Mitsubishi

Electric vehicle trials gain traction in UK

By Jeff Salton

04:09 June 26, 2009 PDT

A raft of electric vehicle related news from the UK this week with Mitsubishi, Ford, Toyota and BMW (through its Mini brand) all getting a piece of the action. A total of approximately 340 all-electric and hybrid vehicles will begin trials on UK roads within the next 6-18 months. Read More

Lancer Evolution FQ-400: 403bhp from just 2.0-liters

By David Greig

18:57 May 27, 2009 PDT

As the performance flagship of Mitsubishi’s rally inspired Lancer Evolution X series, the FQ-400 packs a serious punch. The lightweight aluminum 2.0-liter turbocharged MIVEC (Mitsubishi Innovative Valve timing Electronic Control) petrol engine delivers 403bhp at 6,500rpm with a peak torque of 525Nm at 3,500rpm and as the quickest road-going Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X to date, the FQ-400 is capable of reaching 62mph from standstill in an estimated 3.8 seconds before reaching an electronically limited 155mph. Read More

Close-up look at the Proton Satria Neo S2000 rally car

By Paul Evans

18:08 May 4, 2009 PDT

With the World Rally Championship (WRC) switching over to S2000-based cars next year, we thought it may be a good time to have a closer look at what has proved to be the fastest S2000 rally car so far, the Mellors Elliott Motorsport (MEM) build Proton Satria Neo Super 2000. In the hands of Irish driver Niall McShea, the Proton caused quite a stir on the first WRC event earlier this year, Rally Ireland, when it stormed into a podium position on day one, ahead of a full field of WRC machinery. Read More

Tata Nano heads to Europe

By Paul Evans

20:38 March 10, 2009 PDT

The European version of the world’s cheapest car, the Nano was introduced at the Geneva Auto Show this week. The Nano Europa is an upgraded version of the $2,500 "People's Car" soon to go into production in India. The Europa model sticks to the same narrow, upright, four-door format, but has a longer wheelbase, more safety features and is better finished than the Indian-market version so will be considerably more expensive than the Indian model due to go on sale in April 2009. Read More

Mitsubishi close to releasing i MiEV in Europe

By Mike Hanlon

18:44 February 12, 2009 PST

Mitsubishi appears to be getting very close to releasing its i MIEV electric car in Europe. Just a fortnight ago we ran the news that the i MiEV SPORT AIR concept would debut at the 79th Geneva International Motor Show on March 3. Now comes the late news that another prototype i MiEV will also debut at the Geneva Palexpo complex, that it will have left-hand drive, the wider track and longer overhangs of a European specification and that feasibility testing in Europe is already underway. Read More

Mitsubishi i MiEV SPORT AIR Concept with transparent removable roof

By Mike Hanlon

14:42 January 26, 2009 PST

Mitsubishi has just announced i MiEV SPORT AIR concept, which will be shown at the Geneva Motor Show in March. The i MiEV SPORT was announced at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show (announcement/show report/gallery), weighing 970kg with 107 kW (143.5 bhp) and a whopping 680 Nm of torque – compare that with the 2009 Tesla’s 185 kW, 375 nm and 1238 kg. Now a brief cryptic press release indicates that the new i MiEV SPORT AIR will be a "proper sports car", inferring the i MiEV SPORT was not. So we’re expecting some pretty special performance to match the stunning good looks and the transparent removable top. Read More

Mitsubishi's Laser TV now shipping in the US

By Noel McKeegan

17:31 October 29, 2008 PDT

October 30, 2008 Following its premiere as a totally new display category at the CES in January, a 65-inch version of Mitsubishi's LaserVue high-definition television has hit U.S. stores. The world's first laser-powered TV, which promises unparalleled performance including twice the color and significantly lower power consumption than both its LCD and Plasma cousins, is being sold for USD$6,999. At 10 inches, it might be slightly thicker than some of the flat-screen offerings we've seen in recent times, but the trade-off is a set that delivers 1080p definition at 120Hz and operating power of approximately 135W using laser beams to provide "an extensive range of rich, complex colors, along with truly distinct clarity and immersive depth of field" according to Mitsubishi. Read More

