MITSUBISHI is to launch direct injection diesel engines in Japan late next year and they are scheduled to be launched in the UK after the year 2000. The 2.5- and 3.0-litre DID units will complement the 1.8-litre GDI direct injection petrol engine which powers the Mitsubishi Carisma.

Mitsubishi is the first engine manufacturer to mass produce a gasoline direct injection (GDI) engine, and because both the GDI and DID engines use similar technology, the development costs have been shared. The DID and GDI engines also share characteristics.

Both are more friendly to the global and local environment by reducing carbon dioxide and toxic gas emissions. Contributing to improved combustion characteristics, these features result in carbon dioxide emissions and fuel consumption falling by 30%, while power output increases by about 20%.