Flex Fuel Mitsubishi Pajero Sport to compete in the 2010 Dakar under a New Category

World's Most Prominent Rally Race, Dakar Debuts New 'Ethanol' Category in 2010 with Support from Brazil's Sugarcane Industry

SAO PAULO, Sept. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- For the first time in its 31-year history, the world's largest rally competition, formerly known as Paris-Dakar, will include in its 2010 edition a category in which competing vehicles will run on ethanol. The new category was introduced by the organizers at the request of Brazilian rally veteran and former Paris-Dakar winner Klever Kolberg, who will drive the first-ever flex-fuel vehicle to take part in the prestigious race next year -- a Brazilian-made 2010 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport model equipped with flex-fuel technology, with support from the Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA).

Kolberg, who finished first in the 1993 competition in the "marathon motorcycles" category, appropriately launched his 2010 renewable fuel effort at the world's largest fair dedicated to the sugar-energy industry, the annual Fenasucro, held in the town of Sertaozinho in the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo, the heart of Brazil's sugarcane industry. After a news conference at the UNICA booth, Kolberg held a one-hour autograph-signing session next to one of his training vehicles, on exhibit during the four-day event.

"Professional sport has always been aligned with the business world and sustainability has been at the top of the agenda for quite some time. Today it is easier to get to any part of the world, and the Rally Dakar is proof of that. The question is what fuel will we use, and if we choose clean energy, the world thanks us," said Kolberg, who was also the first Brazilian ever to face the challenges of the Paris-Dakar race in 1988, when it was held mostly in Africa.

"I left behind a comfortable situation, in which my previous rally team was widely supported, to pursue this project which I believe will be extremely important for the sport and the Dakar itself, given its worldwide presence. And I'm receiving a great deal of support from competitors who want the Ethanol Category to be a success," adds Kolberg.

MITSUBISHI MOTORS CORPORATION SIGNS MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE CLINTON CLIMATE INITIATIVE

TOKYO, December 17, 2009

MITSUBISHI MOTORS CORPORATION SIGNS MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE CLINTON CLIMATE INITIATIVE

- Win-Win for Popularisation of Electric Vehicles -

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) has signed a cooperative Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding the popularisation of electric vehicles (EV) with the Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI), a program of the William J. Clinton Foundation. The move signifies MMC's commitment to "Leading the EV era, towards a sustainable future" as laid out in its "Mitsubishi Group Environmental Vision 2020," MMC's environmental policy, part of which is to proactively collaborate with various partners in creating a pleasing and low-carbon society.

The move is also part of the C40 Electric Vehicle Network, announced on December 16 at the Climate Summit for Mayors in Copenhagen. The C40 is a group of cities that are committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, of which CCI is the implementation partner. The Clinton Climate Initiative works with C40 partner cities*1 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through projects such as energy efficiency building retrofits, waste management and transportation.

Through the newly formed C40 Electric Vehicle Network, some of the world's largest cities have committed to take steps over the next year to collectively address the key areas of municipal action critical to successful introduction of electric vehicles. MMC has agreed to work together with the Clinton Climate Initiative and the C40 Electric Vehicle Network to help develop cities' electric vehicle policies, vehicle procurement and infrastructure decisions through advice on vehicle specifications, charging parameters and incentives.

MMC is committed to making progress toward its stated goal of having 20% of total production as either electric or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles by 2020. It also introduced the new-generation MMC electric vehicle, the i-MiEV, in Japan this summer and has already delivered more than 800 of these innovative vehicles to date with plans to roll out the vehicle globally.

JMB Stradale Racing buys MMSP's Racing Lancer, fielding 5 member team in 2010 Dakar

JMB Stradale Racing buys MMSP's Racing Lancer, fielding 5 member team in 2010 Dakar

Team JMB Stradale Mitsubishi

It’s not rocket science to see the fact that German car maker Volkswagen has dominated the latest edition of the Dakar Rally in great fashion. The South American event this year was practically an all-VW affair all the way, only the racer driving it being the unknown factor in the 2009 equation.

That’s probably why Japanese manufacturer Mitsubishi chose to withdraw from the event completely at the end of the 2009 rally. Although there may be some other reasons behind that decision - the economic downturn cannot be neglected also - what’s certain is the fact that the aforementioned constructor will not be joining the Dakar caravan as a works team from now on.

However, in terms of private efforts, it was today confirmed that French firm JMB Stradale purchased no less than 5 Mitsubishi Pajeros in order to field them in the 2010 Dakar Rally, an event hosted for the second time in a row by the South American continent (and based in Argentina).

JMB’s team will be comprised of drivers Carlos Sousa, Miguel Barbosa, Guilherme Spinelli, Orlando Terranova, Nicholas Mislin (who will also be team owner), alongside team manager Dominique Serieys.

