Wednesday, May 23, 2012

2012 Mitsubishi i-MiEV Evolution Overview

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) will enter two all-electric vehicles (EVs) in the Electric Class of the legendary Pikes Peak International Hill Climb1. MMC will be aiming for victory in the Electric Class with the i-MiEV Evolution, a specially-prepared competition version based on the i all-electric vehicle2. MMC is also entering a regular production i in the event.

Enter the i-MiEV Evolution The i-MiEV Evolution uses the same motor, drive battery and other major components as the production i and has been developed in cooperation with several partner companies including Meidensha Corporation and GS Yuasa Corporation. The i-MiEV Evolution has been developed to showcase MMC's advanced EV control and EV component technologies. MMC will use the technical knowhow garnered through the i-MiEVEvolution's development and usage for the development of future EV models with superior durability and reliability.

All-pro Team Driving the i-MiEV Evolution in the Pikes Peak event and also serving as team manager will be Mr. Hiroshi Masuoka - the first Japanese driver to post consecutive overall victories in the Dakar Rally. The Mitsubishi i will be piloted by Ms. Beccy Gordon, a winner in the Score International Off-Road Racing Series.

1. Mitsubishi Motors 2012 Pikes Peak Challenge Team

Team Manager Hiroshi Masuoka Drivers Hiroshi Masuoka Beccy Gordon Competition Cars i-MiEV Evolution Mitsubishi i (i-MiEV in other countries) Racing class Electric Class

2. Outline Description of Cars Entered for Pikes Peak

(1) i-MiEV Evolution Developed for the Pikes Peak event, the i-MiEV Evolution basically uses the same motor, drive battery and other major components as the production i-MiEV fitted to a specially-designed racing-specific body which uses a tube-frame chassis and a carbon fibre cowl among other features designed to reduce weight and improve aerodynamic performance. Comprising a single motor driving the front and two motors driving the rear wheels, the car's four-wheel-drive system provides superior motive performance and handling.

L x W x H (mm) 4341 x 1900 x 1339 Occupants 1 Drivetrain 4-wheel drive Motors Number 3 (1 front, 2 rear) Max. output (kW) 240 (80 kW x 3) Drive battery Rated capacity (kWh) 35 Chassis Specially-designed tube frame Cowl Carbon fibre Tyres 245/40R18 (2) Mitsubishi i

For the Pikes Peak event the production Mitsubishi i has been modified using a more aerodynamic front bumper and fitted with roll bars and other safety equipment.

The Mitsubishi i went on sale on the west coast of the United States (in the states of California, Washington and Oregon) and in Hawaii in November 2011 with plans to expand sales to the whole of the country by June 2012. The i also went on sale in Canada as the i-MiEV in December 2011, marking its full-scale launch targeting corporate and individual customers in the North American market.

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