Hey Guys,

So I see MMAL are having an end of financial year sale!

So does anyone know if this means that there will be an updated 380 following shortly after the financial year? Maybe a SIII or DC?

Or do they simply just drop the price to try and improve their figures for the fin year then jack em back up to normal?

Cheers guys,

Yeah...but they don't seem to really be giving discounts on the 380s.
On the Platinum at least, the 'runout' price is the same as the normal price :)

The 'series 3' launches in July but it's mechanically identical. The difference is it'll be offered in a few more colours, the interior trim will be slightly different, alloy wheels will be different.

One of the reports I read - and only one! - said it'll also have a slightly updated nose. But I've only read that in ons spot so take it with a grain of salt.

Personally I don't care about any of the changes so I finally bought my 380 last week ! :D

WHY WHY WHY

do they have to keep updating it all the damn time
whos going to buy a new car at new car price when they can get the old car which is the same at an 2nd hand / discount price

they are just shooting themselves in the foot

WHY WHY WHY

do they have to keep updating it all the damn time
whos going to buy a new car at new car price when they can get the old car which is the same at an 2nd hand / discount price

they are just shooting themselves in the foot

Exactly the reason I now have a XR6.

WHY WHY WHY

do they have to keep updating it all the damn time
whos going to buy a new car at new car price when they can get the old car which is the same at an 2nd hand / discount price

they are just shooting themselves in the foot

probably because MMAL is in survival mode & have to attract what interest there is out there to their product by producing/adding something new to it every month or 2. Does have that negative side effect that relatively recent cars lose value as they become dated. This is a secondary concern as they have to move a product out the factory, & yes, at all cost.

Exactly the reason I now have a XR6.


And Ford and Holden don't do the same?????

Get use to it, cars have become the same as the electronics industry with updates the only way to keep consumer interest, even if they are only minor, and sales ticking over!!
Mitsubishi probably release less updates then both these 2 do with Commodore and Falcon!!

Have it on good advice that the series 3 380 will have the mivec engine = more power and improved economy, esc, and curtain airbags. Visually expect updated interior with much better finish, better trims etc etc, and different front/grill plus rear end tail lights etc.

380 isn't dead yet.....stay tuned!!!!!

(Update will be more substanial then what people are saying, with Mitsubishi keeping it low profile in so as not to further hurt current sales.)

They are also deciding at present whether to have 2 power levels, or go the same as Holden and Ford with 3 power levels. This would be base mivec, sightly updated affordable sports (different exhaust), and dearer supercharged version. Or just mivec and supercharged.........time will tell. Either way base car will be 190kw+.

Have it on good advice that the series 3 380 will have the mivec engine, esc, and curtain airbags.

Visually expect updated interior with much better finish, better trims etc etc, and different front/grill plus rear end.

380 isn't dead yet.....stay tuned!!!!!

Update will be more substanial then what people are saying, with Mitsubishi keeping it low profile in so as not to further hurt current sales.

Interesting.
Don't really care about how the different front and rear end as I think they are more likely to stuff it by trying to do unnecessary updates than actually improve anything

Not sure about the mivec engine...not sure how useful it actually is and how much you'd notice the difference...

I think you'd notice 17kW and 7Nm. Plus it's a smoother and more economical engine.

And Ford and Holden don't do the same????? Agree, in fact, it's the normal product lifecycle of well... anything. PS2s, mobile phones, etc


(Update will be more substanial then what people are saying, with Mitsubishi keeping it low profile in so as not to further hurt current sales.)If they update the "series 3" enough they might get another stab at Wheel's car of the year. But if they do the changes your suggesting, and most of us are hoping, then they should give it a new model code rather than series 3.

I think you'd notice 17kW and 7Nm. Plus it's a smoother and more economical engine.

is it really that big of a difference ?

is it really that big of a difference ?
It's hard to know without actually driving both cars, but it equates to roughly 17-20hpatw. Maybe .2 quicker to 100? Who knows. It sounds better for the media blurb tho.

It's hard to know without actually driving both cars, but it equates to roughly 17-20hpatw. Maybe .2 quicker to 100? Who knows. It sounds better for the media blurb tho.

hmmm...now I'm wondering if I should see if I can delay it until series 3 gets released.

