Should Mitsubishi steal this concept from Nissan?

If relations between Nissan and Renault are cooling day by day, Mitsubishi is increasingly relying on the French manufacturer.

Nissan has never accepted the fact that it was engulfed by Renault on March 27, 1999. An humiliation since the French manufacturer was then smaller. A sort of David spanking Goliath before putting a leash around his neck. After initially processing this shock with typical Japanese restraint, Nissan has tirelessly been conducting financial operations since 2022 aimed at regaining its independence. And as Renault needs liquidity, the two parties found common ground. Renault’s stake in Nissan thus fell from 43.4% to 15% this year, which is equivalent to Nissan’s stake in Renault, creating a fair balance.

Nissan then hurried to forge new alliances with Honda and Silence, a gesture that likely was not warmly received in Renault’s offices. But we believe this is a nice way to take revenge for the affront.

One tends to forget that this alliance of two is actually an alliance of three with Mitsubishi. Very discreet, the diamond manufacturer nonetheless appreciates this union that allows it to badge models like the SUV  ASX  based on the Renault Captur and the new Colt, a revamped Clio. But Mitsubishi is also a brand with a remarkable sporting history, with world titles in the World Rally Championship and victories in the Dakar.

Hence this somewhat crazy but totally credible idea to give Mitsubishi all the means to launch an ultra-sporty electric compact similar to the Nissan Concept 20-23, of which it is increasingly uncertain whether it heralds the lines of the next Micra. Indeed, it is hard not to think of the prototype Renault R5 Turbo 3E given the muscular appearance of the car’s sides with generous wheel arches that embrace large-dimension wheels mounted with low-profile tires. So, a little gift to Mitsubishi to sanction Nissan?

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