Mitsubishi to switch to diesel for Dakar 2009

By Jack Martin

04:58 September 9, 2008 PDT

September 9, 2008 The once poor cousin of the gas-burning internal combustion engine, the diesel, is slowly but surely invading the world of motorsport. In recent years the all-conquering Audi team led the diesel assault on sports car racing and diesel now dominates these events. Now Mitsubishi will enter a new, turbodiesel 'Racing Lancer' in next year's relocated-to-South-America Dakar Rally. The new car has an aeronautic steel multi-tubular frame, honeycomb body floor and carbon fiber body powered by a 280PS 3-liter V6 diesel engine producing a prodigious 650Nm peak torque. The engine uses an innovative two-stage turbocharger with both a small and large diameter turbine, one on each side of engine, employed according to engine revolution and load. Read More

Preview pictures of Mitsubishi Prototpe-S

By Noel McKeegan

18:42 February 29, 2008 PST

March 1, 2008 With the 2008 Geneva International Motor Show almost upon us, Mitsubishi has released images of its Prototype-S sports hatchback concept. Read More

Mitsubishi to premiere Lancer Prototype-S Sports Hatchback Concept

By Noel McKeegan

22:03 January 29, 2008 PST

January 30, 2008 Mitsubishi Motors has released these sketches of its Lancer Prototype-S sports hatchback concept ahead of its debut at the 78th Geneva International Motor Show. Powered by a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder DOHC MIVEC intercooler / turbocharger engine developing 177 kW (240 PS) and 343 Nm (35 kg-m), the Prototype-S is evolved from the Concept-Sportback car shown at Frankfurt in 2005 and provides a taste of what to expect from the forthcoming 5-door hatchback variant of the Lancer family expected later in the year. Read More

MITSUBISHI Concept-RA takes the stage at NAIAS

By Noel McKeegan

21:23 January 16, 2008 PST

More images have emerged of the MITSUBISHI Concept-RA coinciding with its global premiere at the 2008 North American International Auto Show. Using an aluminum space frame body and impact -resistant, recyclable plastic resin for the as engine hood, fenders and other outer panels to reduce weight, enhance fuel economy and improve safety, the sports coupe concept combines Mitsubishi's Super-All Wheel Control system control system and twin clutch automated manual transmission used in the Lancer Evolution X with a turbo-charged, 2.2-liter clean-diesel engine that delivers a maximum output of 150 kW (204 PS) and maximum torque of 420 Nm (42.8 kg-m). In line with the earlier design sketches, the powerful message the car shoots for is accentuated by strongly flared arches housing 21-inch wheels and red is the color of choice for the sporty exterior, contrasting with the matte black engine hood. Read More

Mitsubishi Electric Automation updates graphic operation terminals

By Darren Quick

16:11 January 12, 2008 PST

January 13, 2008 The industrial automation solutions arm of Mitsubishi, Mitsubishi Electric Automation, Inc. has introduced seven six-inch touchscreen displays for its GOT1000 platform of Graphical Operator Terminals (GOT). The new 24V DC-powered GT1555-VTBD features a 16-bit color spectrum TFT display in VGA (640 x 480 resolution) format, and is loaded with 9MB of onboard flash memory. It is capable of displaying over 65,000 colors for photo-quality images, and can execute many embedded advanced maintenance functions, such as ladder monitoring and system monitoring, that were once reserved for much larger terminals. Read More

Mitsubishi launches LaserTV and creates a new display category

By Mike Hanlon

22:09 January 9, 2008 PST

January 10, 2008 This week in Las Vegas, Mitsubishi announced the world premiere of its new laser television and created a new television category into the bargain. The 65 inch sets on show at the Palms Casino launch looked incredibly good but with no traditional technologies to compare with, we’ll need to wait a bit longer before we can attempt to verify the company’s claim that it produces 80 percent of the color spectrum that the eye can see compared to the “less than 40% today's HDTVs” can display. There’s no info yet on pricing and availability is “later this year” but it’s definitely an exciting new development in home entertainment. Read More