Mayor of London Chooses i-MieV at COP15 [DK]

Tuesday, 15 December 2009

THE MAYOR OF LONDON’S OFFICE CHOOSES i-MiEV TO SIGNAL A NEW DAWN FOR THE CAPITAL’S EV INFRASTRUCTURE AT COP15

The car chosen to exemplify a new dawn of low and ultra-low carbon vehicles by the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson today was the Mitsubishi i-MiEV. Lance Bradley, Mitsubishi Motors UK’s Managing Director commented, “As one of the first mainstream manufacturers to supply a full production electric car, we were more than happy to provide an i-MiEV for use during the Summit.”

Speaking at the COP15 environmental summit in Copenhagen, the Mayor of London, heralded that “A golden era of clean, green electric motoring is upon us and London is well ahead of cities around the globe in preparing the right conditions for this.”

UK fast charging system for i-MiEV 80% capacity in 30 minutes [UK]

0 - 80 IN 30 MINUTES: MITSUBISHI MOTORS UK – THE FIRST IN EUROPE TO FAST CHARGE THE i-MIEV

Mitsubishi Motors UK is the first company in Europe to be showcasing the fast charge function of the all-electric i-MiEV city car.

Fast Charge Specifications

The fast charger, supplied by Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), allows the i-MiEV to recharge from flat to eighty per cent full in just 30 minutes.

The charger’s key specification includes:

* 3-phase 400V input

* DC out power of 50kW

* Maximum DC output voltage of 500V

* Maximum DC output current of 100 amperes

* Stand-alone unit measuring approximately 200 x 100 x 80 cms (h x w x d)

Greater Scope For “City Hopping”

You can already commute from Brighton to Central London on a daily basis in the i-MiEV, but the option to quick charge at motorway service areas and superstore car parks gives this multi award winning city car even more scope for longer journeys and greater convenience for the end user.

The average daily journey in the UK, however, is estimated to be less than 30 miles, so vehicle owners can already use their three-pin socket domestic supply, which costs less than a Pound for a full charge. Those with a longer commute can easily ‘refill’ at their workplace before the journey home.

MITSUBISHI i-MiEV LAUNCHES UK’S LARGEST PUBLIC ELECTRIC CAR TRIAL IN WEST MIDLANDS [UK]

MITSUBISHI i-MiEV LAUNCHES UK’S LARGEST PUBLIC ELECTRIC CAR TRIAL IN WEST MIDLANDS

The Mitsubishi i-MiEV has today become the first zero emissions fully electric city car to be used on the government funded Technology Strategy Board user trials.

It has a top speed of 81 mph, a range of 100 miles1 and can be trickle charged from flat to full in seven hours at any UK three-pin socket – costing under £1 for a full charge. In addition the i-MiEV can be fast-charged from flat to 80 per cent in just 30 minutes using the quick charger.

Mr Genichiro Nishina, President and CEO of Mitsubishi Motors Europe, said: “Mitsubishi Motors takes an holistic approach to environmental and sustainability issues at every stage of the vehicle’s design, production and in-service lifecycle. The i-MiEV is the most prominent element of our basket of environmental solutions, which makes the prospect of ultra-low carbon transport a present-day reality”.

What Van? double awards for Mitsubishi [UK]

8th December 2009

A WHAT VAN? DOUBLE FOR MITSUBISHI

* Fourth consecutive win for L200 pick up

* Third consecutive win for Outlander Commercial

Mitsubishi Motors is celebrating another double at the 2009 What Van? awards. The L200 took ‘Pick-up of the Year’ for the fourth consecutive year, a remarkable 14 times in 17 years, with the Outlander Commercial collecting the ‘4x4 Van of the Year’ for the third consecutive year.

Petter Solberg will drive a C4 again in 2010

Solberg: Citroen offer looking best for 2010

Norway's Petter Solberg looks likely to join Kimi Raikkonen as a C4 World Rally Car driver next season, after being made an attractive offer by Citroen.

Solberg, who won the 2003 World Championship with Subaru, tackled most of the 2009 series in a privately entered Xsara WRC, before accepting an offer to drive a Citroen Junior Team C4 WRC for the final two rounds.

With little chance of a manufacturer-funded programme in 2010, Solberg decided to go it alone once again, and try to raise the money himself for a season in a top-level World Rally Car - either a Ford Focus RS WRC or a Citroen C4 WRC.

Kimi Raikkonen to drive with Citroen

Kimi Raikkonen to Citroen - it’s official!

Finland's 2007 Formula One champion Kimi Raikkonen has signed a deal to drive a C4 World Rally Car on 12 rounds of the 2010 World Rally Championship.

This morning's long awaited announcement from Citroen Racing brings an end to weeks of speculation concerning the F1 star's plans for 2010, when he will take a sabbatical from his Grand Prix career.

