Tokyo, September 2, 2002-Mitsubishi Motors Corporation announces the addition of the eK Sport model to the eK Wagon that the company put on the market last year as a new minicar standard. Developed to a "stylish sport wagon" theme, eK Sport goes on sale at Galant and Car Plaza dealerships throughout Japan today.
The eK Wagon with upgraded equipment specification and improved fuel consumption will also go on sale today.

eK Sport [R]

I. Major product features

eK Sport

1. Exterior

• The smooth surface composition of body and bumpers adds to eK Sport's muscular, sporty and high structural integrity appearance.
• Located at strategic points around the body is the eK Sports emblem which takes the "simple, stylish, sports" design concept as its motif. The use of blue for all lamp moldings and other detail treatment realize an exterior that present a clean but high-density appearance.
• Other design features include smooth surface front and rear bumpers, sculptured and muscular front fenders, body-integral side air dams, rear spoiler (housing LED high-mount auxiliary stop lamp) and tailgate garnish.
• The translucent front grille incorporates the intercooler air intake, marrying function with fashion. Set back into the grille is eK Sport's logo plate.
• 4-light headlamp units house projector low-beam headlights and the turn signals. The rear combination lamp units all use a clear lens design. High-intensity discharge (HID) headlamps, which improve driver visibility at night, are available as a factory-fitted option.
• The antenna is mounted in the center of the roof for improved reception performance and for design purposes. The antenna can be adjusted through four angles - 0-degrees, 30-degrees, 50-degrees and 180-degrees - as required.

2. Interior

• eK Sports' interior retains the outstanding utility and cleverly deployed stowage space of the eK Wagon. Features exclusive to eK Sports in its functional and sporty interior include: black-based color scheme; hybrid instrumentation with digital speedometer and analogue tachometer; leather wrapped 3-spoke steering wheel; and sports seats front and rear that hold occupants firmly and comfortably.
• The black-base color scheme creates a crisp, sporty contrast with the silver door inner handles, heater control panel and audio switches, with the blue instrumentation dial faces, cup holders and mini-trash can and the medium-blue seat upholstery and door trim cloth.
• The hybrid instrumentation uses blue-on-white dial graphics to present information clearly and precisely.
• eK Sport uses a leather-wrapped 3-spoke wheel with hand-locating bulges at 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock on the rim. Blue stitching for the leather and a silver 3-diamond mark in the wheel boss are coordinated with the interior color scheme.
• The sports seats are covered in a medium-blue knit upholstery. The driver's seat is height adjustable, enabling the optimum driving position to be obtained.

3. Engines

• The [R] trim level is powered by the 3G83 3-cylinder 12-valve SOHC intercooler-turbocharged engine, with ECI-Multi fuel injection. Developing maxima of 64PS (47kW)/6000 rpm and 9.5kg-m (93N-m)/3500 rpm, this power plant delivers zesty, dynamic performance with excellent response across the full rev range.
• eK Sports delivers very clean environmental performance, on top of its class-topping dynamic performance, and has received Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport U-LEV certification for emissions that are 50% lower than the Japanese 2000 standards. In-house testing also shows that eK Sports returns class-topping fuel consumption on congested roads, suburban roads and expressways when running under nomal diving conditions with the air conditioning on.
• The [Z] trim level uses the same 3G83 3-cylinder 12-valve SOHC with ECI-Multi fuel injection engine as the eK Wagon, producing maxima of 50PS (37kW)/6500 rpm and 6.3kg-m (62N-m)/4000 rpm.
• [Z] models earn U-LEV certification for emissions that are 50% lower than the Japanese 2000 standards. In addition, the 2WD [Z] qualifies for Vehicle Green Tax exemption for meeting Japanese 2010 fuel consumption standards.

4. Transmissions

• [R] models use Minica Toppo BJ's 4-speed automatic, optimally tuned to fully extract eK Sport's dynamic performance potential. Detail improvements realize lower interior noise levels, faster acceleration from rest and better fuel consumption.
• [Z] models use the same 3-speed automatic transmission as the eK Wagon.

