Mitsubishi – Transeum

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has just released details of a new regional passenger jet which they hope will enter service in 2013 and put Japan on the map for efficient state of the art passenger jets. The plane has already had 25 orders from All Nipon Airways totalling about 60000 million Yen and there is quiet a bit of interest world wide including reports of Vietnam Air and Emirates also very keen to sign up. With seating for between 70 and 90 people the plane is on Friday launched a project to build its first ever passenger jet, a next-generation regional airliner that aims to meet growing demand for fuel efficient planes. There are a few aircraft manufacturers around the world which are trying to get into this lucrative small jet market including Canada’s Bombardier, Brazil’s Embraer and Chinese and Russian manufacturers, but the Japanese with their track record of affordable, high quality and efficient products might just have the edge they need.

Poor old Mitsubishi hasn’t had a good run in Australia lately, they have recently announced that they would cease manufacturing in Australia stopping their troubled 380 six cylinder family car. But import wise they have been doing fairly well with some exciting products like the all new Lancer., And looking at the Mitsubishi Concept cX on the stand at the Melbourne Motorshow this week, the future will look even brighter. The Concept cX is a compact crossover vehicle which made it’s debut at last years Frankfurt Motor Show, it is powered by a 1.8 litre clean diesel engine which cleverly features a VG or variable geometry turbo charger and a DOC which is a diesel oxcidation catalyst which makes it Euro 5 ready. There’s a twin clutch SST Sports Shift Transmission fitted and together with the engine give remarkable fuel economy and performance while being kind to the environment. Inside the car also keeps our fragile environment in mind with Mitsubishi’s own special green plastic, its made from plant based resins instead of oil based, something we should expect to see in production vehicles in the not to distant future.

Japan’s new jet

Mitsubishi Concept cX at Melbourne