Mitsubishi to Launch Electric Light Truck and Plug-in Hybrid Outlander in 2013

According to a report from Japan's Nikkei business daily, Mitsubishi is developing a pure-electric light truck that will be launched onto the market in the second quarter of 2013.

Mitsubishi has been one of the first carmakers to enter the EV market with its iMieV, an all-electric city car that like the Outlander SUV has also spawned PSA Peugeot Citroen variants.

Speaking of the Outlander, the report states that a plug-in hybrid version of Mitsubishi’s crossover will also hit the market at the same time as the electric truck.

The PX-MiEV II concept that was unveiled less than a month ago at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show may give us some clues to the Outlander’s replacement as well as its powertrain setup.

The plug-in hybrid is powered by a 2.0-liter MIVEC gasoline engine with an output of 94HP, and sports two 60kW (80HP) electric motors, one at the front and the other at the rear. Power is transferred to all four wheels via the acclaimed Lancer Evolution X’s Super-All Wheel Drive that is mated to a new twin-motor AWD system.

The Japanese carmaker has an ambitious plan to launch eight electric or plug-in hybrids and become a global EV leader by 2016.

The i-MieV will go on sale in the States next month as the “i”, while the 2013 hybrid crossover will be a global product. It is still unclear, however, whether the electric light truck, which as Nikkei says will be priced at around 1.5 million yen (US$19,200) after government subsidies, will be available outside Japan.

Story References: Autonews

 

Mitsubishi Concept PX-MiEV

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Mitsubishi's Concept PX-MiEV II Plug-in Hybrid SUV

In the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show 2011 which runs from November 30 to December 11 Mitsubishi draw the second generation of its PX-MiEV concept, which makes the study a little more production.

Considered a preview of the look and possibly an alternative option for the drive train the next generation Mitsubishi Outlander, the PX-MiEV Concept II is a follow-up study of PX-MiEV unveiled at 2009 Auto Tokyo.

Outside, there are some minor changes such as the style of the highest roof, mirrors, more conventional research alloy, headlights and bumpers, suggesting that the PX-MiEV II is pointing to the style next Outlander.

Refined in the body, Mitsubishi has replaced the engine of the first concept of the gasoline engine of 1.6 liters with a 2.0-liter MIVEC unit higher value of 70kW (94HP). The SUV is equipped with a pair of electric motors in the front and back, issuing a power of 60kW (80HP) each.

Concept, both batteries can be recharged by the engine through the brake, or a normal house plug.

The PX-MiEV Concept II features the company's newly developed twin-engine four-wheel-coupled system with the Lancer Evolution X S-AWC (Super All Wheel Control), advanced traction control.

The Japanese manufacturer says the II PX-MiEV can travel a distance of 50 kilometers (31 miles) on electric power alone, and over 800 kilometers (498 miles) using the gasoline engine and electricity.

PHOTO GALLERY

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Mitsubishi official says Evo franchise is dead

According to Gayu Eusegi, head of global product development for Mitsubishi, the Lancer Evolution X will be the last Evo the Japanese automaker ever builds. Eusegi says the move is part of a shift in strategy to put the company’s product focus and ethos on leadership in EV technology.

To that end, Autocar indicates that Mitsubishi will release eight fully-electric or hybrid-electric cars by the time 2015 rolls around, and make a grab for a big portion of the CO2-reduction market share. It goes without saying that the fun-yet-fuel-swilling Evo just doesn’t fit that mindset, particularly since it apes a rally car that no longer exists.

Despite the Evo’s huge popularity, Mitsubishi apparently isn’t scared of the step and says it’s confident that consumers will glom on to the idea and rally behind the brand. By killing the Evo, they’re making their intentions plain to an increasingly environmentally-conscious car-buying public.

Eusegi killed dead any notion that the brand would roll out a performance-oriented hybrid as well. “Maybe the world can change, and maybe someday we can do a motor race by electric vehicles. Maybe then we can enter the market agian,” he said.

This report of the Evo’s death would seem to stand in contrast to multiple reports that an Evo XI is in the works with a hybrid drivetrain. We’re taking this latest Autocar missive with a few grains of salt, as we can see how Eusegi may have simply meant that an Evo that relies exclusively on internal combustion is dead – a hybrid Evo would seem to offer a nice technological bridge to Mitsubishi’s more electrically minded future.

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