5. Suspension

• On [R] models, the McPherson strut front suspension has been uprated and optimized to achieve greater stiffness, thereby delivering improved handling stability and steering response and reducing noise and vibration for a more comfortable ride.
• At the rear, [R] models use a 3-link rigid axle with torque arm and coil spring arrangement, uprated and optimized to give eK Sport natural lane tracing, low-roll stability and a flat ride.
• [Z] models employ the same front and rear suspension as the eK Wagon.

6. Body

• Suspension mountings on [R] models have been reinforced to match the sports tuning of the suspension, thereby contributing to improved handling stability. Additional vibration and noise insulation been deployed at strategic points throughout the body to realize a quieter interior in sports driving situations.
• eK Sports offers enhanced levels of crashworthiness incorporating advances in eK Wagon's RISE (Realized Impact Safety Evolution) body that combines an energy-absorbing front section with a strong and rigid occupant cell. Changes include the use of more efficient body elements and uprated sheet metal gauge, as well as stronger floor and roof structures that provide greater head injury protection for front occupants.

7. Brakes

• [R] models use 14-inch ventilated discs at the front and 7-inch leading/trailing type shoes at the rear to deliver braking power that matches eK Sport's elevated dynamic performance. Braking effectiveness has been improved for all pedal pressures with the fitting of an 8-inch vacuum booster, and anti-lock braking with brake assist and EBD (electronic brake pressure distribution) as standard equipment on all eK Sport models, realizing linear, firm, stable and progressive stopping power right from the lightest pedal input.
• [Z] models have the same brake specification as the eK Wagon.

8. Wheels & tires

• [R] uses 155/55R14 tires (165/55R14 on the 4WD model) that optimally match and maximize eK Sports' class-topping levels of dynamic performance and sporty handling stability. The tires ride on 14-inch 6-spoke alloy road wheels which use a full cover that hides the wheel nuts.
• Both 2WD and 4WD [Z] models use the same 155/65R13 size tires as the eK Wagon, riding on a new design 13-inch 8-spoke alloy road wheel.

9. Other features

• To bring out its distinctive and attractive personality to maximum effect, eK Sports is offered with a wide range of dealer-fitted dress-up optional accessories and trim for both exterior and interior. Also available are a Ralliart sports suspension package and sports muffler that enable eK Sport to push the performance envelope further still.
• eK Sport is also available in the Roar dress-up version and in the M2 customized version* with factory-fitted body parts. Exquisitely matched to the base model's form and lines, both versions stamp out eK Sport's brand identity more vividly still.
  * On sale October 10

eK Wagon

1. Upgraded equipment specification

• The driver's seat is now fitted with height-adjustment as standard, enabling the driver to obtain the optimum driving position.
• A driver's seat heater is available as a factory-fitted option on cold region specifications models.

2. Improvements in mileage, dynamic performance and interior noise levels

• Detail adjustment of the torque converter has improved fuel consumption in the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport 10-15 urban driving pattern from 17.4 km/l to 19.2 km/l in 2WD models, and from 15.8 km/l to 17.2 km/l in 4WD models.
• eK Wagon models now have U-LEV certification for achieving emissions performance that is 50% better than Japanese 2000 standards. 2WD models also meet Japanese 2010 fuel consumption standards and therefore qualify for Vehicle Green Tax exemption.
• Tuning of the air intake system has improved acceleration from rest. Improvements to intake and exhaust systems and to noise insulation has lowered levels of interior noise and vibration.

3. Better crashworthiness

• On all eK Wagon models, Mitsubishi's RISE (Realized Impact Safety Evolution) body, which combines an energy-absorbing front section with a strong and rigid occupant cell, features the use of higher efficiency body elements, upgraded material gauge and reinforcement of head injury protecting floor and roof structures to realize improved levels of crashworthiness.

4. Black Interior Edition now in regular lineup

• The eK Wagon Black Limited Edition special, with its taut black-based color scheme and interior trim, has been added to the standard eK Wagon lineup.

II. Sales information

III Manufacturer's recommended prices

1. eK Sport

2. eK Wagon