Mitsubishi plan clean diesel assault on 2009 Dakar

By Noel McKeegan

22:00 December 17, 2007 PST

December 18, 2007 Mitsubishi will use what must be the worlds toughest proving ground - the 2008 Dakar Rally - to garner technical feedback on the company's new high-performance clean diesel engines with a view to fully introducing the technology at the Dakar in 2009. Aiming for its 8th consecutive Dakar victory, Mitsubishi aims to derive durability and endurance data essential to the future development of clean diesel engines already seen in its Concept-cX and Concept-RA vehicles. Read More

MITSUBISHI Concept-RA set for Detroit debut

By Noel McKeegan

20:50 November 27, 2007 PST

November 28, 2007 Mitsubishi has released tantalizing design sketches of its Concept-RA ahead of the car's world premiere at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in January 2008. With a view to rolling high-performance, low-emissions and fuel efficiency into one package, the coupe Concept features the all-wheel control system and automated manual transmission used in the Lancer Evolution X and is powered by a turbo-charged, 2.2-liter, 4-cylinder, DOHC, 16-valve clean-diesel engine that delivers a maximum output of 150 kW (204 PS) and maximum torque of 420 Nm (42.8 kg-m). Read More

Hot Wheels Designer’s Challenge: leading automotive manufacturers come out to play

By Noel McKeegan

18:00 October 30, 2007 PDT

October 31, 2007 Major automotive manufacturers recently showcased their visions for the automobile of the future as part of the LA Auto Show Design Challenge, but now comes a competition of a very different kind. Clean fuel and artificial intelligence take a back seat as speed, power, performance and attitude become the key criteria in Mattel’s 40th anniversary Designer’s Challenge™ in which leading manufacturers were invited to create an original vehicle for the company’s die-cast Hot Wheels® toy range… but there is one special requirement: each vehicle must be able to perform a loop on classic Hot Wheels® orange track. Read More

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

By Noel McKeegan

21:48 October 28, 2007 PDT

October 29, 2007 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. Read More

Mitsubishi Fuso's hybrid concept dump truck

By Darren Quick

18:47 October 26, 2007 PDT

October 27, 2007 Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC) has unveiled the “Canter Eco-D” hybrid concept dump truck at the Tokyo Motor show. The truck delivers extremely low emissions and quiet performance while incorporating a host of advanced features. With a 3350 mm wheelbase the Canter Eco-D is capable of carrying a 3000 kg dump body. Its potential uses include light construction, road repair and landscaping. With its hybrid drive and emissions control system, the truck is designed to achieve significant reductions of nitrogen oxide (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) over conventional diesel-only-powered vehicles. Read More

Mitsubishi’s innovative i MiEV SPORT electric vehicle

By Mike Hanlon

12:40 September 7, 2007 PDT

The Tokyo Motor Show is seven weeks away, but as the home of the all-powerful Japanese industry it is where the most advanced technologies go on display first. Accordingly, Mitsubishi has announced a show car for Tokyo we won’t see in Frankfurt next week. The i MiEV Sport looks like a 21st century Goggomobile but promises genuine sporting capabilities with a whopping 680 Nm of torque pushing a small lightweight electric vehicle. Based on the i MiEV (Mitsubishi innovative Electric Vehicle), the car features a 20 kW motor inside each front wheel another 47 kW at the rear, plus the company's S-AWC (Super All Wheel Control) vehicle dynamics system, all in a lightweight, rigid aluminium space frame with the batteries and inverter tucked underneath for a low centre of gravity and plenty of interior space. Read More

Mitsubishi Concept-cX compact SUV

By Noel McKeegan

20:29 August 29, 2007 PDT

August 30, 2007 Yet another gem set to debut at the upcoming Frankfurt International Motor Show is Mitsubishi’s Concept-cX – a new generation compact SUV that aims to strike a balance between environmental and everyday practical performance. Read More

