The Renault-Nissan Alliance continues to grow now with added Mitsubishi sales.

• Combined sales exceed 5.27 million units from Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors in six months to June 30, 2017, rose 7 percent
• Cumulative volume of electric vehicle sales exceeds 480,000 units
• Enlarged Alliance set to become industry’s number-one sales group for full year 2017

Unit sales at the Alliance rose seven percent to 5,268,079 vehicles in the first half of the calendar year resulting from an increased demand for models from the French and Japanese brands, and the first semester sales contribution from new Alliance member Mitsubishi Motors.

The Alliance saw increased sales of Renault models including Clio, Sandero, Megane, Captur and Duster, while Nissan reported strong orders for models such as the X-Trail/Rogue, Sentra/Sylphy, Qashqai and Altima/Teana. Unit sales at Mitsubishi Motors, which became part of Alliance in late 2016, reached close to 495,000 vehicles amid solid demand for its Outlander SUV globally and the Pajero Sport in the ASEAN region.

Cumulative sales of electric vehicles by the companies also rose significantly to 481,151 units, reaffirming the Alliance’s role as the leading electric car manufacturer for the mass-market segment. The increase was driven primarily by demand for the Nissan LEAF and the Renault ZOE, which remains the #1 EV sold in Europe, and Mitsubishi’s i-Miev. On the hybrid side, the plug-in hybrid electric versions of the Mitsubishi Outlander reached over 13,000 units.

Carlos Ghosn, chairman and chief executive of the Renault-Nissan Alliance, said: “The Alliance has delivered record sales during the first semester of 2017 reaching 5,268,079 vehicles sold. We will continue to leverage our significant economies of scale and global market presence to deliver valuable synergies for our member companies this year, while maintaining a strong technology lineup and offering customers breakthrough electric models.”

“Our enlarged Alliance is well placed to realize its full potential, not only in terms of unit volumes, but also by providing next-generation mobility services to customers around the world.”

Groupe Renault sold 1.879,288 million vehicles in the first half of 2017, which represents a raise of 10.4 percent in a market that grew 2.6 percent. All group brands posted increases in sales volumes and market share. The Renault and Dacia brands set half-year sales records and Renault ranks as the second most sold brand in Europe. Furthermore, all regions increased their sales volumes and market share. In particular, the Group recorded a 19.3 percent rise in sales in the Africa-Middle East-India Region and a 50.5 percent increase in the Asia-Pacific Region.

Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. sold 2,894,488 cars and trucks worldwide, up 5.6 percent in the six months to June 30. In Japan and Europe, the company achieved a growth of 22.9 percent and 5.7 percent respectively. Infiniti sold more than 125,000 vehicles in the first half, an increase of roughly 13 percent on the same period of 2016.

Mitsubishi Motors sold 494,303 units cars worldwide, up 2.4 percent year on year as the company resumed sales of its ‘Kei’ mini cars in Japan. The sales increase also reflects the strong growth in China following the launch of locally-produced Outlander SUVs. Sales also increased in the ASEAN region, led by demand for SUVs and pick-up trucks.

The Alliance is expected to generate increased synergies this year as Mitsubishi Motors co-operates more closely with Nissan and Renault in areas including joint purchasing, deeper localization, joint plant utilization, common vehicle platforms, technology-sharing and an expansion in both mature and emerging markets.

Top 10 Groupe Renault Markets

1	France
2	Russia
3	Italy
4	Germany
5	Spain
6	Turkey
7	Brazil
8	Iran
9	United Kingdom
10	Argentina

Top 10 Nissan Markets

1	U.S.A
2	China
3	Japan
4	Mexico
5	United Kingdom
6	Canada
7	Russia
8	France
9	Italy
10	Germany

Top 10 Mitsubishi Motors Markets

1	U.S.A
2	China
3	Japan
4	Australia
5	Philippines
6	Indonesia
7	Thailand
8	Germany
9	United Kingdom
10	U.A.E.

ABOUT THE RENAULT-NISSAN ALLIANCE

The Renault-Nissan Alliance is a strategic partnership between France-based Groupe Renault and Japan-based Nissan Motor and Mitsubishi Motors. The automakers combined sold 9.96 million vehicles in nearly 200 countries in 2016 – more than one in nine vehicles worldwide. The Alliance has strategic collaborations with other automakers, including Germany’s Daimler and China’s Dongfeng. It also owns a majority stake in the joint venture that controls Russia’s top automaker, AVTOVAZ. The Alliance is the industry leader in zero-emission vehicles and is developing the latest advanced technologies, with plans to offer autonomous drive and connectivity features and services on a range of affordable vehicles.

