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MITSUBISHI Motors Philippines Corp. (MMPC) meets the
opposition head-on as it introduces the new and
head-turner Fuzion Sports Wagon in an elegant launch
last week at the Main Atrium of the SM Mall of Asia in
Pasay City.
The
Fuzion Sports Wagon is Mitsubishi’s answer to the
buyers’ need for a vehicle that can tackle the daily
hassle of our busy and uneven roads. It is a new
three-in-one multipurpose vehicle which merges the
characteristics of three popular vehicles in the market
today—the sporty character and ruggedness of an SUV; the
spaciousness and versatility of a van; and the riding
comfort of a passenger car.
There
are two variants of the new Fuzion—the GLS Sport and GLX,
which are now available at MMPC dealerships nationwide.
The suggested retail price for the Fuzion GLS Sport is
P1.15 million, while the GLX is at P950,000. With the
expected acceptability of the newest vehicle on its
lineup, Mitsubishi forecasts sales of about 200 Fuzions
every month.
The new
Fuzion addresses six important needs of the buying
public these days and they are multipurpose use;
sophisticated SUV-inspired styling; modern interior
design; interior roominess and user convenience; riding
comfort on and off the highway; and affordability and
value for money. When it was conceptualized, Mitsubishi
emphasized flexibility to satisfy the various needs of
the consumers. Third-row seats were installed to
accommodate more passengers for the extended Filipino
family and for increased load space for commercial
needs. They can be folded or tumbled to suit various
passenger and cargo-loading requirements.
The
Mitsubishi Fuzion stands tall and proud. It can be seen
in the front face that features large and stylish
headlamps and front fascia. Its side accentuates refined
SUV sportiness and toughness expressed by a wedge-style
belt line and by its flared wheel. At the rear of the
body, the tail lamps have a passenger car-style
horizontal design that combines with a tailgate garnish
to convey a sense of stability. This styling line can
also be discerned in the Outlander. Front- and rear-underguard
garnishes further emphasize its SUV styling.
The
Fuzion’s exterior is complemented by an interior with
futuristic relaxing wavy lines, fresh color schemes and
textures brought together to express quality and
utility. The meters have bright blue illumination that
gives them a futuristic look, and the steering wheel and
floor console have silver-colored accents that add a
taste of sportiness. The instrument panel and door trim
have two-tone coloring whose contrasting colors create a
sense of openness and refinement. The air conditioner
switch panel has large, colorful, easy-to-use knobs. The
audio panel is distinguished by a wood grain finish that
adds a taste of high quality.
Compared
with its main competitor, the Fuzion is bigger. In
addition, lots of convenient storage spaces and holders
for greater user convenience were added. The seats have
large dimensions to promote relaxation and, together
with ample headroom, they help create a comfortable
environment for the driver and passengers.
The
Fuzion is powered by a 2.4-liter, 16-valve,
single-overhead cam (SOHC) 4G64 gasoline engine with a
maximum power of 136 ps at 5,250 rpm and maximum torque
of 20.7 kg-m at 4,000 rpm. It is mated to a four-speed
electronically-controlled transmission with overdrive
switch. This combination is engineered for an optimal
balance of superior running performance and economical
operation. MMPC claims the vehicle’s fuel consumption
in the city at 7.53 km per liter running at an average
of 34.14 kph, while highway driving results show an
impressive 12.45 km per liter at an average speed of
75.52 kph. The company says that owners should expect
fuel consumption to vary depending on loading and
average running speed.
Mitsubishi further says that the Fuzion’s excellent
riding comfort is a major advantage over its
competition. It’s not stiffly sprung and body roll is
minimal. Front double-wishbone suspension and a
three-link coil spring suspension achieve an enhanced
SUV-level combination of handling stability and riding
comfort. Its riding comfort is also enhanced by its long
wheelbase, wider treads and passenger car-type radial
tires. A newly designed high-rigidity and wider chassis
frame promotes running stability. It also has a minimum
ground clearance of 180 mm for superior drivability on
rough, flooded and otherwise difficult road surfaces.
Large approach and departure angles further promote the
Fuzion’s versatility to overcome difficult road
conditions. |