Can anyone confirm its going to happen ?
Where did the info come from ?

And Ford and Holden don't do the same?????

Get use to it, cars have become the same as the electronics industry with updates the only way to keep consumer interest, even if they are only minor, and sales ticking over!!
Mitsubishi probably release less updates then both these 2 do with Commodore and Falcon!!

Have it on good advice that the series 3 380 will have the mivec engine = more power and improved economy, esc, and curtain airbags. Visually expect updated interior with much better finish, better trims etc etc, and different front/grill plus rear end tail lights etc.

380 isn't dead yet.....stay tuned!!!!!

(Update will be more substanial then what people are saying, with Mitsubishi keeping it low profile in so as not to further hurt current sales.)

They are also deciding at present whether to have 2 power levels, or go the same as Holden and Ford with 3 power levels. This would be base mivec, sightly updated affordable sports (different exhaust), and dearer supercharged version. Or just mivec and supercharged.........time will tell. Either way base car will be 190kw+.

The 3.8L Mivec engine in the Pajero is awesome. Pajero’s Mivec engine is geared more for torque. I think the Mivec engine the 380 will get would be geared for more Power, similar to the American Eclipse. The Mivec engine will give a significant power boost and it will probably be more economical (From Mitsu’s own adverts & some reviews on the new Pajero). If the 380 S3 gets all these, the appeal for 380 will increase & sales will definitely improve. Will there be a 4 cyl version of the 380 with the Outlander's drivetrain?

Now I'm really worried.
I wonder if the dealership I'm buying the car from would or could confirm if the series 3 has the MIVEC engine ?

Now I'm really worried.
I wonder if the dealership I'm buying the car from would or could confirm if the series 3 has the MIVEC engine ?

Last week I test drove the new Pajero with the 3.8L Mivec engine. The engine was smooth and very capable. The Mivec engine in the Pajero felt better than the current 380’s engine. The Pajero is about 300 kgs heavier than the 380, the Mivec engine was impressive in the Pajero. I have driven both the 380 VRX & ES, the ES felt faster VRX was better handling. I just updated my 02 KJ Verada to a new Pajero, I looked at 380, Pajero & Outlander. Choosing the Pajero VRX was due to few factors one which is the Mivec engine.

Exactly the reason I now have a XR6.

After owning 2 Magnas, 1 Verada and 5 Falcons, I can honestly tell you that the Falcons are fairing no better (maybe worse) in real world re-sale. The sporty versions of Magnas (Sports & VRX) are returning much better resale than the Falcons.

Eg: 2001 XR8 with around 100,000km you will pay no more than $15,000. This was a $46,000 car when new. A Magna Sports in the same year was $36,000 and with similar km are still fetching $12,000. BA XR6s are worth 2 bob at trade in time due to most of the fleets buying them instead of XTs or Futuras.

[QUOTE=SAB380]Interesting.
Don't really care about how the different front and rear end as I think they are more likely to stuff it by trying to do unnecessary updates QUOTE]

Don't worry, I dont think they're silly enough to let that Olivier Boulay flip anywhere near their cars again...at least I hope not!

Has anyone here noticed mitsubisi's trend?
They always put new engines in the pajero's before they put them in the magna/380. It's been like that for as long as i can remember.
380 will come out with a mivec engine, it's just a matter of time :).

if these rumors of a more dramatic update are correct then it would make logical sense for MMAL to have kept them so quiet, cos it would kill current 380 sales.

I really hope the interior update is substancial tho, i went and had another look at a 380 the other day and compared it directly against the VE commo and toyota aurion, and well the 380's interior is VERY unimpressive compared to those two

is it really that big of a difference ?

Its the difference between sports/vrx and a ralliart.

I doubt we're getting the MIVEC.

I've read somewhere that it was staying at 175kw - goauto maybe.

Has anyone here noticed mitsubisi's trend?
They always put new engines in the pajero's before they put them in the magna/380. It's been like that for as long as i can remember.
380 will come out with a mivec engine, it's just a matter of time :).

