i MiEV Sport: Mitsubishi’s 180kmh electric sports car prototype

Mitsubishi’s i MiEV Sport has made its much anticipated appearance at the Tokyo Motor Show allowing us to bring you loads of new images of the groundbreaking electric vehicle concept. Based on the i MiEV (Mitsubishi innovative Electric Vehicle), but promising genuine sporting capabilities via 680 Nm of torque combined with a body weight of just 970kg, the car features a 3-motor system with the company’s own in-wheel 20 kW motors at the front and another 47 kW at the rear - all controlled via the S-AWC (Super All Wheel Control) vehicle dynamics system and wrapped in a lightweight, rigid aluminium space frame.

Using the same rear midship layout as the i MiEV, the vehicle maximizes interior space and keeps a low centre of gravity by housing its high-capacity lithium-ion batteries under the floor and the motor, inverter and charger beneath the luggage compartment.

The body uses a high-rigidity and high-strength aluminum space frame structure made of extruded and die-cast aluminum members and in keeping the weight down, many aluminum parts are also used in the suspension.

The car also features an auxiliary solar panels built into the roof, regenerative braking and a power-generating fan inside the front grill to harvest the air flow. Energy comnsumption is also kept down through the use of low-energy, high-luminance LED's throughout and recharging presents another innovation – rather than simply plug the vehicle in to a power source, charge is transmitted wirelessly via a microwave system.

Inside, comfort is enhanced by an air conditioner fitted with a bio-clear filter and deodorizer as well as an oxygen-and-aroma generating system. Aerodynamics reduce wind noise to maintain the electric vehicle’s quiet interior and the in car communications system is based on high-speed PLC (Power Line Communications) — a technology being researched by the company that uses a household power socket as a LAN port and the indoor power wiring as a LAN cable so users can connect a home computer to preset vehicle recharging and air-conditioning, update the navigation system via the Internet, or collect diagnostic information on vehicle maintenance.

As seen on Transport2.0.