MITSUBISHI Concept-cX 'Compact crossover' for Frankfurt debut

By Mike Hanlon

20:16 July 30, 2007 PDT

July 31, 2007 Mitsubishi will unveil the Concept-cX at the 62nd Internationale Automobil Ausstellung (IAA; commonly known as the Frankfurt Motor Show) in September. The MITSUBISHI Concept-cX represents a new-generation compact SUV, and uses a new high-output, high-efficiency 1.8-liter clean diesel engine, featuring a variable geometry (VG) turbocharger for optimum boost control and a diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) with diesel particulate filter (DPF) for compliance with Europe's Euro 5 emission standards. The company's new Twin Clutch SST (Sport Shift Transmission) adds superior power transmission efficiency for a powertrain that delivers nimble performance alongside excellent fuel economy and low emissions. Among the number of new environmental technologies applied in the Concept-cX is the extensive use of interior trim materials made from Mitsubishi's own Green Plastic — made from bamboo and other plant-based resins. Read More

Mitsubishi releases Lancer Evolution X high-performance 4WD sedan

By Mike Hanlon

April 26 , 2007 Mitsubishi's rally-inspired, high-performance 4WD sedan will carry the name "LANCER EVOLUTION X". The development concept for the all-new Lancer Evolution X2 specifies a "new-generation high-performance 4WD global sedan that allows all levels of driver to enjoy the car's speed and handling with ease and in safety". The new model features Mitsubishi's S-AWC3 (Super All Wheel Control ) traction and handling system, that integrates the control of drive torque and braking management with the four-wheel drive system to help realize highly responsive and intuitive handling in addition to outstanding vehicle attitude stability. Read More

Mitsubishi to launch flexible fuel vehicle (FFV) in 2007

By Mike Hanlon

January 22, 2007 Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) today announced plans to launch a flexible fuel vehicle (FFV) in the Brazil market within fiscal 2007. The Company also announced that models are in development for the US market for a fiscal 2009 launch. One of MMC's design objectives is to create vehicles that meet the requirements of the Century of the Environment. This can be seen in the MiEV (Mitsubishi innovative electric vehicle - pictured), a next generation electric car that is a core element in the company's environmental technology strategy, and can also be seen in the next generation diesel engine that is now under development. In addition to these initiatives, MMC and its local manufacturing and sales unit, MMC Automotores do Brasil Ltda (MMCB) have been developing a flexible fuel vehicle for the Brazil market. The FFV can run on gasoline, ethanol, or a mixture of the two, and will be launched in the Brazil market within fiscal 2007. Practical FFV solutions are also in development for the US market, where a fiscal 2009 launch is planned. Read More

Mitsubishi claims seventh successive Dakar Rally Victory

By Mike Hanlon

January 22, 2007 Given that Team Repsol Mitsubishi Ralliart had won the last six Dakar Rallies, it was logical to expect the seventh consecutive victory which came about on Sunday with the top two placings on the podium, but that would not have paid the respect due to the fleet of VW 285-hp 2.5-litre TDI turbodiesel Race Touareg and the massive effort of the Volkswagen factory team. As it was, the Volkswagen team led the event for the first eight days and won ten of 14 possible stage victories, and but for one catastrophic day where the team’s two best placed drivers suffered valve-train failure, the results might have been different. The success was a record-breaking 12th win in the team's 25-year history of competing in the world's toughest and most famous off-road rally. The French crew of Stéphane Peterhansel and Jean-Paul Cottret won the event for the third time in four years in their Mitsubishi Pajero/Montero Evolution and beat their team mates and defending champions Luc Alphand and Gilles Picard by a margin of just seven minutes 26 seconds, after 15 days of bruising competition across Portugal, Morocco, Mauritania, Mali and Senegal. Read More

Mitsubishi Prototype-X concept

By Mike Hanlon

December 18, 2006 Mitsubishi will unveil the Prototype X concept for a next-generation high-performance 4WD sport sedan at the 2007 North American International Auto Show (Detroit Motor Show) on January 7. The Prototype-X concept is an advance development model for the new Lancer Evolution due to be launched in 2007. Prototype-X features styling based on the current Lancer but was developed to project a visibly higher performance image. The concept model is fitted with Mitsubishi's S-AWC*1 (Super All-Wheel Control) vehicle dynamics system and handling control together with a new turbocharged MIVEC2 engine with an aluminium cylinder block and a 6-speed manual transmission. Read More