales by the end of the year are possible and I reckon they'll end up hiring some more staff back!! I just hope their build quality is still at a perfectionist level.

Received this from a friend.
*Edit* Oops, info Already posted.
Good Luck Mistu. I hope they do well from Series 2 Release.

Released and effective April 27, 2006, Mitsubishi has announced the 380
'Series 2' model range.
The base trim level has been replaced by the ES, the LS has been
discontinued and a new SX trim level has been introduced.

Changes include:
ES:
- revised grille
- 'ES' badging
- 'Series 2' badging

SX is based on the ES, but also includes:
- sports tuned suspension with strut tower brace
- traction control
- 17" alloy wheels
- front fog lamps
- black mesh grille
- sports bumpers
- sports exhaust tip
- sports seats
- revised interior instrumentation
- in dash six CD autochanger with eight speakers
- leather steering wheel and gear knob
- chrome gearshift surround
- revised interior trim

Changes to VRX versions includes:
- leather seat trim (previously cloth)
- electrochromatic rear view mirror
- illuminated vanity mirrors
- revised alloy wheel design
- 'Series 2' badging

Changes to LX versions includes:
- deletion of sports tuned suspension and strut brace
- 16" alloy wheels (previously 17")
- sunroof is now optional (previously standard)
- 'Series 2' badging

Changes to GT versions includes:
- sunroof is now optional (previously standard)
- 'Series 2' badging

hopefully the new base grill will be 500% better than the current

That SX model looks like a real winner, dang, and I wanted so bad to keep my TE, me wants to ring the bank, bad mitsu bad.lol

Did anyone read this?
He also alluded to the carmaker investigating a four-cylinder engine option for the 380 and said that talks with Malaysian carmaker Proton about export opportunities were progressing.

If they can do this it will maintain the pernament survival of the 380. It will seperate it into 2 seperate markets for two different buyers. With this they could also raise their sales targets and considering the 380ES manual is now only $27,990 the 240ES could be something like $25,990. I hope they do this and possibly offer auto-gas on the 380 and possibly on the 240 (we'll you don't need gas that much on a 4 cylinder).

Article was taken from here (http://www.theadvertiser.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,18955036%255E2682,00.html)

SX is a great idea! the VRX is easily the most popular model around (i think i see more of them than the ES) and the SX will make it easier for those who cant afford to get into a sporty family sedan

omg.. that SX model will fly. Everyone will want one so they will be back dated in demand for it. Perhaps not to the extent of the Golf GTI, but you know what I mean. The SX is very very well priced (along with the rest of the 380 range now) and has good features and hopefully good styling (and spy shots--jk.. it's on the MMAL website?).

Because MMAL will probably start making profit sometime this year on the 380 as the number of sales will surge I think they should spend that money wisely on researching for further additions to the 380 range in terms of features and models. They could introduce the Ralliart which could be feature packed and at the same time make this additonal features available throughout the 380 range (and introduce a Series III :) ).

WHAT PISSES ME OFF ABOUT THIS?
Well if MMAL originally priced the 380 like this then they probably would have sold double the amount of cars they have at the moment, which would have probably made them not needing to sack those 250 workers earlier this year and ruined resale for the original 380 buyers. It would have also broguht traffic into their show rooms and possibly given it more chance of getting 'Wheels Car of the Year'; which would have been likely as alot of articles have commented on the original RRP and poor resale. Now that this pricing is pernment the resale value of the 380's should be on par with are marques (and possibly better then some) and original pricing (if prices were what they are now) would have been a positive thing instead of a negative thing.

omg.. that SX model will fly. Everyone will want one so they will be back dated in demand for it. Perhaps not to the extent of the Golf GTI, but you know what I mean. The SX is very very well priced (along with the rest of the 380 range now) and has good features and hopefully good styling (and spy shots--jk.. it's on the MMAL website?).

Because MMAL will probably start making profit sometime this year on the 380 as the number of sales will surge I think they should spend that money wisely on researching for further additions to the 380 range in terms of features and models. They could introduce the Ralliart which could be feature packed and at the same time make this additonal features available throughout the 380 range (and introduce a Series III :) ).

