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LA 2010: All-electric Mitsubishi i (don’t call it i-MiEV) debuts for U.S.

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Hatchback, Mitsubishi, Electric

Mitsubishi i i-MiEV

U.S.-market Mitsubishi i – Click above for high-res image gallery

Mitsubishi has been working on electric vehicles for a long time. So much so that the car the company is now calling the “100% battery-powered Mitsubishi i for the U.S. market” was emblazoned with the words “40 years of EV development” on its back bumper when it as unveiled at the LA Auto Show today. As the sketches we saw of the widebody i hinted at, the new vehicle is indeed longer and wider than the original i-MiEV in order to meet U.S. safety regulations. Oh, and the inside is “a little bit larger for larger frame people,” said Maurice Durand, manager of product communications for Mitsubishi Motors North America. Yes, America, Mitsubishi has heard your pleas for more butt space.

The electric i will go on sale in the U.S. next fall and be priced “around $30,000.” The company expects to sell just 20,000 units by fiscal 2015 – a modest goal, indeed. This is due, in part, to Mitsubishi positioning the i as an electric vehicle best suited for commuting, not one intended to replace the SUV or car you take on long road trips. “Frankly, the main purpose of this car for us is to get us in as a stakeholder in the electric vehicle game and to help pave the way for our future products,” Durand told AutoblogGreen. What future Mitsubishi vehicle might that be? The PX-MiEV. Details are yet to come.

As this vehicle shows, the MiEV name survives as something to brand Mitsubishi’s eco drivetrains that are based on the battery system used in the i and the i-MiEV. The hardware in the American, European and Japanese vehicles are the same, but the software that runs it is going to be upgraded for the U.S so that the car hits a range target of 85 miles on the LA4 test cycle and performs as American drivers expect.

Once available, buyers will be able to buy a preferred 220V charging station, designed and manufactured by Eaton that can fully charge an empty battery in eight hours, at Best Buy. Mitsubishi had a partnership with Best Buy in the past and had some Geek Squad groups use Japanese-spec i-MiEVs for service calls. Having Best Buy get familiar with the vehicle – learn how it charges and how it reacts in a real world environment – helped convince the retail giant to sell the charger, Durand said. Check out the full press release after the break.

Gallery: LA 2010: 2012 Mitsubishi i-MiEV

LA 2010: 2012 Mitsubishi i-MiEV

[Source: Mitsubishi]

Continue reading LA 2010: All-electric Mitsubishi i (don’t call it i-MiEV) debuts for U.S.

LA 2010: All-electric Mitsubishi i (don’t call it i-MiEV) debuts for U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Nov 2010 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mitsubishi EVO gains sportier sounding exhaust, new equipment for 2011

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Mitsubishi

2011 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution MR

2011 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution MR – Click above for high-res image gallery

Mitsubishi has modestly warmed over its already hot Lancer Evolution for 2011. For the new model year, buyers can look forward to a host of styling and tech treats. As in the past, the rally heathen will be available in both GSR and MR trims, but the Japanese automaker is throwing in the company’s new FUSE system for handling calls via Bluetooth and integrating music players. Even better, those gadgets should be controllable by voice command. In addition, the Lancer Evolution will now ship with a real-time traffic system when equipped with navigation. But let’s be honest, no one is buying the Evolution for the infotainment.

Fortunately, Mitsubishi has also thrown in a few other changes for 2011, including a re-tuned exhaust system. The company isn’t saying whether or not the new pipes add any horsepower to the equation, but the press release does indicate that the car now has a more throaty bark. In addition, Mitsu has effected some subtle aero tweaks. In shoutier GSR trim, that continues to mean one very large, very high-profile wing (now with slightly tweaked uprights), while MR continues to make use of a more subtle lip spoiler. Hit the jump for the press release and check out the gallery below.

Gallery: 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution

[Source: Mitsubishi]

Continue reading Mitsubishi EVO gains sportier sounding exhaust, new equipment for 2011

Mitsubishi EVO gains sportier sounding exhaust, new equipment for 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Oct 2010 17:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Mitsubishi Endeavor hangs on for another year with bundled features

Filed under: Crossover, Mitsubishi

2011 Mitsubishi Endeavor SE – Click above for high-res image gallery

Initially introduced back in 2004, the Mitsubishi Endeavor is growing a little long-in-the-tooth. And despite facelifts carried out for the 2006 and 2010 model years, the mid-size crossover never really managed to meet Mitsubishi’s sales targets, and it wasn’t even produced in 2009 while the Japanese automaker tried to sell off remaining stock. Yet the Endeavor is set to soldier on for at least one more model year, carrying a few updates to help it along.