I agree the 380 will get a Mivec engine. Look at Mitsu line up nearly every model has a Mivec engine, except for the 380, Triton and the Express Van. Nearly all the cars & SUV’s have Mivec. So 380 should get one in the S3 update. Since 380 is an important performance oriented model unlike the Express Van or the Triton, 380’s main competitors like the Aurion, VE have more powerful engines. It’s very likely the 380 S3 will get the Mivec engine.

The US Gallant has a Mivec engines on some models. A new US gallant will be released towards the end 2008 as a 2009 Model. We might get a new 380 in 2010, Until then Mitsu will have to sell the current model, the current model to sell, it would need the power boost the Mivec engine provides. By 2010 the current Mivec engine will get outdated.

This thread is the first I heard about the series 3 getting the Mivec engine.
Every preview I've read made it clear the engine was identical and it was cosmetics only.
I guess there is a chance Mitsubishi may come out and yell 'surprise!' when they release it.

I had initally assumed that it was most likely the 2008 model that would get the Mivec engine (or another type of upgraded engine) based on comments around this years Motor show that showed off the supercharged 380. There they talked about a 190KW 380 was 'in the pipeline' and something they were looking at.

I doubt we're getting the MIVEC.

I've read somewhere that it was staying at 175kw - goauto maybe.

I read the same, but also can not rememeber where. Most likely goauto as you said.

Talked to the dealership who couldn't confirm and referred me to head office.
Head office wouldn't give me any information and just kept repeating 'the specs have not been released yet'

Im fairly sure that SIII is just different alloys, and exterior and interior cosmetic upgrades. No mivec at this stage.

Talked to the dealership who couldn't confirm and referred me to head office.
Head office wouldn't give me any information and just kept repeating 'the specs have not been released yet'
Hmmm if the specs have not been released yet, how could the magazines say there will be no mivec?
It will definitely happen eventually, maybe not in the series 3, but within the next couple of years wouldn't be a stretch.

Hmmm if the specs have not been released yet, how could the magazines say there will be no mivec?
It will definitely happen eventually, maybe not in the series 3, but within the next couple of years wouldn't be a stretch.

exactly! if the specs arent confirmed it would be unlikely the 380 mivec will be in the 380 in 2 months. and im sure we wouldve heard of test mules by now. if there going to make major changes to it like engine/panel work it wont be a seires 3. it would be a DC or something.

curtain airbags might be on the cards cause the galant has em. maybe esc too.

exactly! if the specs arent confirmed it would be unlikely the 380 mivec will be in the 380 in 2 months. and im sure we wouldve heard of test mules by now. if there going to make major changes to it like engine/panel work it wont be a seires 3. it would be a DC or something.

curtain airbags might be on the cards cause the galant has em. maybe esc too.

The North American Galant Raliart has 3.8L Mivec (192 kW). Also the 380 GT might get the Rockford Audio system.

There was some talk about 190 kW 380 even before the S2 release. I saw an article in the March 06 wheels magazine where Mitsu CEO Rob McE. talks about 190 kW 380 to increase the wow factor of the 380. After the S2 release Mitsu was saying it had didn’t have enough engineers to finalise the 190 kW 380 for the S2 update, as most of them were working on the Outlander, Pajero & Colt ADR compliance. It’s very likely that the S3 might get a Mivec. The only reason Mitsu is secretive about the S3, is to minimise effect on the current 380 sales.

The North American Galant Raliart has 3.8L Mivec (192 kW). Also the 380 GT might get the Rockford Audio system.

There was some talk about 190 kW 380 even before the S2 release. I saw an article in the March 06 wheels magazine where Mitsu CEO Rob McE. talks about 190 kW 380 to increase the wow factor of the 380. After the S2 release Mitsu was saying it had didn’t have enough engineers to finalise the 190 kW 380 for the S2 update, as most of them were working on the Outlander, Pajero & Colt ADR compliance. It’s very likely that the S3 might get a Mivec. The only reason Mitsu is secretive about the S3, is to minimise effect on the current 380 sales.

