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      HM-Mitsubishi introduces Lancer Cedia LPG in India

      Ashish Jha

      Ashish Jha

      Mitsubishi Lancer Cedia LPGMitsubishi Lancer. Perfectly innocent word that takes on a sinister bent of attitude when those three letters are suffixed to it. Those three letters being 'E-v-o'. An obdurate, unforgiving car that thrills your spine. The Recaro seats, that roar from the exhaust, that turbo whistle, holy-mother-this-is-insane amount of power. What a paradise!


      But why are we talking about this manic example of a car, you ask. Because there is a connection, I say. You see, we Indians too got the Lancer, and then a derivative of the international model - the Cedia. And either of the cars were no Evo. The Lancer and the Cedia both are plagiaristic products of the globally available Lancer, which in itself has been acclaimed for its might. So one can only imagine what the Evo version of the Lancer is all about.

      The Cedia we get is quite a sedate performer which is 'capable' of delivering an exhilarating drive. Just have a look at the rally prepped Mitsu Cedia we have in India, and you'll know what I mean. I am not asking the Japenese to give us over 250 horses, but the Cedia could do with about 25hp jump in its power rating, to keep it fighting. And just when I was about to voice my thoughts about this, our very beloved good 'ol Hindustan Motors did what I least expected them to. They launched the LPG version of their luxo offering.

      What HM has done is traded not-so-hot performance for er... still not-so-hot performance and better costs overall. Yes, I am still of a firm belief that Cedia is a pleasing car. It rides well, handing is acceptable and offers goodies aplenty. It deserves to sell more. Agreed that maintenance costs are high, but HM and Mitsubishi can always do something about it. We hope that "something" happens sooner than later.

      Instead of coming out with a LPG variant, HM could've done well to boost the image of the Cedia by offering spoilers, skirts, performance exhausts and such add-ons, I feel, just to give it that psuedo Evo look and feel. This, I am sure would've pushed the sales a bit. But then again, HM knows best about their doings and would've arrived at this decision after much thought and calculation.

      That decision is quite good, my saner self says while the enthusiast inside me fights a battle against this statement. Only to lose it comprehensively. The reason here being - us. The typical Indian customer.

      So what, if the likes of Porsches, Audis, Lambos and BMWs have entered India, our mindset has still not really changed much. We still talk "mileage" before even going ahead with other things regarding the car, no matter how good it is. And herein lies the problem. Why in this world do you think good, capable cars like the Cedia, Forester, Mondeo etc have not caught the buyer's fancy? Primarily because they did not deliver on the fuel efficiency front (okay, other factors too were the reason, but what the heck!).

      You might argue that with the prices of the crude marching northwards, how much of a sense would it make for a person to go in for a gas guzzling so-called hot set of wheels? Not much I would say, and shall zip my mouth there. But my mind still fights and begs to give such worthy cars one chance. Just one more chance. "It is all in the hands of the manufacturers", I console myself with that and go about doing my business.

      But there is agitation inside me still. How much longer would we have to wait, would the not-a-rich-dad's-spoilt-brat kinda enthusiast have to wait, to lay the hands on a proper, pukka hot hatch or a sporty sedan? Quite long, mind says. Period.


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