Saturday, April 14, 2012

Off-Road Racer Beccy Gordon to Pilot 2012 Mitsubishi i in this year's Pikes Peak International Hill Climb

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) today announced that professional SCORE International off-road series race-winning driver Beccy Gordon will pilot the 100% electric-powered 2012 Mitsubishi i race car in this year's annual running of the legendary Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC) on July 8.

Beccy Gordon comes from a family with a rich history in auto racing – brother Robby had a distinguished career in Indy, NASCAR and off-road racing; sister Robyn is the first woman to score an overall win in the Baja 1000; father Bob was a longtime combatant in off-road racing; and great-grandfather Huntley was an Indy car driver in the early 1900s. Beccy's husband, Ryan Hunter-Reay, is currently a driver for Andretti Autosport in the IZOD IndyCar Series.

"I'm really looking forward to driving the Mitsubishi i in the Pikes Peak Hill Climb competition this year," said Beccy. "I am very excited to be part of this challenge and also to drive a 100% electric-powered car since this type of vehicle will likely play a major role in both our daily transportation and motorsports in the future." 

Mitsubishi Motors will be entering a pair of 2012 Mitsubishi i racing cars in this year's Pikes Peak International Hill Climb event: an essentially stock version of the electric-powered 2012 Mitsubishi i (to be driven by Beccy Gordon) along with an advanced race-spec version of the electric vehicle (EV), the Mitsubishi i-MiEV Prototype (to be driven by two-time Paris-Dakar Rally champion, Hiroshi Masuoka).

The Mitsubishi i-MiEV Prototype race car features an enhanced Mitsubishi innovative Electric Vehicle (MiEV) electric motor, lithium-ion battery pack and braking system. Engineers and researchers from Mitsubishi Motors and numerous EV component and systems suppliers will be on hand to record and analyze data from both cars entered in the 2012 Pikes Peak event, using the challenging race as an important R-D exercise to further the advancement of the current Mitsubishi i production vehicle as well as for future EVs, Hybrids and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) models.

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Mitsubishi Motors Unveils Enhanced 2013 Outlander Sport at 2012 New York International Auto Show

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) has unveiled an enhanced and improved 2013 Outlander Sport compact crossover utility vehicle (CUV) today at the 2012 New York International Auto Show.

Beginning in July, the 2013 Outlander Sport will be built in the United States at the company's advanced automobile manufacturing facility in America's heartland in Normal, Illinois. The updated, American-made Outlander Sport models produced here in the U.S will not only supply Mitsubishi dealers in the states but also be shipped to foreign markets.

With composed handling, a comfortable ride and roomy seating for 5 adults, this stylish crossover is currently the best-selling car in Mitsubishi Motors' North American model lineup.

The 2013 Outlander Sport features numerous design and feature improvements for the new model year:

Exterior

    Front Fascia - Redesigned front bumper section; New grille styling; New fog lamp design.
    Rear Bumper - New rear bumper design.
    Side Sills - Side sills now black in color to match the lower sections of the redesigned front & rear bumpers.
    Handsome 18-in. alloy wheels now standard on all on all trim levels for the 2013 model.

Interior

    New interior fabrics; New chrome accent molding for the front doors; New All Wheel Control (AWC) push button switch.

Chassis

    Revised rear multi-link suspension for improved handling and ride comfort.

Drivetrain

    Enhanced Continuously-Variable Transmission (CVT) calibration for improved acceleration performance and smoother shift feeling.

Exterior Color Availability

    New hues White Pearl and Quick Silver join Laguna Blue, Labrador Black Pearl, Mercury Gray and Rally Red.

Fresh Face, Same Exceptional Value
The entire front fascia of the 2013 Outlander Sport has been completely made over versus last year's model. The signature pronounced, trapezoidal grille opening and recessed fog lamp housings are still present, but now feature a new, more simple and clean shape. Another appealing detail is the new chrome trim surrounding the outer perimeter of the recessed fog lamps.

Likewise, the rear fascia has been refreshed to complement the new look of the front fascia.

The highly-stylized front/rear fascia makeover - along with new black-colored side sills - enrich the Outlander Sport's already athletic-looking aesthetic demeanor, further separating Mitsubishi's compact crossover from its more mundane peers.

With an impressive EPA fuel mileage rating of 31 highway mpg, and the availability of either front- or all-wheel drive, the stylish 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport is a compelling choice for young families or active individuals that combines the space and versatility of an SUV with the outstanding ride quality and improved fuel economy of an exceptionally engineered car.

Standard equipment on all Outlander Sport models includes stylish 18-in. alloy wheels; leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob; cruise control with steering wheel-mounted controls; Electric Power Steering (EPS); FUSE Handsfree Link System™ that allows voice-activated operation of an iPod® and a cell phone, remote keyless entry; eye-catching rear LED combination tail lamps; heated outside mirrors; steering wheel-mounted audio controls; and air conditioning with micron filter. Among the included safety features are driver knee airbag; Hill Start Assist (HSA); Active Stability Control (ASC); Traction Control Logic (TCL); anti-lock braking system (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist; and an advanced front air bag SRS with passenger weight and driver's seat position sensors, front seat-mounted side-impact air bags, and curtain side air bags with roll-over sensors.

The top-flight SE version adds further luxuries such as a dynamic 6 speaker premium audio system with SiriusXM™ satellite radio with 3-months subscription service; heated front seats; one-touch Start/Stop (OSS) engine switch; climate control system with full-auto air conditioning; rain-sensing wipers; super-wide beam xenon head lights and FAST key passive entry system.