Mitsubishi’s Brazilian importer MMC Automotores has updated its locally-made TR4 small SUV (known in Japan as the Pajero Io and sold in Europe until recently as the Shogun Pinin).
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The restyled model has new headlamps, bumper and grille and looks a little like the L200 pick-up made in Brazil. At the back, the SUV now has new lights and bumper.
Mechanicals are unchanged – the two-litre, 131hp petrol engine and powertrain are imported from Japan.
Following the mild face-lift, the company plans to maintain TR4 sales of about 500 units per month in Brazil.
“We updated the model so we don’t lose sales to new competititors but we will also try to increase volume”, said MMC Automotores president Paulo Ferraz.
The TR4 is made in the importer’s plant in Catalão city, in Goiás state, opened in 1998 to build the L200 pick-up. In addition to the TR4, the plant also now builds two previous-generation L200 models and started at the beginning of this year to make the Pajero (Shogun/Montero/Challenger) Sport SUV.
Production of Mitsubishi vehicles in Brazil is the result of a technology transfer agreement between the Japanese automaker and MMC Automotores. The Brazilian company also imports and sell the Pajero large SUV, Airtrek and Grandis models.
Between January and May of this year MMC Automotores sold 8,482 Mitsubishi vehicles in Brazil, a decrease of 8.8% with the 9,299 units sold in the same period last year in an overall market up 10.3%.
But the company expects growth this year.
“Despite the slow beginning, we expect to sell 24,300 vehicles this year”, said Ferraz.
In 2005, MMC Automotores sold 20,100 units.
Rogério Louro