I'm not sure how much sense being secretive makes.
They aren't being secretive with the upcoming Lancer. They've been showing it off for 6 months.
The large car market is still competitive in Australia. For people who KWs are very important to, they are currently likely to buy the new Commodore. If they knew that a new 380 was just around the corner, they may wait and buy that instead.
I don't know much about how good auto journalists are in Australia or if they even care enough to work to get the 'scoop'. But could a large car manufacturer actually keep a secret like that until launch date ?

I'm not sure how much sense being secretive makes.
They aren't being secretive with the upcoming Lancer. They've been showing it off for 6 months.
The large car market is still competitive in Australia. For people who KWs are very important to, they are currently likely to buy the new Commodore. If they knew that a new 380 was just around the corner, they may wait and buy that instead.
I don't know much about how good auto journalists are in Australia or if they even care enough to work to get the 'scoop'. But could a large car manufacturer actually keep a secret like that until launch date ?


If the current 380 was selling strongly, then it wouldnt be as 'secretive.'

If the 380 was getting as much media attention as the other car companies then most likely the 380 'series 3' would already be in the press, but unfortunately 380 is hardly front page news. You will most likely find this will be 'leaked' about 4 weeks or so before launch to try and score a Wheels and other magazines front cover, and other good press.

The mivec upgrade is not a very big change really, and was only not done on the S2 due to the fact that engineers were tied up with other projects at the time (as mentioned earlier by another poster).
Likewise curtain airbags (standard across US Galant range!!) and esc which are already available like mivec on its North American donar car. Likewise the Rockford Fosgate audio on topline models. (checkout USA site)

This upgrade is more about restoring consumer confidence, in the face of all the MMAL shutdown stories, then anything else. Its is not a big spend upgrade by any means, mostly using items already available overseas. Remember Mitsubishi considers Mivec and Rockford Fosgate as worldwide marketing 'key advertising words'.

I strongly suggest to those MIVEC hopefulls, NOT to hang out to see MIVEC make it's debut in the 380 "series 3", otherwise you will almost certainly be disappointed. Whilst in isolation it would make sense for a car manufacturer in MMAL's situation to update the drivetrain to something closer to its competitors, looking at it more feasibly I cannot see it happen.

This will be the "380 DB Series 3", with exterior and interior cosmetic changes, inc new wheels, seat trims and upgrade specifications, with the possible inc of curtain airbags/ESC. I don't expect any mechanical enhancements until next year, though I'd love nothing more than to be proven wrong on this.

and im sure we wouldve heard of test mules by now.

not necessarily, MMAL moved alot of its engineering back to japan after the completion of the 380 project. All of the ADR compliance stuff for the outlander and pajero was done in japan, as was work on a 190kw version of the 380 which, last time i heard, was due to be released in the third sector of this year. So a more powerful version of the 380 may still be on the cards, but i doubt it will be a mivec version. Probably just a more powerful VRX model

not necessarily, MMAL moved alot of its engineering back to japan after the completion of the 380 project. All of the ADR compliance stuff for the outlander and pajero was done in japan, as was work on a 190kw version of the 380 which, last time i heard, was due to be released in the third sector of this year. So a more powerful version of the 380 may still be on the cards, but i doubt it will be a mivec version. Probably just a more powerful VRX model


Yep.

And the 190KW+ version you have heard about is the mivec engine.
Remember they are already producing this engine for other countries, so not a real hard mod. It's just a matter of completing ADR stuff.

Yep.

And the 190KW+ version you have heard about is the mivec engine.
Remember they are already producing this engine for other countries, so not a real hard mod. It's just a matter of completing ADR stuff.

Since the engine is identical on all models, would they put the mivec only in the VRX ?
I guess it has the most buffer in terms of price and can absorb the upgrade cost better than the cheaper models.

Will be interesting to see what happens.

Since the engine is identical on all models, would they put the mivec only in the VRX ?
I guess it has the most buffer in terms of price and can absorb the upgrade cost better than the cheaper models.

Will be interesting to see what happens.

I think in the US the Mivec engine in only available in the Raliart version. In US there are five models 3 of them with the 4Cyl engine, the two V6 one with Mivec and the other without Mivec.

http://www.mitsubishicars.com/MMNA/jsp/galant/07/specs.do?loc=en-us