Raikkonen will drive for Citroen's second squad, the Junior World Rally Team, thanks to backing from Red Bull - one of his personal sponsors from F1. He will be co-driven by fellow Finn Kaj Lindstrom, who previously partnered multiple WRC champion Tommi Makinen. The only rally the pair will miss next year is Rally New Zealand - an event the Junior Team is skipping altogether.

“I always wanted to compete in rally, especially in the World Rally Championship at some point in my career," said Raikkonen. "Thanks to Red Bull, I have the opportunity to drive the best car of the series with the Citroen C4. This is a new but very exciting challenge. For the moment we have a one-year contract and we will see how it goes for the future. I am really looking forward to testing the car and taking the start of the first rally.”

Partnering Raikkonen at the Citroen Junior team in 2010, will be French rising star Sebastien Ogier, 25, who will also drive a Red Bull-backed C4.

MMC and Japan Delivery Services (JDS) develops i-CHARGER system [JP]

System utilizes existing “delivery box” systems and makes electric vehicle charging and charging management possible for apartment parking lots

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) and Japan Delivery System Corporation (JDS)* have jointly developed an electric vehicle (EV) charging system for apartment complexes. The system, called i-CHARGER, is to be sold by JDS starting from December 1.

Installation and management of EV charging infrastructure for shared parking lots of apartment complexes is an issue in Japan for the popularization of electric vehicles. The i-CHARGER solves this problem by utilizing existing “delivery box” systems. Utilizing the authentication capability of the “delivery box” system, the i-CHARGER can manage who, when, and how much electricity was used, making it easy for apartment complex supervisors to sort out electricity usage of the building’s tenants.

At present the i-CHARGER is aimed at apartment complex residents who own an electric vehicle, however once the reservation system that is currently under development is completed, electric vehicle sharing in apartment complexes becomes possible, greatly contributing to the spread of charging infrastructure.

*JDS is involved in the management, sales, and construction of “delivery box” systems for apartment complexes in Japan and holds a 40% market share.

Citroen C-Zero, Citroen's version of the i-MiEV

CITROËN C-ZERO: THE NEW 100% ELECTRIC CITY CAR

Zero fuel consumption, zero CO2 emissions and zero engine noise: with the C-ZERO, CITROËN is broadening its compact vehicle range with a 100% electric offering.

The new city car is designed to make urban mobility easier - thanks to its compact dimensions, rapid charge and generous range for day-to-day car journeys. And all of this in a silence that makes occupants forget about the noise of the city. The C-ZERO combines technology and creativity to meet tomorrow's challenges today.

Having already produced more than 5,500 electric vehicles, CITROËN has the experience vital to being a front-runner in a market segment that is set to grow significantly in the coming years.

Due for launch in the last quarter of 2010, the C-ZERO is developed in collaboration with Mitsubishi Motors Corporation.

Mitsubishi Colt is coming to America

Mitsubishi Colt is coming to America

Buried deep within Mitsubishi's (re)presentation of its PX-MiEV plug-in hybrid concept from the Tokyo Motor Show was a line about a global small car that Mitsubishi will be bringing to the US in 2010. That's it, one line. We didn't think too much of the announcement until Mitsubishi's Product Communications Manager Moe Durand walked up and said, "In case you missed it, the small car is the Colt." Dang!

Dang because we really like the new EVO-nosed Colt, especially in Ralliart trim. Additionally, now is a wonderful time to bring over a small car. Don't believe us? Just ask Ford (Fiesta) and Mazda (Mazda2). The Colt will be going up against some pretty hefty (albeit lightweight) competition in the form of established B-segmenters like the Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris and Nissan Versa.

All New Compact Crossover to be named RVR in Japan [JP]

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation All-New Compact Crossover to Be Named "RVR" in Japan

- Vehicle to Go On Sale in Japan Next Spring -

TOKYO, Japan, December 3, 2009 — Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) has decided to name its all-new compact crossover the RVR. This all-new compact crossover is planned for sequential release globally, and will be first released in Japan next spring.

The all-new RVR is a compact crossover that provides high environmental efficiency and has a compact body while providing ample utility space and high performance.

Peugeot to buy big stake in Mitsubishi Motors Corp

Peugeot to buy stake in Mitsubishi

Associated Press, 12.02.09, 08:41 PM EST

TOKYO -- French carmaker PSA Peugeot Citroen is in talks with Mitsubishi Motors Corp. to buy a 30 to 50 percent stake in Japan's No. 4 automaker, a paper said Thursday.

The Nikkei business daily said Peugeot ( PEUGY.PK - news - people ) Citroen will spend up to 300 billion yen ($3.4 billion) to acquire the stake in Mitsubishi. The paper gave no sources.

Mitsubishi declined to confirm the report.

"There are no facts to be announced," the Japanese company said in a statement.

The paper said Peugeot Citroen - Europe's second biggest car company - and Mitsubishi are in the final stages of capital tie-up talks. The deal could effectively put Mitsubishi under Peugeot Citroen's control.