Mitsubishi presents i and i MiEV minicars at New York Auto Show
The smallish i has been on sale in Japan and in limited numbers in the UK, and can be considered a sales success. Today, the i makes its first appearance on the North-American auto show circuit.
Mitsubishi's i is powered by a 660-cc turbocharged and intercooled 3-cylinder engine, which produces 57 horsepower and 62 lb-ft of torque. It features 4 valves per cylinder with MIVEC variable-valve timing, and provides 0-100 km/h sprints of 14.9 seconds.
While that might not seem quick, the true benefit of the i is fuel economy and reduced CO2 emissions, which is rated at 5.0 L/100 km on the highway. The miniscule Mitsubishi seats 4 occupants, weighs 900 kg (1,984 lbs) and rides on narrow 15-inch wheels.
Even greener is the i MiEV, which was launched in the fall of 2006. It's powered by a 64-hp electric motor fed by lithium-ion batteries, and peak torque is rated at 133 lb-ft of torque.
The MiEV (which stands for Mitsubishi Innovative Electric Vehicle) has a cruising range of 130 km and can be recharged to 80% battery capacity in a few hours with the on-board charger.
Despite the electric powertrain, the i MiEV still carries four passengers and weighs just 1080 kg (2,380 lbs). It performs better and is quieter than the gasoline-powered i.
The i MiEV Sport is another variation based on the electric powertrain, but the Sport has three electric motors instead of only one; each front wheel has its own motor, while the rear wheels share the third one. An electronic all-wheel drive system manages the car's traction. The i MiEV Sport also includes ABS brakes and a stability-control system.
With regenerative braking and other energy-saving techniques, the Sport has a range of 200 km. It can also seat four people and reach a top speed of 180 km/h.
Although the i models will probably never be sold here, our guess is that Mitsubishi wants to show off the progression of their environmental technology, something we have yet to see on this side of the Atlantic.
photo:Mitsubishi
The smallish i has been on sale in Japan and in limited numbers in the UK, and can be considered a sales success. Today, the i makes its first appearance on the North-American auto show circuit.
Mitsubishi's i is powered by a 660-cc turbocharged and intercooled 3-cylinder engine, which produces 57 horsepower and 62 lb-ft of torque. It features 4 valves per cylinder with MIVEC variable-valve timing, and provides 0-100 km/h sprints of 14.9 seconds.
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While that might not seem quick, the true benefit of the i is fuel economy and reduced CO2 emissions, which is rated at 5.0 L/100 km on the highway. The miniscule Mitsubishi seats 4 occupants, weighs 900 kg (1,984 lbs) and rides on narrow 15-inch wheels.
Even greener is the i MiEV, which was launched in the fall of 2006. It's powered by a 64-hp electric motor fed by lithium-ion batteries, and peak torque is rated at 133 lb-ft of torque.
The MiEV (which stands for Mitsubishi Innovative Electric Vehicle) has a cruising range of 130 km and can be recharged to 80% battery capacity in a few hours with the on-board charger.
Despite the electric powertrain, the i MiEV still carries four passengers and weighs just 1080 kg (2,380 lbs). It performs better and is quieter than the gasoline-powered i.
 |
The i MiEV Sport is another variation based on the electric powertrain, but the Sport has three electric motors instead of only one; each front wheel has its own motor, while the rear wheels share the third one. An electronic all-wheel drive system manages the car's traction. The i MiEV Sport also includes ABS brakes and a stability-control system.
With regenerative braking and other energy-saving techniques, the Sport has a range of 200 km. It can also seat four people and reach a top speed of 180 km/h.
Although the i models will probably never be sold here, our guess is that Mitsubishi wants to show off the progression of their environmental technology, something we have yet to see on this side of the Atlantic.
photo:Mitsubishi
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