For the 2011 model year, the Endeavor SE gains satellite navigation, a sunroof and a backup camera, previously offered as optional equipment but now included as standard on the uplevel model. Pricing jumps up by about two grand with the inclusion of the equipment and buyers can still choose between two- or four-wheel drive. Full details to be found in the press release after the jump, along with a fresh gallery of high-res images below.

Gallery: 2011 Mitsubishi Endeavor

[Source: Mitsubishi]

Continue reading 2011 Mitsubishi Endeavor hangs on for another year with bundled features

2011 Mitsubishi Endeavor hangs on for another year with bundled features originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Oct 2010 17:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mitsubishi to offer remote-control test drives of real Outlander Sport over the Internet [w/video]

Filed under: Car Buying, Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Technology, Videos, Crossover, Mitsubishi

2011 Mitsubishi Outlander R/C

Look Ma, no driver! – Click above to watch the video after the jump

Mitsubishi wants people to take notice of its 2011 Outlander Sport. There will be traditional print and television ad campaigns, but the automaker is also exploring new ways of reaching new car buyers. Through its creative agency 180 LA, Mitsubishi plans to put a bunch of car shoppers behind the wheel of the new crossover. Not literally, but virtually.

The automaker is rolling out its Mitsubishi Live Drive campaign that puts drivers behind the wheel of an actual Outlander Sport. They won’t be sitting in the vehicle but instead they’ll be in front of a computer. The CUV will be controlled remotely via users on the Internet. While we don’t want to be anywhere near the car when this is happening, it’s certainly a novel re-imagining of the test drive concept.

The Mitsubishi Live Drive event kicks off November 1, 2010 and runs through November 10. If you’re interested in testing out your computer driving skills, you can sign up starting October 15 at OutlanderSport.com. In the meantime, you can catch a sneak peak at what’s in store by viewing the video and official press release after the jump. Thanks to everyone for the tips!

Gallery: First Drive: 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport

Photos by Damon Lavrinc / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

[Sources: Mitsubishi, AdWeek, YouTube]

Continue reading Mitsubishi to offer remote-control test drives of real Outlander Sport over the Internet [w/video]

Mitsubishi to offer remote-control test drives of real Outlander Sport over the Internet [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Oct 2010 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Pro wakeboarders jump floating Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart Sportback

Filed under: Videos, Crossover, Mitsubishi

Click above to watch the video after the jump

When we think of the best possible ways to market a vehicle, somehow placing it on a floating platform and letting wakeboarders jump over it just doesn’t crack the top 10. That didn’t stop Mitsubishi from offering up an all-new Lancer Ralliart Sportback for All-ActionSports.com’s mid-week wake up. Wakeboarders from all over the U.S. lined up to hit a ramp at full speed, jump over ten feet in the air while flipping and flopping over the Mitsubishi wagon.

Hit the jump to watch the skiing daredevils take on water, gravity and the Sportback at the same time.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Pro wakeboarders jump floating Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart Sportback

Video: Pro wakeboarders jump floating Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart Sportback originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 Sep 2010 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Mitsubishi could kill off Galant, Eclipse by 2013

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Sedan, Performance, Japan, Crossover

Mitsubishi Eclipse yellow

Mitsubishi Eclipse – Click above for high-res image gallery

Things aren’t looking good for the Mitsubishi lineup of American-built vehicles. According to AutoWeek, the Japanese automaker is channeling all of its resources into building a new global small car. That means that between now and 2012, we won’t be seeing too many updates to the likes of the Galant, Endeavor, Eclipse or Eclipse Spyder. All of those past-their-prime vehicles ride on the same platform and are built in the company’s Normal, Illinois manufacturing facility. As of right now, AutoWeek says that the Japanese automaker hasn’t decided what to build at that plant once cars like the current Eclipse go the way of the dinosaur.

Mitsubishi has been planning a new global car for a good while now, and while details are still murky at the moment, we’re told to expect a fuel-thrifty 1.0 or 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine under the hood. The car is expected to show up in either late 2012 or early 2013, which leaves Mitsubishi to soldier on with only two other planned additions to its lineup between now and then – the i-MiEV electric vehicle and the Outlander Sport.

Us? We’re a bit more pessimistic. If cash-strapped Mitsu offs a significant portion of its lineup amidst slumping sales, will a new inexpensive small car and the Outlander and Lancer lineups make U.S. dealers enough money for them to stay in business?

