Mitsubishi Service and Repair in Rancho Cordova, Ca

A Brief History of Mitsubishis

Mitsubishi wasn’t always a car company. In fact, it started as a shipbuilding company that later branched into automotive manufacturing. In 1917, Mitsubishi, then going by Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., introduced one of their first vehicles.

It rolled out the Mitsubishi Model A, a seven-seater car that resembles the Fiat Tipo 3. While a few units rolled out of the production line, it didn’t do as well relative to its Western counterparts. It proved to be too expensive to manufacture and own, at least for their target consumers at the time.

As a result, Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. had to hit the brakes on the car production gig — until 1937, that is. When World War II rolled around, Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. became a contractor for military vehicles.

During its stint as a military vehicle producer, the company came out with the PX33. What’s special about this car is that it was one of the first sedans to have four-wheel drive.

After the War, the company continued manufacturing vehicles for private use. By the 1950s, Mitsubishi had rebranded itself as a car manufacturing company, leaving its shipbuilding reputation behind. The company ventured into mass-marketed sedans, succeeding on the first try with the Mitsubishi 500. In the midst of its car manufacturing ventures, the company also went into luxury car production with its release of the Mitsubishi Debonair.

After numerous mergers and expansions, the company renamed itself Mitsubishi Motors Corporation on April 22, 1970. Since the founding of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, Mitsubishis have possessed several of the company’s early innovations. These innovations include multiple-seating carriages and four-wheel drive. The latter is something many current Mitsubishis have, especially models manufactured for the luxury and motorsport market.

Some of the Most Popular Mitsubishi Models We Service

Mitsubishi has given motorists worldwide some of the most durable and reliable vehicles on the market. While it’s tough to determine the best Mitsubishi car or SUV, here are some that most of our clients have brought in for our Mitsubishi service:

Mitsubishi Eclipse (SUV)

The Eclipse is one of Mitsubishi’s most popular lines of SUVs. The Eclipse line has a PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle) and gasoline version. The Eclipse ranks similarly to the Outlander and Montero in terms of appeal.

Mitsubishi Mirage

The Mirage is a popular choice for car owners who want space and fuel efficiency. The Mirage comes in two variants — the Space Star and the G4. The Space Star is the hatchback version of the Mirage.

Mitsubishi Triton

Mitsubishi came out with the Triton in an attempt to introduce more compact pickup trucks. The Triton features a compact design and four-wheel drive, making it perfect for off-road aficionados.

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution

Lancers are some of Mitsubishi’s oldies-but-goldies. Mitsubishi Lancers have been around since the 80s but have since then found their ways into the garages of racers and everyday motorists alike. In 2017, the company launched the Lancer Evolution. The Lancer Evolution features the signature sleekness of the classic Lancer, but with better fuel economy than its predecessor.

At the time of writing, Mitsubishi no longer manufactures these two vehicles. However, they’re still popular choices for car owners. This is due to the reliability and fuel economy of the Lancer Evolution and its predecessor.