The new Mitsubishi Crossover is to be named the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross and launched at Geneva

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) will debut the all-new Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross at the 87^th Geneva International Motor Show on 7 March 2017 (Hall 2, 10:15 UK Time).

The all-new Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross will join MMC’s global line-up of 4X4 and SUV vehicles - including the Mitsubishi ASX compact SUV, Outlander and Outlander PHEV mid-size SUVs – and will go sale in Europe in the autumn, followed by the UK (early in 2018), Japan, North America, Australia and other regions.

The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross will compete in the C-SUV segment and will appeal to style-conscious drivers its sharp coupé looks and muscular SUV stance, as well as its advanced levels of connectivity and all-wheel control technology which delivers an enjoyable, reassuring feel that elevates the driving experience.

Characteristic Dynamic Design

The distinctly sharp and dynamic Mitsubishi SUV coupe form is distinguished by its wedge profile with distinctive beltline and strong character line; a forward raked rear window; the sharply cut off rear gate and short overhang; and muscular wings that contribute to an athletic appearance.

The front design of the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross features MMC’s trademark Dynamic Shield concept, which refers to the protective shield shape visually formed by the black central area and highlighted by bold brightwork on either side of the grill. Distinctive auxiliary lamps are recessed deep in the front fascia adding drama and sophistication to the SUV’s front-on appearance.

The rear design is distinguished its high-mounted, stretched rear lamps which divides the rear window into distinctive upper and lower segments. When illuminated, the tubular LED brake lights and the central LED hi-mount stop light form a single bar of light running across the tail, giving Eclipse Cross a broad and unmistakable appearance from the rear.

The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross also heralds the arrival of a new red body colour. The standard coating is layered with semi-transparent red and clear coating, and this creates high levels of colour saturation with a highly-refined finish.

Inside, the new SUV’s dashboard is shaped using horizontal lines, with silver metal frames and a black and silver monotone color scheme helping create a sense of refinement that is both dynamic and sporty. With its table-like infotainment display and new Head Up Display, the futuristic cockpit inspires a sense of excitement for the driver. For maximum comfort and flexibility, the rear seat features a 60:40 split with long slide-and-recline adjustment.

Connectivity that inspires new adventures

The Eclipse Cross is fitted with the Smartphone Link Display Audio system, a Touchpad Controller and Head Up Display. Together they allow the driver to access different types of information conveniently and safely.

Smartphone Link Display Audio supports Apple CarPlay^*1, the smarter, safer way to use your iPhone^*1 in the car. The driver can use Siri^*4 or the Smartphone Link Display Audio’s touch screen to receive directions optimised for traffic conditions, make and receive calls, access text messages, and listen to music, all in a way that allows them to stay focused on the road. Smartphone Link Display Audio also supports the Android Auto^TM*2 which provides voice-controlled operation of Google Maps^TM,^*2 Google Play^TM*4 music and other apps. The Touchpad Controller can operate audio functions like radio, as well as Apple CarPlay.

Placing the Touchpad Controller in the centre console allows the driver to easily operate the Smartphone Link Display Audio.

The Head Up Display unit makes driving safer by presenting vehicle speed, data from the active safety systems and other necessary information that minimises eye movement and provides instant readability.

Enjoyable and stable driving dynamics with all-wheel control technology

Eclipse Cross uses an electronically-controlled 4WD system that feeds the optimum amount of torque to the rear wheels depending on the driving situation and the road surface. MMC’s Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC) integrated vehicle dynamics control system incorporates brake-activated AYC^*3.

The addition of a three-point strut tower brace at the front and the strategic use of structural bonding at the rear in particular have increased body rigidity. The stronger body and detail optimisation of the suspension ensure precise handling and superior vehicle stability.

Eclipse Cross offers two powertrains that deliver an outstanding balance of power, performance and efficiency. The new 1.5-litre direct-injection turbocharged petrol engine is available with a new CVT transmission with 8-speed Sport Mode manual override, while MMC’s proven 2.2-litre common rail direct-injection turbocharged diesel engine is modified specifically for Eclipse Cross is fitted with a new 8-speed automatic transmission.

The new Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is due to go on sale in the UK early in 2018 with pricing and final UK specification to be announced closer to its on-sale date.