WHAT PISSES ME OFF ABOUT THIS?
Well if MMAL originally priced the 380 like this then they probably would have sold double the amount of cars they have at the moment, which would have probably made them not needing to sack those 250 workers earlier this year and ruined resale for the original 380 buyers. It would have also broguht traffic into their show rooms and possibly given it more chance of getting 'Wheels Car of the Year'; which would have been likely as alot of articles have commented on the original RRP and poor resale. Now that this pricing is pernment the resale value of the 380's should be on par with are marques (and possibly better then some) and original pricing (if prices were what they are now) would have been a positive thing instead of a negative thing.
Well let us just hope that this repricing structure spells the end of MMAL's patented discounting. Otherwise I'll pick me up a 1 year old series 2 380 for $16k...

Did anyone read this?
He also alluded to the carmaker investigating a four-cylinder engine option for the 380 and said that talks with Malaysian carmaker Proton about export opportunities were progressing.

I have said on a number of occasions that MMAL needs a 4 cylinder version of the 380. Dropping the 4 cylinder engine in 1999 was a big mistake.

FF

I have said on a number of occasions that MMAL needs a 4 cylinder version of the 380. Dropping the 4 cylinder engine in 1999 was a big mistake.

FF

Absolutely. Whilst I don't think it was the primary reason, hasn't it been interesting (and depressing) to see sales of Tonsley Park-built vehicles slowly decline since then? At the time, averaging around 3000 units a month (!), it was believed that the market was moving toward BIGGER, MORE POWERFUL cars (my how things change lol).

Given MMAL's Lonsdale plant continued to build the 2.0L engine for Lancer until I think 2001, they had capacity to build, alongside the 3.8L V6, a MIVEC 2.4L fourpot. Also taking into acount that the vast majority of current Camry sales a 4cyl, what a masterstroke (ie profit windfall) it would have been in these times.

But alas, it's all been closed down to save some dosh...:doubt:

Absolutely. Whilst I don't think it was the primary reason, hasn't it been interesting (and depressing) to see sales of Tonsley Park-built vehicles slowly decline since then? At the time, averaging around 3000 units a month (!), it was believed that the market was moving toward BIGGER, MORE POWERFUL cars (my how things change ).

Given MMAL's Lonsdale plant continued to build the 2.0L engine for Lancer until I think 2001, they had capacity to build, alongside the 3.8L V6, a MIVEC 2.4L fourpot. Also taking into acount that the vast majority of current Camry sales a 4cyl, what a masterstroke (ie profit windfall) it would have been in these times.

But alas, it's all been closed down to save some dosh...

Australia is still a country that is hungry for powerful cars, but, due to petrol prices people are switching to 4cyl alternatives. If Mitsubishi could import the new all-alloy 4 cylinder engine from the new Outlander and offer that engine to Australian buyers it could provide a very good channel of buyers. This engine produces 127kw in the Outlander so if MMAL could 're-engineer' the engine to produce 130kw in the 240, 240SX, and option of a big 142kw (4 cyl) in the 240LX and make the 142kw engine standard on the 240VRX and 240GT they'd have a winner. The funny thing is though is that because the 240 would have to be cheaper then the 380 it would probably start at like $25 - $26k which is a bargain for any large car these days. It would probably outsell the 380 if petrol prices continue to rise (and possibly at current levels) and atleast when petrol prices do get so high that not everyone can afford to run a V6 vehicle MMAL will have the 240 model already in production which basically ensure survival of the company in Australia. Considering the Camry is really the only alternative vehicle which is large with a 4-cyl engine I think alot of buyers would move from the current Camry to the 240 if it was available, especially considering the luxury/sporty variants (Azura, Sportivo) are only available in V6. So if MMAL made all model variants available with both engine selections they'd easily surpass their sales targets.

Given MMAL's Lonsdale plant continued to build the 2.0L engine for Lancer until I think 2001......

The last four cylinder engine manufactured at the Lonsdale plant was the 2.6 liter Astron engine which ceased production either the end of 1996 or the start of 1997.

