Born: 1917
Nationality: Japanese
Mitsubishi produced its first Model A in 1917, the car that became the first series production car in Japan. In succeeding years, the company claimed a number of other automobile "firsts", including Japan's first diesel engine, the country's first full-size bus, the first 4WD prototype and the nation's first diesel-powered truck - all under the umbrella of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
Like many other Japanese industrial companies, it prospered until the second World War, after which it was dismantled by Allied forces. In automotive terms, the postwar emphasis was on commercial vehicles, particularly electric buses because of chronic fuel shortages. Only scooters were produced for private purchase.
With the dawn of the 1960s, increased demand for locally produced cars resulted in the Mitsubishi 500, followed in 1962 by a 4-seater 2-stroke Minica, a microcar with a 359cc engine.
The Colt and Galant nameplates followed, although the Colt was then a medium-sized car rather than the supermini of today (the name was even used for a F2000 single-seat racer in the early 1970s).
With strong growth in its car business, the separate Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) was formed in 1970. This decade began a period of high success for the company, both for product recognition and for winning in motorsport. The Galant was "Car of the Year" in South Africa in 1977, and the L200 pickup was "USA Pickup of the Year" in 1979, for instance.
The Shogun/Pajero 4x4 was introduced in 1982 and in the same year scored high in the Paris-Dakar Rally, the most punishing event of its kind in the world. In 1984 it won the event outright. These successes underpinned a major expansion of sales of the company's 4x4s into the next decades.
Meanwhile, the Colt had become supermini, and a new Lancer had taken its place in the C-segment. It was a name which was to feature strongly in the 1990s in the World Rally Championship. By the turn of the millennium, Tommi Makenin had put the Lancer name and his native Finland indelibly on the rally map by winning the WRC four consecutive times.
In the mid-1990s, MMC also expanded overseas production and had assembly lines in Australia, Thailand and the Netherlands where a joint venture with Volvo produced the Carisma.
During this same time, Mitsubishi claims a number of other innovationss, including the world's first traction control system, multi-mode ABS, and the gasoline direct injection engine (GDI).
It also began a series of cult straight racer saloons under the EVO tag, today as collectible as any Ferrari to those who have petrol instead of blood in their veins.
The Lancer was discontinued in Ireland for a number of years until recently, because of difficulties relating to the value of the yen. The long delay in coming up with a new Colt hasn't helped the brand here either. So the flag-carriers have been Pajero and Carisma.
The return of the Lancer is expected to make a difference - and a number of new models in different segments are already rolling over the horizon. Since 2000, MMC has been allied with DaimlerChrysler.
Best Car: For its time, arguably the 1993 Galant (left).
Worst Car: In my memory, the 1981 Lancer.
Weirdest Car: The Mitsubishi concept SE.RO, which debuts at the Tokyo Motor Show this week. ... - Brian Byrne