MMC stand at the 87^th Geneva International Motor Show

Together with the Eclipse Cross, the MMC stand will also showcase the Mitsubishi eX concept – the manufacturer’s electric compact crossover show car, ASX, Outlander, Outlander PHEV and L200.

*¹: Apple CarPlay, iPhone, and Siri are trademarks of Apple Inc. registered in the United States and other countries.

*²: Android Auto, Google Maps, and Google Play are trademarks or registered trademarks of Google Inc.

*³: Active Yaw Control system manages the torque feed and brake force at individual rear wheels to help the vehicle behave as the driver intends, using information on steering angle, yaw rate, drive torque, brake force and wheel speed to accurately determine driver operation and vehicle behaviour.

TMW - The 2016 mitsubishi Shogun - A tale of two cars in one body, one better than the other.

The 2016 Mitsubishi Shogun is a tale of two cars, firstly the general car then the off road vehicle, the off road car is one that most fail to emulate, it has the power and low down grunt to keep the car going in the most difficult of terrains, the car is set on two wheel drive, but you can easily change that to other wheel combinations upto a full four wheel drive car.

Off road is something that i would like to try out at some point in this car, as i am sure that it would just demolish all styles of driving from deep ruts and deep water to steep inclines/declines and side inclines as well, but that will have to wait to another day and event.

The interior of the car is brilliant, loads of room, and lots of glass so that you never feel like you are hemmed in, unlike similar cars that take fashion over functionality, however, the interior is a great place to be, the great feeling switches and knobs are all damped to make them feel like quality switches, not many can do that, make something out to be better than what it actually is, and the rest of the interior follows suit.

Leather upholstery and leather covered door cards give you the feeling of quality, along with electric movement and heated front seating, you are at least comfortable, well, I say comfortable, you sit on the seats, and not cossetted in them, for a car this expensive, the comfort is a little left wanting, however, i did manage to fall asleep whilst being driven, and i dont do that in every car.

The satellite Navigation is great, once you get it set up, it is precise, direct and instructions are clear and concise, again, i have been in cars that are not that good, so another plus point, the steering wheel has reach and rake, so, along with the electric seats, getting into a position of reasonable comfort for driving is easy.

Once on the highway, things change a little, the 3.2 litre diesel engine struggles, and you have to give yourself plenty of room to pull out of a junction or roundabout, there is some lean on sharp corners, which is more fun than not, the steering is more heavy than not, but it makes for precise driving, rather than the flakey steering that a lot of cars have these days, you can tell where the car is actually going to go, and with some of the over powered cars, that can be difficult.

On the road you will be more than aware of the noise, the big tyres give a lot of road roar, then you have the oversized wing mirrors, again, they cause wind noise, a slight redesign might make that noise less intrusive, but you can not get away from the size of the car, it is a big box, so again, this will cause some wind noise, especially once you get the car upto motorway speeds, at least the radio can drown this out.

The Fuel consumption is one thing you dont talk about, if you can afford to buy one of these, then you should be able to afford the fuel, but for the sake of being open and honest, the claimed fuel consumption is :-

• Urban - 26.9mpg
• Extra Urban - 32.8mpg
• Combined - 30.4mpg

We managed to get, via the cars info, just shy of 28mpg over the course of the 10 days we had the Shogun, added to which the first year taxation of £885 and £500 per year thereafter (for the moment-Tax rates change on 1st April) makes the initial outlay high, but you do know you are getting a really well made, and reliable car, one that can do all you ask of it, both on and off road.

The car is well specified, with lots of toys gadgets to play with, some of the items that come as standard are:-

• Leather Upholstery
• Leather Door Facings
• Electric Sunroof
• Carpet Mats All Round inc Boot
• Premium HD Sat Nav
• DAB Radio
• Stainless Steel Front Door Entry Guards
• Front Power Seats
• Front Heated Seats
• Rear Parking Sensors
• Rear View Camera
• Mood Lighting
• Climate Control
• Bonnet Badge
• Twin USB Ports
• Hidden CD Slot
• LED Daytime Running Lights
• HiD Xenon With Auto Levelling Headlamps

And this is just a small amount of the standard fit items that you will find on this car, however, no amount of toys and gadgets can disguise the fact that this car needs to be updated, its very good, dont get me wrong, but it cant compete with the Range Rover or Discovery, which is  the market the Shogun is competing in.

