Mitsubishi Motors to Enter i-MiEV Prototype in 2012 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb
Tokyo , March 1, 2012 - Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) will enter the i-MiEV Prototype in the 2012 edition (July 8) of the legendary Pikes Peak International Hill Climb held annually in Colorado in the United States. The i-MiEV Prototype is a prototype based on MMC's all-electric i-MiEV model, the first 100% electric vehicle (EV) to go into mass production and is already on the road in Japan, Europe and North America, with plans to expand to other markets.
The i-MiEV Prototype is to be driven by Hiroshi Masuoka, in many parts of the world known as a legendary race driver whom during the course of decades of racing success took on the brutal Dakar Rally 21 times, winning it consecutively in 2002 and 2003, driving Mitsubishi Pajero and Pajero Evolution models respectively.
The i-MiEV Prototype will use the same EV components as the current production i-MiEV. MMC will use the data obtained through its participation in the event to enhance the durability and reliability of pure EVs and plug-in hybrid EVs which it will be bringing to market in the near future.
Hiroshi Masuoka
In addition to MMC's participation in the race, engineers from MMC's development division as well as from its partner manufacturers of batteries, motors and other EV components will be sent to the event to collaborate closer on the sharing of technology and knowhow for the purpose of further boosting MMC's EV development capabilities.
* The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is an annual automobile and motorcycle hill climb to the 4,300 meter summit of Pikes Peak in Colorado with entrants covering an elevation difference of almost 1,500 meters. First run in 1916 the hill climb is one of the oldest motor sport races in America. Atmospheric pressure, temperature, weather and other conditions vary significantly between the start and finish and this requires optimum tuning to ensure the vehicles produce their maximum performance all the way up.
Mitsubishi Motors to Debut the New Outlander at the 2012 Geneva International Motor Show
Tokyo, February 9, 2012 - Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) will present the global debut of the all-new Outlander at the 82nd Geneva International Motor Show which runs from March 6 through March 18*. The new-generation Outlander was built to be eco-friendly and it accomplishes this as it returns fuel efficiency and CO2 emission levels that are among the best in its class. Also on display on the Mitsubishi Motors stand in a lineup of 13 models (8 on the first Press Day) will be the MiEV House, a model for a near-future "EV (electric vehicle) lifestyle" that maximizes household energy usage with the help of an EV, as well as the fast-selling ASX (RVR or Outlander Sport in some markets) and other models currently on sale in Europe.
*For more information, please visit http://www.salon-auto.ch/en/ (English)
In addition to its fuel efficiency and CO2 emission levels that are among the best in its class, other features distinguishing the new Outlander include enhanced levels of safety from the adoption of advanced safety technologies and a user-friendly interior that reflects pure quality.
The new Outlander will be launched first in Russia this summer, after which it will make its debut in European, Japanese, Oceania, Chinese and North American markets.
During fiscal 2012 Mitsubishi Motors will also be adding to its lineup an EV-based Outlander model which will use a plug-in hybrid system derived from MMC's already existing EV technology.
New Outlander
(show model)
1.New Outlander Product Features
(1) Outstanding environmental performance with fuel consumption and CO2 emission levels that are among the best in its class
The European-market specification Outlander is offered with a choice of gasoline and diesel engines. Gasoline models are powered by the 4J11 2.0-liter in-line 4-cylinder SOHC MIVEC*1 engine which employs an all-new valvetrain. Diesel models use the 4N14 2.2-liter in-line 4-cylinder turbocharged MIVEC engine with a very low compression ratio of 14.9:1 that meets stringent European diesel emission regulations.
The diesel Outlander (2WD drivetrain, 4N14 engine with 6-speed manual transmission) will provide a superior level of environmental performance with target CO2 emissions of under 130 g/km*2 thanks to MMC's Auto Stop&Go idle-stop system and its lighter body that stems from optimization of the body structure, the use of high-tensile strength paneling and from improved aerodynamics. Furthermore, the new Outlander will be equipped with an "eco-friendly driving system" that notifies the driver when he or she is driving at maximum efficiency. With this system, the driver can choose to drive at maximum efficiency to enhance actual fuel consumption of the vehicle.
*1: Mitsubishi Innovative Valve timing Electronic Control system (name for engines fitted with Mitsubishi Motors' variable valve timing system).
*2: Target for European model that is subject to final homologation. Models for other countries may differ according to local homologation.
(2) Enhanced levels of safety borne from advanced safety technologies
The new Outlander offers outstanding safety through the use of the following advanced safety technologies:
FCM (Forward Collision Mitigation System): Detects obstacles on the road ahead of the car and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision.
ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control System): Operates to maintain a safe distance between the car in front even at very low speeds experienced in heavy traffic congestion.
LDW (Lane Departure Warning System): Functions to warn the driver that their vehicle is about to depart from its lane.
(3) High-quality, user-friendly interior
The new Outlander's interior expresses quality with the use of a glossy black instrument panel, the switches decorated with silver accents and the use of soft-touch dashboard trim material. The new Outlander also features easily-operable steering wheel controls together with high-resolution and easy-to-read instrument displays.
The comfortable second- and third-row seats can be easily configured to provide a number of seating patterns and also a long luggage space with a flat floor.
A power-operated tailgate facilitates loading and unloading.
2012 Mitsubishi i Named #1 on American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) Annual “Greenest Vehicles” List
Cypress, California, February 8, 2012 – Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc., (MMNA), and the 2012 Mitsubishi i – the Japanese auto manufacturer’s affordably-priced all-new 100% electric-powered vehicle (EV) ̶ have taken the top spot on the coveted American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) 14th annual “Greenest Vehicles” list, a comprehensive environmental ranking for production vehicles.
2012 Mitsubishi i (i-MiEV)
The 2012 Mitsubishi i scored a 58 in the ACEEE’s ranking system – the highest Green Score ever achieved since the ACEEE “Greenest Vehicles” rankings began in 1998.
“Even taking into account the emissions generated from the electricity used to power the Mitsubishi i-MiEV, it still handily outscores other vehicles on the market today,” said ACEEE Lead Vehicle Analyst, Shruti Vaidyanathan.
According to the ACEEE, the cars that make up their “Greenest Vehicles” list are evaluated on a variety of criteria including tailpipe emissions, fuel consumption, and gas emissions that “contribute to climate change.” Additionally, starting with this year’s awards, the ACEEE made a number of changes to its vehicle evaluation methodology to more accurately estimate vehicles’ environmental impacts including improving emissions estimates in the vehicle manufacturing process as well as in the extraction of natural gas.
“Earning a spot on the ‘Greenest’ list is proving to be a real challenge for automakers given the variety of technologies on the market and the proliferation of highly efficient conventional vehicles,” said Vaidyanathan. “Just using the latest technology does not guarantee a top spot.”
The “Greenest Vehicles” and “Greener Choices” lists appear in the ACEEE’s Green Book® Online. The Green Book® Online, according to the ACEEE, is an “annual ranking that highlights the environmental friendliness of vehicles in the United States.” Only the twelve highest-ranked vehicles by the ACEEE make it onto the organization’s “Greenest Vehicles” list.
Tokyo , February 6, 2012 – Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) announced it has made a decision that it will not allocate a new model at its subsidiary European production site Netherlands Car B.V. (NedCar) for production from 2013 and beyond.
NedCar currently produces Colt and Outlander models designated for sales in MMC's European market. However, in December 2010, MMC had made decisions regarding future treatment of NedCar's production operation. Specifically:
To terminate the local production operation of Colt at the end of 2012.
KD production of Outlander will be maintained until the end of 2012, but whether a replacement model to be allocated for production from 2013 and beyond or not is yet to be determined.
To further examine measures which would enable production operation at NedCar to continue from 2013 and beyond.
Based on the decision, MMC, together with the stakeholders including NedCar management and its labor union, its work council, as well as the Dutch government, had proceeded until today examining measures for the continuation of production operation at NedCar.
However, due to the wildly fluctuating operating environment which automobile manufacturers currently face, MMC could not come up with a reasonable solution to utilize NedCar among MMC's global production operation structure and thus MMC has concluded it is not viable to allocate a new production model at NedCar.
Europe is and will continue to be an important market for MMC and production and delivery of models for Europe from Japan and Thailand will continue; thus MMC's model mix and after-service structure will not change at all.
The status of NedCar from 2013 and beyond is yet to be decided, and talks among those concerned are to commence from hereon.
Outline of Netherlands Car B. V.
1. Location: Born, Limburg, the Netherlands
2. Capitalization: EUR 250,012,000
3. Shareholder: MMC group 100%
4. Board members: Chairman & CEO: Mr. Tetsuro Miki
President & COO: Mr. Joost Govaarts
5. Number of employees: approx. 1,500
6. Corporate history:
Started as a three-way joint venture in 1991 through MMC, Volvo, and the Dutch government. MMC became the sole shareholder when it bought all the remaining shares from its partners in March of 2001.
NedCar produced MMC's Carisma from 1995, then afterwards the Space Star. Currently it produces the European-market Colt and Outlander. Local parts procurement is 85% for the Colt, and 20% for the Outlander.
NedCar has produced a cumulative 1.1 million MMC vehicles to the present time.
