Mitsubishi Gets Some Dignity Via Infiniti

by Derek Kreindler

Published: July 8th, 2012

mitsubishi gets some dignity via infiniti

Mitsubishi dubbed their flagship, the Dignity, to denote

“…the English to describe the peerless grandeur and majestic stateliness of the model…”

at least they’ve got a good starting point – the China-only Infiniti M35h LWB.

Previous Dignity/Proudia versions have been twinned with the Korean market Hyundai Equus, but with that alliance over, Mitsubishi turned to Nissan for some help, in the form of a badge engineered Nissan Fuga, or as we know it, Infiniti M.

Mitsubishi didn’t really do much to differentiate the Dignity, or the short-wheelbase, non-hybrid Proudia, from their Infiniti/Nissan counterparts. The mechanical bits are all identical too; the Proudia has the Nissan VQ staple engines, in 2.5L or 3.7L trim, with the big engine offering all-wheel drive. The Dignity comes solely with the hybrid powertrain. The only question that hasn’t been answered so far is “who the hell is going to buy this?”

#Infiniti #InfinitiM #Japan #LuxuryCar #Mitsubishi #MitsubishiDignity #MitsubishiProudia #Nissan #NissanFuga #Sedan

Derek Kreindler

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10 of 19 comments

MrWhopee on Jul 08, 2012

"Dignity"? Where's the company's dignity when it has to rebadge cars from other makes as their flagship? "Indignity" is likely a more accurate name. This is from the company that used to produce the famous Zero fighter. Oh how the mighty has fallen. Which makes me wonder, what's the point of this exercise? Usually flagships are for its "halo" effect for the rest of the lineup, which in this case would be moot as it's just a rebadge of other makes' model. Or is it just so that Mitsubishi honchos can have something nice to drive with a Mitsubishi badge on it? Is there anyone out there clamoring for something expensive from Mitsubishi to buy?

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- Ranwhenparked on Jul 08, 2012
  
  The Dignity/Proudia nameplate has always been applied to other manufacturers' cars. The first one was a rebadged Hyundai Equus, and 10 years later, the new one is a rebadged Infiniti. Mitsubishi has never self-developed a car in this size class. Mitsubishi has been cultivating a product alliance with Nissan for nearly a decade now, the new Dignity is just one part of that, and Nissan has been on the receiving end of rebadged Mitsus just as often as the other way around. Mitsubishi eK = Nissan Otti Nissan Wingroad = Mitsubishi Lancer Cargo Mitsubishi Minicab = Nissan Clipper Mitsubishi Pajero Mini = Nissan Kix Infiniti M35 = Mitsubishi Proudia Infiniti M35h LWB = Mitsubishi Dignity
  
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- MrWhopee on Jul 08, 2012
  
  @ranwhenparked There's also the Mitsubishi Delica = Nissan Evalia. Weren't Delicas were once pure Mitsubishi? Looks pretty neat too. Too bad they don't continue making them on their own.
  
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- KalapanaBlack on Jul 09, 2012
  
  @ranwhenparked Incorrect. The Proudia/Dignity were mainly Mitsubishi-engineered, with some input by Hyundai. The Hyundai Equus version was built in Korea by Hyundai, and outlived the Proudia/Dignity by several model years. I believe Hyundai also started equipping it with smaller Hyundai engines after Mitsubishi stopped building the 8A80 V8 (which was after the Mitsubishi home-market versions were cancelled). So, if anything, Hyundai cribbed the Proudia/Dignity from Mitsu to base their flagship on. Fun Fact: the Proudia/Dignity were the first mainline production gasoline direct injected cars in the world. They had the Mitsubishi 8A80 V8, a 4.5L DOHC V8 FWD. Yes, FWD. Mitsu sold GDI version of the 4G 4 cyl, the 6G V6, and GDI was the only injection system available on the 8A V8, all in 1998-99.
  
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Sportyaccordy on Jul 08, 2012

Its really sad to watch Mitsu die right before our eyes. How can you have a flagship that is a rebadge of another brand's car?

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- KalapanaBlack on Jul 09, 2012
  
  See above. The Hyundai Equus flagship was based entirely on Mitsubishi JDM models for years, until 2010 when the current Equus was launched based on the Genesis. Of course, Korean tastes are a little different, but the Mitsubishi models were available in Korea concurrent with the Hyundai-built versions (first the Sigma/Magna/Debonair/Grandeur Mk. 1 and 2, then the Proudia/Dignity/Equus Mk. 1). It didn't seem to hurt Hyundai.
  
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Ccode81 on Jul 08, 2012

Don't be bothered adding this car to your automobile knoledge database. There are bunch of Mitsubishi keiretsu companies, all expected to use Mitsubishi cars. Executives wants to be carried in something better than Lancer, thus this been prepared. (When last Proudia discontinued, Executives were allowed for riding Mercedes, which alliance just started. but that ended up, and good time to replace the vehicles) Executive and Cheif executive needs to be in different car to maintain the hierarchy, thus 2 names prepared. Also goverment will buy some of the large cars from each company at your market share ratio, thus you get some more buyer there.

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- Spartan on Jan 31, 2014
  
  As old as this is, ccode81's answer is correct. The Mitsu Proudia is for Mitsu execs because they can't ride in competitor cars (Toyotas and Honda). Mitsu is a huge conglomerate in Asia, from TVs to ships and of course they dabble in cars as well. Fun fact: Mitsubishis were/are very prevalent in Korea as Hyundais. The 1st and 2nd Gen Grandeur is a Mitsu Debonair, the 1st Gen Hyundai Equus is a Mitsu Proudia. Oddly enough, Kia was in bed with Mazda around the same time. The Kia Potentia is a Mazda Luce (USDM 929) and the Kia Enterprise was a Madza Luce as well. Rather odd considering the relationship the Koreans and Japanese had politically in the past with the whole occupation and all.
  
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- Ccode81 on Jan 31, 2014
  
  @Spartan Suprise, suprise, a reply to this old article! And don't forget Daewoo Arcadia aka Honda Legend. There was an good old day when Japanese economy was multiple times larger than whole other Asian countries put together. Some politicians and government officials dreamed Japan to be leader and super power of Asia, by giving ODAs and technology transfer all will follow and forgive the past. For such plan, tier2 companies, easy to harrass were forced for this kind of technology transfer for virtually no return. Time has changed, and we finally realized non of compensation is enough to satisfy Korean greed. just been asked more and more eternally.
  
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Hatchtopia on Jul 09, 2012

I'll be disappointed if it's not spelled "Digniti" on the trunklid.

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