CONCLUSION

Give the car some more comfy seats, a better cleaner engine, try and reduce wind noise and make it less agricultural, and you will have the perfect car, as it stands, you are getting a very good car, let down by some small defects, is it good enough ? Well, yes, it really is a great car to be in, you feel like your lording it over all and sundry.

it can take all the luggage you could need, and even some really large items can be taken without having to adjust the rear seats, and talking of rear seats, there is acres of room for your passengers, another plus point, keeping the kids or family happy.

The five year/62,500 mile warranty is another plus point, where you get only three years elsewhere you get five here, which shows that they have confidence in the product, you even get a 12 year anti perforation warranty and three year pan european roadside assistance including home start, would i have one, well, if i could afford to pay for fuel then yes i would, it really is a good car, and if they sorted out the other bits and pieces it would become unbeatable.

WHAT VAN ? - The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV 4Work takes the green award at this years awards.

• Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV 4Work wins Green Award at 2017 What Van? Awards for providing the “best solution for environmentally-conscious operators.”
• Businesses benefit from low running costs and 100% capital allowance in the first year
• Priced from £22,879 (excluding VAT and including £7,255 grant – based on GX3h)

The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV 4Work has scooped the What Van? Green Award for 2017 at the special awards luncheon in central London. 

Based on the UK’s best-selling plug-in hybrid vehicle, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV 4Work offers the same style, comfort, equipment and technology as the passenger version, but with a load volume of 1,603 litres (measurement up to roof) and a payload of 495kg. 

There’s also easy access to the flat load area via the rear tailgate and rear side doors.

Unlike diesel- and petrol-powered vans, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Commercial is at its most efficient and environmentally-friendly in urban areas thanks to its electric range of up to 32 miles, but for longer journeys or on occasions when a rapid charger isn’t available there’s the backup of a 2.0-litre petrol engine which helps give the Outlander PHEV a total maximum range of 541 miles. It’s also extremely capable in the toughest of weather conditions with on demand all-wheel drive and S-AWC (Super All-Wheel Control) to assist the driver while cornering in low-grip situations, plus the added security of M-ASTC (Mitsubishi Active Stability and Traction Control).

From the operator’s point of view, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV 4Work offers a comfortable car-like driving experience and the convenience of an automatic transmission; cruise control, speed limiter, dual zone climate control, Bluetooth hands-free and auto dimming rear view mirror, while businesses benefit from its low running costs – it has an official combined-cycle fuel economy figure of 156mpg – and 100% capital allowance in the first year and reduced National Insurance contributions.

Editor of What Van? James Dallas commented, "The Outlander PHEV 4Work remains the best solution for environmentally-conscious operators who require more range than an electric van can offer. It rides and handles well on road and offers operators the capability of venturing off the beaten track. It also makes sense from an economic and environmental point of view with official fuel consumption of 157mpg coupled with CO₂ of just 42g/km.”

Lance Bradley, Managing Director of Mitsubishi Motors in the UK said, “Whatever segment the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV competes in, it’s a winner. We’re delighted that the What Van? editorial team appreciates the environmental and commercial benefits of the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Commercial and has seen fit to bestow the vehicle with its prestigious Green Award for 2017. Plug-in hybrid vehicles can deliver huge savings for private and commercial users and represent a key stage in helping to move motoring towards a cleaner future.”

The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV was launched in the UK in 2014 and since then over 25,000 has been sold, making it the best-selling plug-in hybrid in the UK. Two versions of the  Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV 4Work are available, the GX3h priced from £22,879 (excluding VAT and including the £7,225 grant), and the GX3h+ version which adds an electric pre-heater, smartphone app and heated front seats for £23, 512 (excluding VAT and including the £7,425 grant). Grants are based on 20% of the vehicle list price, up to a maximum of £8,000.

TMW - The Uk's most popular PHEV SUV, the Outlander gets the Motoring World treatment, and we come away impressed.

To produce a good car these days is very easy, its the sales that make a good car great, and the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV has gone past good, driven past great and has moved into a segment reserved for outstanding, when you consider how many PHEV's, Hybrids and Electric cars that are currently available in the UK, to take 50% of the market with ONE model is truly outstanding.

The car even sells better here than it does in its home market of Japan, so for a specific model to do that is amazing, the current range might be missing a family car now the Lancer (Evo) is no more, and thats a shame, but Mitsubishi, as a company, specialises in SUV's and Pick-Ups, we recently completed a road test on the L200, we now have the Big SUV in PHEV mode to test, and it did not fail to impress.

