MITSUBISHI MOTORS RETURNS DIESEL POWER TO CARISMA RANGE

Whether petrol or diesel, with Mitsubishi’s new Carisma model line-up, low prices, low emissions and powerful engines, the 2002 Carisma is ideally placed to attract prudent new car buyers.

With the introduction in the UK of severe company car personal taxation laws in April, Mitsubishi is already ahead of the competition with its GDI low emission, low tax, direct injection petrol engines. However, to meet the increasing demand from diesel customers, Mitsubishi are also introducing their first common-rail direct injection diesel engine for passenger cars, a 1.9 litre turbocharger with intercooler DI-D (Direct Injection Diesel) 4-cylinder engine.

Diesel engine

Developing 100 bhp at 4,000rpm and 158 lb ft of torque between 1,700 and 3,250 rpm, this new 1.9 DI-D unit is designed to have a flat torque curve in the low top mid engine speed range to provide responsive acceleration where it really matters for UK roads. It has a maximum speed of 118 mph, and a 0-62 acceleration time of 11.9 seconds, with CO2 emissions of 146 g/km.

Available in Mirage specification, the new diesel has a 5-speed manual gearbox as standard. Both models have ABS with EBD, an electronic immobiliser, electric anti-trapping front windows and a single CD player. Prices start at £10,995 on the road. Petrol versions start at £9,995 for the 1.6 Classic and Mirage.

Carisma petrol or diesel leads tax efficiency league tables

With the new company car tax rules being introduced on 6 April, where CO2 emissions are the major factor in determining the new personal tax level, choosing a petrol or diesel Mitsubishi makes even more financial sense as these tables demonstrate.

Petrol Only						Tax to Pay			Tax to Pay
Model	OTR price	CO2	Taxable	Taxable	Taxable	Tax rate:	22%		Tax rate:	40%
			Ben 02	Ben 03	Ben 04	2002	2003	2004	2002	2003	2004
Carisma 1.6 Mirage	£9,995	174	£1,599	£1,799	£1,999	£351.82	£395.80	£439.78	£639.68	£719.64	£799.60
Carisma 1.8 Equippe	£12,995	168	£1,949	£2,209	£2,469	£428.84	£486.01	£543.19	£779.70	£883.66	£987.62
Ford Mondeo 1.8i Zetec	£15,645	187	£2,973	£3,285	£3,598	£653.96	£722.80	£791.64	£1,189.02	£1,314.18	£1,439.34
Nissan Primera 1.8i S	£14,600	183	£2,628	£2,920	£3,212	£578.16	£642.40	£706.64	£1,051.20	£1,168.00	£1,284.80
Toyota Avensis 1.8 VVT-I Vermont	£13,230	176	£2,249	£2,514	£2,778	£494.80	£553.01	£611.23	£899.64	£1,005.48	£1,111.32
Vauxhall Vectra 1.8i LS	£14,280	183	£2,570	£2,856	£3,142	£565.49	£628.32	£691.15	£1,028.16	£1,142.40	£1,256.64
Renault Laguna 1.8 16V Authentique	£14,580	180	£2,624	£2,916	£3,208	£577.37	£641.52	£705.67	£1,049.76	£1,166.40	£1,283.04

Diesel Only						Tax to Pay			Tax to Pay
Model	OTR price	CO2	Taxable	Taxable	Taxable	Tax rate:	22%		Tax rate:	40%
			Ben 02	Ben 03	Ben 04	2002	2003	2004	2002	2003	2004
Carisma 1.9 DI-D Mirage	£10,995	146	£1,979	£1,979	£1,979	£435.40	£435.40	£435.40	£791.64	£791.64	£791.64
Ford Mondeo 2.0 Di LX	£15,645	156	£2,816	£2,816	£3,129	£619.54	£619.54	£688.38	£1,126.44	£1,126.44	£1,251.60
Ford Mondeo 2.0 Dci LX	£16,145	156	£2,906	£2,906	£3,229	£639.34	£639.34	£710.38	£1,162.44	£1,162.44	£1,291.60
Nissan Primera 2.2 DS	£16,100	159	£2,415	£2,415	£2,737	£531.30	£531.30	£602.14	£966.00	£966.00	£1,094.80
Toyota Avensis 2.0	£15,220	158	£2,740	£2,740	£3,044	£602.71	£602.71	£669.68	£1,095.84	£1,095.84	£1,217.60
Vauxhall Vectra 2.0 Dti LS	£14,970	161	£2,695	£2,844	£3,144	£592.81	£625.75	£691.61	£1,077.84	£1,137.72	£1,257.48
Renault Leguna 1.9 Dci Authentique	£15,225	150	£2,284	£2,284	£2,436	£502.43	£502.43	£535.92	£913.50	£913.50	£974.40

The new Mitsubishi 1,870cc engine has electronically controlled common-rail injection. The common rail fuel accumulator stores fuel from a high-pressure pump. The fuel mist is then directed in precise amounts into the combustion chamber by the ECU which also governs the multi-stage injection process. Rather like GDI petrol engine technology, this right amount of fuel at the right time to meet engine demands, maximises performance and throttle response and minimises emissions with no over-fuelling during engine operation. Exhaust gas re-circulation is also used.