FF

Damn, the SX is a tempting prospect. I really like the idea of the SX, a manual on molten would be a nice piece of kit, bit of a sleeper really.

Damn, the SX is a tempting prospect. I really like the idea of the SX, a manual on molten would be a nice piece of kit, bit of a sleeper really.

Quicker and much cheaper than a VZ Commodore Executive which has a smaller, less powerful engine and one less cog in the auto tranny.

FF

NB - has anybody heard that Holden will give the VE model a new name? They wanted to keep with the same theme. Therefore the name of the VE model will be 'Rear Admiral'. :D

Im a little worried that the 2.4 mivec that powers my Lancer (and very well) will be marginal in the 380. Remember the 380 weighs in @ 1650 kg and a Lancer @ 1250. At the moment the 2.4 puts out 115 kw and 220 nm. I dont know how much further you could push these power levels up without effecting fuel consumption and still keeping it running on 91 octane.

Im a little worried that the 2.4 mivec that powers my Lancer (and very well) will be marginal in the 380. Remember the 380 weighs in @ 1650 kg and a Lancer @ 1250. At the moment the 2.4 puts out 115 kw and 220 nm. I dont know how much further you could push these power levels up without effecting fuel consumption and still keeping it running on 91 octane.

Its funny that you all talk about MMAL droping the 4cylinder in 1999, well just before i left MMAL in 2002 we had a R&D test mule TJ fitted with a 2.2L holden family2 engine from the then holden vectra, i wonder what ever became of that.

hopefully it was banished to a firey grave! evil spawn of satan

hopefully it was banished to a firey grave! evil spawn of satan

Yeah, i didnt even know much about it (i had heard they were going to trail one) until i jumped in it to move it one day and i started it up and thought **** this sounds terrible, so i open the bonnet and there it was a 2.2family 2 engine in all its glory. :shock:

Im a little worried that the 2.4 mivec that powers my Lancer (and very well) will be marginal in the 380. Remember the 380 weighs in @ 1650 kg and a Lancer @ 1250. At the moment the 2.4 puts out 115 kw and 220 nm. I dont know how much further you could push these power levels up without effecting fuel consumption and still keeping it running on 91 octane.

The 2.4 Mivec engine I'm referring to doesn't yet appear in the Lancer. It is a new all-alluminium engine that powers the new Outlander (hopefully released late Q3 or early Q4 here) and probably the next-gen Lancer (which looks very very hot going by the concepts I might add :D ). This engine is lighter then the 2.4MIVEC in the current Lancer and outputs 127kw of power @ 6000rpm and 230Nm at 4100rpm. It is not the most powerful engine, but, considering that the power on the Outlander is (upon the drivers selection) transferred through all four wheels they could up the power a bit on this engine for the 380.

The claimed fuel efficiency for the Outlander has "a claimed combined fuel consumption of 8.6L/100km. This is obviously achieved with extremely small inputs on the throttle, and a tailwind, as the Outlander will use gas less frugally when driven with more vigour". The power is also fed through a 6 speed INVECS III CVT transmission. I don't know how this would go in a 380, but CVT transmissions are good on fuel efficiency and would go well with the new 2.4MIVEC engine in a 240 as it is a good combo in the Outlander.

Finally, If the Outlander's combined figure is 8.6l/100km and considering it also weighs 1,580kg it would be similar in weight to what the 380 would be with the 2.4 ALL-ALLOY engine. And if they were to up the power to say 130kw on the 240ES and 240LX (LX buyers have the option of a 142kw 2.4MIVEC) and give 142kw in the 240VRX and 240GT they would have a car that isn't really underpowered. I just chose 142kw as it gives the car more power then the Accord Euro, which has the same engine size, and the fact that the sporty models are performance orientated and should have a more powerful engine.


And the engine I'm referring to comes from this Outlander:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/inl/common/imageViewer/0,1445,231139,00.jpg

The engine itself looks like this:
http://www.mitsubishi-motors.co.jp/outlander/performance/images/per01_im_02.jpg