Segment: Large
Production years: 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004
Often described as a large family sedan for the 1995 European standards, the Carisma was more of a compact-sized vehicle built on the same platform as the Volvo S40.
Mitsubishi needed a car to compete in the European mid-size sedan segment against Ford Mondeo, Renault Laguna, or Volkswagen Passat. But it couldn't do that on its own, and, together with Volvo, it built a common platform and shared engines and technologies. Volvo already had some agreements with Renault, and that helped the two carmakers offer diesel versions for the Mitsubishi Carisma/Volvo S40. Apart from the technical platform, the two vehicles didn't share aesthetic or stylistic features.
Mitsubishi missed the opportunity to offer a car with a bold stance. Despite its curved headlights and split grille look, it wasn't what the European customers were looking for. A British company, TWR (Tom Walkinshaw Racing), imagined a slightly modified version of the Carisma and showcased it at the 1995 London Motor Show. Unfortunately, that remained as concept-car only.
Inside, Mitsubishi didn't consider that the car should feature an elaborated design and high-quality materials. It tried to make the car cheaper than the competition, but that was too obvious. Unlike the Mondeo, which was available with leather-wrapped interior and soft materials, the Carisma showed fabric upholstery and hard plastic.
Under the hood, the Japanese carmaker made another mistake. It tried to offer the car at a competitive price, but that made them install a 1.3-liter engine in a vehicle considered "large" for those times. The 1.9-liter turbodiesel carried-over from Renault was considered a better alternative, but it wasn't enough to boost the car's sales. In 2004, Mitsubishi decided to pull the plug from the Carisma lineup.
ENGINE SPECS - 1.6L 4AT FWD (90 HP) | |
---|---|
Cylinders: | L4 |
Displacement: | 1597 cm3 |
Power: | 66 KW @ 5500 RPM 90 HP @ 5500 RPM 89 BHP @ 5500 RPM |
Torque: | 101 lb-ft @ 4000 RPM 137 Nm @ 4000 RPM |
Fuel System: | Multipoint Injection |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
Fuel capacity: | 15.9 gallons (60.2 L) |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
---|---|
Drive Type: | Front Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 4 speed manual |
BRAKES SPECS | |
---|---|
Front: | Ventilated Discs |
Rear: | Solid Discs |
TIRES SPECS | |
---|---|
Tire Size: | 175/65R14 |
DIMENSIONS | |
---|---|
Length: | 174.6 in (4435 mm) |
Width: | 66.7 in (1694 mm) |
Height: | 55.3 in (1405 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 98.4 in (2499 mm) |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
---|---|
Unladen Weight: | 2502 lbs (1135 kg) |
ENGINE SPECS - 1.6L 5MT FWD (90 HP) | |
---|---|
Cylinders: | L4 |
Displacement: | 1597 cm3 |
Power: | 66 KW @ 5500 RPM 90 HP @ 5500 RPM 89 BHP @ 5500 RPM |
Torque: | 101 lb-ft @ 4000 RPM 137 Nm @ 4000 RPM |
Fuel System: | Multipoint Injection |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
Fuel capacity: | 15.9 gallons (60.2 L) |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
---|---|
Drive Type: | Front Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 5 speed manual |
BRAKES SPECS | |
---|---|
Front: | Ventilated Discs |
Rear: | Solid Discs |
TIRES SPECS | |
---|---|
Tire Size: | 175/65R14 |
DIMENSIONS | |
---|---|
Length: | 174.6 in (4435 mm) |
Width: | 66.7 in (1694 mm) |
Height: | 55.3 in (1405 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 98.4 in (2499 mm) |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
---|---|
Unladen Weight: | 2436 lbs (1105 kg) |
ENGINE SPECS - 1.8L 4AT FWD (115 HP) | |
---|---|
Cylinders: | L4 |
Displacement: | 1834 cm3 |
Power: | 85 KW @ 5500 RPM 116 HP @ 5500 RPM 114 BHP @ 5500 RPM |
Torque: | 119 lb-ft @ 4000 RPM 161 Nm @ 4000 RPM |
Fuel System: | Multipoint Injection |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
Fuel capacity: | 15.9 gallons (60.2 L) |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
---|---|
Drive Type: | Front Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 4 speed automatic |
BRAKES SPECS | |
---|---|
Front: | Ventilated Discs |
Rear: | Solid Discs |
TIRES SPECS | |
---|---|
Tire Size: | 175/65R14 |
DIMENSIONS | |
---|---|
Length: | 174.6 in (4435 mm) |
Width: | 66.7 in (1694 mm) |
Height: | 55.3 in (1405 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 98.4 in (2499 mm) |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
---|---|
Unladen Weight: | 2557 lbs (1160 kg) |
ENGINE SPECS - 1.8L 5MT FWD (115 HP) | |
---|---|
Cylinders: | L4 |
Displacement: | 1834 cm3 |
Power: | 85 KW @ 5500 RPM 116 HP @ 5500 RPM 114 BHP @ 5500 RPM |
Torque: | 119 lb-ft @ 4000 RPM 161 Nm @ 4000 RPM |
Fuel System: | Multipoint Injection |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
Fuel capacity: | 15.9 gallons (60.2 L) |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
---|---|
Drive Type: | Front Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 5 speed manual |
BRAKES SPECS | |
---|---|
Front: | Ventilated Discs |
Rear: | Solid Discs |
TIRES SPECS | |
---|---|
Tire Size: | 175/65R14 |
DIMENSIONS | |
---|---|
Length: | 174.6 in (4435 mm) |
Width: | 66.7 in (1694 mm) |
Height: | 55.3 in (1405 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 98.4 in (2499 mm) |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
---|---|
Unladen Weight: | 2491 lbs (1130 kg) |
ENGINE SPECS - 1.8L 5MT FWD (140 HP) | |
---|---|
Cylinders: | L4 |
Displacement: | 1834 cm3 |
Power: | 103 KW @ 6500 RPM 140 HP @ 6500 RPM 138 BHP @ 6500 RPM |
Torque: | 123 lb-ft @ 5000 RPM 167 Nm @ 5000 RPM |
Fuel System: | Multipoint Injection |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
Fuel capacity: | 15.9 gallons (60.2 L) |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
---|---|
Drive Type: | Front Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 5 speed manual |
BRAKES SPECS | |
---|---|
Front: | Ventilated Discs |
Rear: | Solid Discs |
TIRES SPECS | |
---|---|
Tire Size: | 175/65R14 |
DIMENSIONS | |
---|---|
Length: | 174.6 in (4435 mm) |
Width: | 66.7 in (1694 mm) |
Height: | 55.3 in (1405 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 98.4 in (2499 mm) |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
---|---|
Unladen Weight: | 2590 lbs (1175 kg) |