Over the past few years, Mexico has become a very interesting market when it comes to automoibles. Its geographic position is close enough to both North and South Americas for the standards of automaker logistics, and such fact is combined to a very receptive fiscal policy. This is what explains the plethora of factories which have been and are planned to be installed there, by companies from all over the world. The Chrysler group is one of those, but one can only go so far in a developing country selling models as big (read it thinking of “fuel-consuming”) and expensive as those which North-Americans choose for their average families. The only way to prosper there would be investing in compact cars, but it would take too much time and money for the pretensions the company had.
As it turns out, Chrysler did end offering compact cars in Mexico… but not of its own. A joint-venture was initiated with Hyundai only in that country, probably in order to benefit the North-Americans with more market share and the Korean cars with the use of a more prestigious brand. But if the term “badge engineering” is appearing in your mind as you read this text, here’s a surprise: how about a case in which this operation didn’t reach the badges? Accent Sedan and i10 were officially marketed as Dodges, but keeping that stylized “H” on their hoods was just ridiculous. While the companies didn’t care to change i10’s name, the other vehicle arrived in that country as Attitude. Yes, the very same vehicle whose second generation you are starting to know right now.
Now, like what usually happens with people, the Chrysler group started to replace its “friends” with the ones made after “marrying” Fiat. First, the Mexican Dodge released Grand Siena under the name Vision. And now, only a few days later, Mitsubishi’s Attrage arrives there as the new Attitude (Fiat has been working with the Japanese to create a midsize pick-up in a couple of years). Compared to the original car, the biggest change is the all-new front grille, which features the cross-hair design with pride. There are new logotypes inside and at the back, too, but way more discreet. Just like most badge-engineered cars, this one will only deserve its own identity if its sales result big and stable enough to justify performing this kind of investment in just one country.
When you keep the badge matter aside, what stands out is a very cost-efficient family car. For $ 199,900, there will be ABS brakes, dual front airbags, climate control, hill-holder, keyless engine start, power mirrors and windows, and a Sony stereo with Bluetooth connectivity. Those who can’t afford that much, in turn, can take Attitude’s entry-level variation for $ 157,900, without some of these equipments. The only engine is a four-cylinder 1.2 good for 76 cv of power and 10.2 kgfm of torque, which is claimed to make 27 kpl of gasoline. When it comes to transmissions, it’ll be possible to choose from a five-speed manual or a CVT unit. Some of the competitors the new Attitude wants to fight are the sedán versions of Hyundai Grand i10 and Volkswagen Gol.