Why was there no 2016 model year Mirage in North America?

[MetroMPG]

Traditionally in North America, next year's model shows up in the fall (eg. Sept-Sept cycle). Mirage has not followed this pattern AT ALL. (Neither has the competing Nissan Micra in Canada.)

Anybody have any theories?

- Possibly to prop up the resale value of the 2015 model, since it had a longer than normal run before a replacement showed up (through to March of 2016)?

- The 2017 model year is having a similarly long run before its replacement shows up.

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In Canada, Nissan played similarly strange model year shenanigans with the competing Micra: initially introduced in April 2014 as a 2015 model, the 2016 Micra wasn't released until March of 2016. That's a TWO YEAR run (minus 1 month) for the 2015 model year!

In many countries outside of N.A., cars are sold by calendar year (date of manufacture, I assume), not arbitrary "model years".

[MetroMPG]

Oh, and another thing:

If Mitsu had put out a 2016 model year Mirage in the U.S., they would have been able to continue marketing it with the pre-2017 EPA mileage figures, which look better in advertising. (2017 EPA changes reduced most vehicles' ratings, even with no mechanical changes:Stricter EPA testing for 2017 model year - be careful making comparisons )

Which makes me wonder if there might have been some other regulatory incentive that prompted them to skip 2016.

[MightyMirageMpg]

The car was dogged so widely and hard here I'm a bit skeptical the real reason wasn't supply and demand. You can still purchase brand new mailslots (pre facelift) which will now be 2 year old "New" cars by the calandar, and possibly 2-1/2 years old per build date.

[MetroMPG]

That's a possibility...

An Ottawa dealer just sold 5 brand new 2014's:
Thread: brand new 2014 Mirages in Ottawa, $5000 discount (top trim)


The lack of a 2016 model year just bit Mitsu in the butt again: a newspaper I read just did a roundup of the most fuel efficient cars, and currently the Spark & Fiesta 1.0 rank higher than the Mirage because they're 2016 model years, and the Mirage is under the stricter 2017 EPA ratings. Of course they don't mention that.

[MightyMirageMpg]

With relatively cheap gas prices, and other glutten-minded issues, USA is clearly not the Mirages bread and butter market. (Yes i realize we aren't the ones in this continent)

How well does the car sell in other countries? Is there a demand or do they sit stagnant elsewhere?

[IchabodCrane]

That's a possibility...

An Ottawa dealer just sold 5 brand new 2014's:
Thread: brand new 2014 Mirages in Ottawa, $5000 discount (top trim)


The lack of a 2016 model year just bit Mitsu in the butt again: a newspaper I read just did a roundup of the most fuel efficient cars, and currently the Spark & Fiesta 1.0 rank higher than the Mirage because they're 2016 model years, and the Mirage is under the stricter 2017 EPA ratings. Of course they don't mention that.

Most publications compare specs on current year models or "new" models of the various manufacturers. Since Mitsubishi has no 2016 model Mirage it should never have been included in their flawed comparison. This simply illustrates bad judgement and poor reporting on the part of said publication.
It may be that this is the kind of biased anti-Mitsubishi BS
Mitsu was trying to avoid by skipping 2016 model year.

[Top_Fuel]

Just out of curiosity...

How long did Mitsubishi build 2015 Mirages? My 2015 ES was built in October, 2015. I assume that was near the end of the production run before they started building 2017s?

[Cobrajet]

Just out of curiosity...

How long did Mitsubishi build 2015 Mirages? My 2015 ES was built in October, 2015. I assume that was near the end of the production run before they started building 2017s?

Lol...my 2015 ES was built in September, 2014.

[Top_Fuel]

...my 2015 ES was built in September, 2014.

Guess it was a really long production year...

[Eggman]

This simply illustrates bad judgement and poor reporting on the part of said publication.

I think it's because clickbait pays.