Filed under: Budget, Japan, Hatchback, Mitsubishi, Electric, Quick Spin

We're looking at a long, nearly straight, almost totally traffic-free downhill. We'd climbed up to the base of the Palm Springs to Idyllwild Ariel Tramway. Our goal was to see how fast Mitsubishi's tiny i could go. We're on the gas, and the teensy, turbocharged 660cc three-banger is giving us all its got. The speedometer ticks upwards, now cresting 100. In front of us is nothing but inviting tarmac. Deeper and harder we push and the numbers keep ticking up. 119, 120, 121 and then finally hitting 122. We felt we left a little on the table and could have probably achieved a terminal velocity of around 130. Maybe. 125 for sure.



Before you crime and punishment types climb upon your soapboxes, we should mention that the right-hand drive, JDM-only i reads out in kilometers per hour. Meaning that our top speed was almost 76 mph. And we stand by our assertion that we totally could have hit 80 mph.







Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2009 Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Quick Spin: Mitsubishi i is a good car with a bad name

Quick Spin: Mitsubishi i is a good car with a bad name originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Dec 2009 11:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: LA Auto Show, Hatchback, Mitsubishi, Specialty, Electric

While Mitsubishi didn't unveil any new vehicles at the LA Auto Show today, company president Osamu Masuko did announce the latest step in his company's plan to bring plug-in vehicles to North America. The vehicle - well, one of them - is an all-electric i-MiEV plastered with Best Buy's Geek Squad logo. The electronics giant will start using them in January (after they're shown off at CES) at some Geek Squad locations in California. Details have not yet been totally worked out, but the Geek EVs will start with a fleet of four vehicles and then expand and rotate to other stores over the course of three years. Most likely, the i-MiEVs will be doled out in pairs and the probable early cities where these vehicles will make house calls include Chicago, New York, Portland and San Francisco.



Best Buy plans to use the i-MiEVs just like any other fleet car, with the exception that they will be right-hand drive. Best Buy's Senior Vice President of emerging business, Rick Rommel, told AutoblogGreen that the idea is to learn "how these will fit into a Geek's daily life." The plug-in vehicle tests with Geek Squad are unrelated to how select West Coast Best Buy stores are selling electric bikes. That said, Rommel admits that the key thing is that Best Buy likes to conduct new experiments, and these EVs fit into that general concept.







Live photos copyright (C)2009 Sebastian Blanco / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Best Buy Geek Squads to start testing Mitsubishi i-MiEV

Best Buy Geek Squads to start testing Mitsubishi i-MiEV originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Dec 2009 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Crossover, Hatchback, Mitsubishi

The Mitsubishi PX-MiEV, scheduled for an official debut at the Tokyo Motor Show later this week, is jam packed with the best technology Mitsubishi has to offer. It's a series hybrid. It's a parallel hybrid. It has a 30 mile EV range. It will reportedly net 140 MPG. It has the same AWD system as the Lancer EVO X, enabling the crossover concept to switch modes based on how the 'ute is being driven. Why throw the technology sink at the PX-MiEV? Because it's a concept, of course, and concepts are supposed to be fanciful. But why the AWD?



For starters, AWD and hybrid tech don't usually mix, because driving all four wheels at the same time typically decreases fuel economy. So why add AWD to the PX-MiEV concept? The folks over at Autocar feel it could signal Mitsubishi's intent to offer plug-in tech in the Lancer Evolution XI. The Brits reportedly talked to Mitsubishi insiders who say the next-gen Evo could receive the plug-in tech showcased in the PX-MiEV.



While there's an up side to including plug-in tech on the next generation Evo, there are plenty of negatives as well. The high price point could better justify the added cost of hybrid tech, and the powertrain setup in the PX-MiEV, if fitted to the next Evo, would give torquetastic electric twist strictly to the rear wheels. Then there is the emissions issue, which would undoubtedly improve with a few battery packs equipped to Mitsubishi's road-going rally sedan.



Unfortunately, adding lithium battery packs and electric motors would also add significant weight to a vehicle that already tips the scales at over 3,500 pounds. Mitsubishi could shave some tonnage to offset some of the gains, but light weight materials would only add cost to an already pricey proposition. Mitsubishi is already having a bit of trouble trying to find enough customers to justify a $40,000 vehicle based off the spartan Lancer platform, so we're thinking that a plug-in Evo may not be such a great idea after all.







[Source: Autocar]

REPORT: Mitsubishi Evo XI could get plug-in tech in 2013 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: SUV, Mitsubishi

The Mitsubishi Outlander GT prototype made its debut in New York earlier this year, a sign that the Lancer Evolution's front end would be spreading to other models in the lineup. Along with the new look, the GT concept also received sportier options like 19-inch OZ Racing wheels, larger Brembo brakes, a lightweight aluminum roof and a slight bump in horsepower.



While we don't yet know exactly what features of the concept car will make it to the production version, we do know what it will look like. In addition to the our live photos we snapped last month at our favorite SoCal car meet, Mitsubishi has just released dozens of new photos of its new sportier-looking SUV. You won't have to wait long for the details, though, as we are scheduled to get behind the wheel of the Outlander GT next week. Until then, browse through the high-res gallery below.







[Source: Mitsubishi]

Pics Aplenty: Mitsubishi shows off EVOlved 2010 Outlander GT originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DRIVE A LITTLE... SAVE A LOT!

New at South Suburban Mitsubishi:

OUR COMMITMENT...

We will meet or beat any competitors pricing for sales, parts or service on any identical product. Our lower overhead guarantees you the area's LOWEST POSSIBLE PRICE!

Jim Revell accepts one of the most prestigious awards given by Mitsubishi, the "Diamond Chapter of Excellence Award," presented for outstanding achievements in sales, service and custom satisfaction!

South Suburban Mitsubishi is very proud to announce our "Dealer Elite Status," with MMCA!

Western Zone Co-Director, Mr. Kenny Yamamoto, visits with Jim Revell, discussing future building and expansion of South Suburban Mitsubishi.

Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Jerry Berwanger, and President and CEO MMNA Manufacturing Division at Normal, IL, Mr. Shiro Futaki, discuss future design enhancements with Jim Revell on research and development projects regarding Eclipse, Endeavor and Galant.

Hiroshi Harunari, previous President and CEO of Mitsubishi Motors North America, visits South Suburban Mitsubishi.