Mitsubishi Dignity

Sections of this article are translated from Japanese Wikipedia.

Mitsubishi Dignity

Manufacturer	Mitsubishi Motors
Production	1999–2001
Predecessor	Mitsubishi Debonair
Class	Luxury car
Body style	4-door sedan
Layout	front engine, front wheel drive
Engine	8A80 4.5 L V8
Transmission	INVECS-II 5-speed automatic
Wheelbase	3,080 mm (121.3 in)
Length	5,335 mm (210.0 in)
Width	1,870 mm (73.6 in)
Height	1,485 mm (58.5 in)
Curb weight	2,370 kg (5,200 lb)
Related	Mitsubishi Proudia Hyundai Equus

The Mitsubishi Dignity, whose name was derived from "the English to describe the peerless grandeur and majestic stateliness of the model",^[1] is a limousine manufactured by Mitsubishi Motors from late 1999 as the flagship of the company's domestic range, alongside the smaller Proudia luxury car. The entire Proudia/Dignity range was designed by Mitsubishi Motors and co-manufactured with Hyundai of South Korea, who marketed their own version as the Hyundai Equus.^[2] The Dignity was introduced as a competitor to the Nissan President and Toyota Century as the top level flagship, however Mitsubishi chose to use a transverly installed engine with front wheel drive. A Dignity is used by Prince Akishino, according to the Japanese Wikipedia article.

The ¥9,990,000 Dignity (S43 chassis code) featured Mitsubishi's 8A80 4,498 cc V8, a 90-degree aluminium-block GDi engine producing 280 PS (206 kW) at 5000 rpm and 412 N·m (304 lb·ft) at 4000 rpm,^[1] and an extension of the Proudia's exterior dimensions in order to liberate more interior space for the rear occupants; the roofline was raised by 10 mm (0.4 in) and the wheelbase by 250 mm (9.8 in). It used MacPherson struts for the front suspension and a multi-link spspension for the rear wheels. The car was equipped with several advanced features like CCD cameras to monitor adjacent lanes and behind the car, and a laser activated adaptive cruise control.^[2]

Rear view of Mitsubishi Dignity

The Dignity and Proudia's combined volumes fell far shy of Mitsubishi's forecasted 300 sales per month,^[1] and they were available for only fifteen months from their introduction on February 20, 2000, before Mitsubishi's financial difficulties forced the company to discontinue both models in an effort to streamline its range and reduce costs.^[3] However, the Hyundai Equus proved more commercially successful and would remain in production until replaced in 2008.^[4]

Production and sales

Year	Production	Sales
1999	15	-
2000	42	45
2001	2	3

(Sources: Fact & Figures 2000, Fact & Figures 2005, Mitsubishi Motors website)

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} "Proudia & Dignity: Luxury sedan and limousine models" (Press release). Mitsubishi Motors. 1999-12-20. http://www.mitsubishi-motors.com/en/corporate/pressrelease/products/detail522.html. Retrieved 2011-05-21. 
2. ^ ^{a b} "Mitsubishi's new flagships", Jack Yamaguchi, Automotive Engineering International Online, March 2000
3. ^ "Streamlining of production capacity and model portfolio", MMC press release, March 28, 2001
4. ^ "Future Vehicles Preview: 2008 Hyundai Equus Large Sedan", Inside Line, edmunds.com