LA Auto Show - Mitsubishi Focuses on the Future with Eco-Minded Models

Source:AutoTrader.com

Mitsubishi has remained relatively quiet throughout 2009's economic turmoil. Luckily, Mitsubishi’s announcements at the LA Auto Show prove that the company won’t join the list of departed brands anytime soon.

Mitsubishi’s i-MiEV compact electric vehicle has been on sale in Japan since August 2009. In 2010, Mitsubishi will provide four Japanese-spec i-MiEVs to Best Buy's Geek Squad in-home tech support service. The pilot program will be closely monitored to evaluate the challenges posed by charging infrastructure, corporate fleets' needs, and the fleet-use benefits of electric vehicles. Mitsubishi hopes to make the i-MiEV available to retail customers in 2011.

The first American exhibition of the Mitsubishi PX-MiEV concept car marks the first presentation of the company's plug-in hybrid technology to car buyers in the U.S. The PX-MiEV's powertrain allows the midsize crossover to travel beyond the range of its battery pack by employing a high-efficiency gasoline engine to drive its electric motors when the batteries' charge is low. The engine can also increase the PX-MiEV's power output under demanding load conditions.Mitsubishi believes the PX-MiEV's proportions and powertrain are perfect for crossover shoppers who care about the environment. The company has announced production plans and anticipates launching the PX-MiEV in the U.S. by 2013.

Until then, Mitsubishi will launch an all-new compact crossover to keep buyers coming to Mitsubishi dealerships. Slightly smaller than the Honda CR-V, Mitsubishi’s sharply styled crossover will be powered by an efficiency-focused 1.8-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine. Though the small utility vehicle will be called RVR in Japan, there is no word on whether its name will change before it arrives in the U.S.

For Full Article Click Here.

 

Bell Mitsubishi News and Updates Home