More gloss for Mitsubishi's 380

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Answering questions from 380 customers and having kept an eye on market trends, Mitsubishi has given its big sedan a pretty creative going- over.

It's called the 380 Series III and this latest form of Mitsubishi's large sedan is designed to focus on sports performance and aggressive styling.

Over the next two months Mitsubishi's new Series III range, which comprises the all new SX and GT-L models and the range- topping VR-X, will be available through dealerships with comprehensive upgrades to give the car more sporting characteristics.

"The new range delivers a change of face for 380," says Mitsubishi Motors New Zealand's general manager of sales and marketing, Peter Wilkins. "From the new base model SX through to the flagship GT- L weve specified features that will provide drivers with a more performance focused package."

Sports tuned suspension with a strut tower brace is standard across the range, which combined with 17-inch alloy wheels and 215/55 R17 tyres will provide more accurate handling performance.

Braking has been uprated by the use of 294mm front ventilated discs with twin pot callipers and rear 302mm ventilated discs with single pot callipers.

Traction control as well as ABS is standard.

Up front sports bumpers with air dams and a new radiator grille distinguish the Series III from the previous model, while the upper-echelon VR-X and the GT-L models incorporate mesh bumper inserts and fog lamps.

Mr Wilkins explains that the VR-X is the first of the new range to be made available in New Zealand, it features a prominent rear wing, five spoke alloy wheels, a power sunroof and VR-X embroidered, silver stitched leather seats. The more luxurious GT-L will be the next cab off the 380 series III rank and will feature a mobile hands-free Bluetooth system, power sunroof, leather seats with driver's 10-way power adjustment and special eight- spoke 17-inch alloys. The GT-L retains the same rear trunk lid spoiler as the previous GT model's and rear parking sensors.

The new range's base SX model won't arrive till September, but offers a real step up from its ES predecessor, with the same rear wing as the VR-X variant, its own 17-inch six-spoke alloy wheels, traction control and sports suspension, while inside there is a freshened trim package and instrument panel.

The Mitsubishi 380 series III will start at $39,990 for the entry-pomt SX version, with the sporting VR-X and luxury GT-L asking $46,990 and $51,990 respectively.