The brand has been seen as an also ran for a long time, then the PHEV came to the fore and the brand is now one of the brands thats now seen as a first choice brand, and the Outlander and ASX are the models that have changed the perception of Mitsubishi, and with the recent purchase of a majority share by Nissan, the future is looking even brighter.

One of the secrets of its success is the Government grant, offered to buyers of cars that are seens as green, and environmentally friendly, the combination of the fuel consumption and CO2 figures means it attracts a BIK tax rate of just 5%, significantly lower than anything else in the class.

The car can run on battery mode for up to 32 miles, more if the regenerative braking fills the batteries, there are many methods of drive on the car, engine only, battery only, engine charges battery, then the regenerative aspect, it's not quick to refill the battery by regenerative mode, but combined with engine mode, it can refill the battery packs quite quickly, but you really do need to keep an eye on the fuel tank and battery, as they can run out faster than you would think, as the fuel tank is very small for a car this size.

This version of the Outlander is a big facelift on the first gen PHEV, and this one looks far superior, the look sis called "Dynamic Shield", and will carry over to other SUV's as they are launched, along with the new look front and mild treatment to the rear, it has given 40mm to the length of the car, giving this car a lower and sleeker look.

The interior of the car is really very classy and put together, there are no squeaks or rattles, the steering wheel, leather bound, is well weighted and of a decent size, likewise the power steering, it is very well weighted and you can feel the road beneath you, but it is not intrusive, far from it, all the buttons, switches and dials are in easy reach, and feel quality, like the rest of the interior, the leather upholstery on the seats gives you a well supported and ultra comfortable journey, these are some of the best seats i have, as yet, come across.

The range of Outlander models starts at £23,000 and heads up to £43,000, there are twelve versions, eight of which are PHEV's and a couple of commercial vehicles thrown in for good measure, giving a fair range of usability.

Our model we tested had a decent range of kit including but not limited to

• 360° all around camera,
• Parking sensors rear with camera,
• Satellite Navigation,
• Cruise Control, 
• Keyless entry and Start,
• DAB radio, 
• Leather seats, 
• Heated steering wheel,
• Heated front Seats,
• Eco Mode,
• Full display on engine use
• 7" Touchscreen,
• Bluetooth,
• USB Ports, 
• Electric Tailgate.

Just a few of the items that the car came with, driving the PHEV was a real pleasure, it was very quiet, even with the 2.0 litre engine running, and dead silent with battery, it was very easy on the roads with the car never failing to do what you ask of it, whether it be around a sharp corner, on single lanes, slight off roading or motorway, when you turned the steering wheel the car went exactly where you pointed it at, we never felt any under or over steer, and surprisingly, none on heavy pull aways either.

The CVT gearbox is very quiet, with no gears, the car just "lifted up its skirts" and shot off, CVT is not that common these days, but in this car it works a treat, and the car picks and chooses what wheel useage it feels it needs, it will run front wheel drive normally, but when the ground gets a little tricky, the 4WD will automatically cut in, and out as required.

Along with the 32 miles of battery use, the fuel consumption on the petrol engine is not brilliant as there is less than a 10 gallon tank, so filling up will be a regular event, battery power will allow you to achieve over 150mpg, although on our route we only ever managed to get just shy of 70mpg, which is quite good but combined with fuel, this dropped to mid 30's, so getting the 156mpg is a bit of wishful thinking.

OVERALL

I loved the car, very much, it is really comfortable, quiet, and does everything you ask of it, and more, the cabin design is as near to perfection as can be gotten, and after a short time behind the wheel, you instinctively know where the buttons are, steering is precise and accurate, and braking is really good, it really is easy to see why this car is the best seller with a 50% market share.

Would i have one ? too right, I have tested a number of cars over the months and only a few of them i can say that i would be prepared to put my money where my mouth is, this is one of them, as long as i could live with the constant visits to the Garage, we did a similar trip to Scotland in an Audi A6 Avant, and didnt fill up until we got home, we had to fill the Outlander three times, and on one of those occasions we were panicing as the battery went to zero, and the fuel suddenly dropped from 60 mile range to 15 in just 3 miles.

.

The suspension has been given a comprehensive rethink, with strengthening added to the front and rear subframes, while the spring and damper rates have been recalibrated all round. The result is a flatter, slightly tauter and generally more European ride than before, although the Outlander is still rather noisy over sharp bumps in a way that its best rivals aren’t. However, the steering is excellent - well weighted and communicative - and the chassis grips well in corners, with little body roll