[Source: AutoWeek]

Report: Mitsubishi could kill off Galant, Eclipse by 2013 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback Ralliart takes aim at the competition

Filed under: Performance, Hatchback, Mitsubishi, Reviews

2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback Ralliart – Click above for high-res image gallery

There has always been a glaringly obvious gap in Mitsubishi’s current Lancer lineup. On the bottom is the… Lancer, a biggish-for-its-class economy car that no one particularly likes – at least that’s what the sales charts would indicate. It’s slow, filled with cheap plastics and dull. It hasn’t even proven to be all that reliable by Japanese small-car standards, but at least it looks good. At the top of the heap and on a wholly different plane sits the Lancer Evolution. It’s the giant-slayer, David, the little car that humbles supercars. It’s also the hottest of the rally-inspired all-wheel-drive turbocharged pocket rockets. The Evo’s only real competition is the Subaru WRX STI and, let’s be honest, the Evo has been the better car for years now (Subaru has just updated its warrior for 2011, so a new comparison is in order). Its handling is more precise, yet at the same time more insane. The Mitsu is rawer, rougher, tougher and most importantly faster, even though it’s down half a liter on the WRX STI in terms of displacement. Don’t read this wrong, the STI is a fine backroad killer. But the EVO is more homicidal.

It looks like a toned down Evo, which is exactly what Mitsubishi wants you to think.

Back to that gap. In the middle of its arch rival’s portfolio has long lived the WRX, Subaru’s Goldie Loxian sportster, which is very fast, very nimble, but very well priced (it still starts at under $25,000). The WRX has long threaded the needle between excellent all-around performance and the customer not being able to afford a higher monthly payment. Subaru, therefore, has sold a ton of them, for not only does the WRX offer all that power and rally-bred oomph at a low price, it can be had as a wagon. Mitsubishi had nothing until this year, when the Japanese industrial powerhouse brought over two new flavors of its hopped-up Lancer, the Ralliart and the Ralliart Sportback.

Today we’re taking a look at the supposedly more practical of those two additions, the five-door Sportback. When the pictures of the Lancer Sportback Ralliart started spilling onto this here internet, Yours Truly was especially excited. The main reason being that for the past eight years, I’ve owned a WRX wagon in one form or another. Biased? You could say that, but at that same time, I’ve been driving Evos against STIs and have remained aware (perhaps painfully aware) that the Evo is the sharper blade. Perhaps, then, the Sportback Ralliart could be my next fast and furious wagon, or at least go wheel-to-wheel with its competition from Fuji Heavy Industries? Hop the jump to find out.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback Ralliart

Continue reading Review: 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback Ralliart takes aim at the competition

Review: 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback Ralliart takes aim at the competition originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mitsubishi Lancer earns Top Safety Pick award, first small car Mitsubishi to pass new rollover test [*UPDATE]

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Safety, Mitsubishi

2010 Mitsubishi Lancer ES – Click above for high-res image gallery

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has named the Mitsubishi Lancer one of its top safety picks. The four-door sedan managed to be the first ~~small car~~ Mitsubishi that the Institute has tested to pass the new roll-over test with a “good” rating. As much as we like entertaining ourselves by thinking about the researchers flipping a bevy of cars and SUVs from 9-to-5, that isn’t quite how the institute tests for rollover strength.

Instead, a large metal plate exerts a steady force on the roof of a vehicle until the crash structure deflects by five inches. At that point, the boffins measure the amount of force it took to bend the roof and compare it to the overall weight of the vehicle. From there, a strength-to-weight ratio can be established. Currently, the federal government requires a vehicle’s roof to be able to withstand 1.5 times the weight of the car, and in order for a vehicle to earn a “good” rollover rating from the IIHS, the roof needs to be able to stand up to four times the weight of the vehicle.

Gallery: 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer ES

[Source: The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety]

Mitsubishi Lancer earns Top Safety Pick award, first ~~small car~~ Mitsubishi to pass new rollover test [*UPDATE] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Jul 2010 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X SE ready to smoke some rubber

Filed under: Videos, Mitsubishi

2011 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X SE – Click above to watch the video after the jump

Mitsubishi is hyping its latest entrant into the Lancer Evolution X family with a new video of the SE tackling two of California’s greatest racetracks.

The Special Edition blends the GSR and MR models to create a mid-range Evo that’s slightly easier on the wallet, but it doesn’t skimp on the good stuff. A Twin-Clutch Sportronic Shift Transmission is mated to the standard turbocharged 2.0-liter four, while two-piece Brembo front brake rotors, Bilstein shocks and Eibach springs round out the performance mods. Mix in the same “diamond black” paint job from the SE edition of the Evolution IX, a rear lip spoiler, Xenon XID headlamps, heated Recaro bucket seats and a set of 12-spoke wheels and you’ve got yourself a genuinely special Evo on your hands. Hit the jump to see the SE taking to track, complete with gratuitous powerslides and tire-shredding four-wheel drifts.

Gallery: 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X SE

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X SE ready to smoke some rubber

Video: Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X SE ready to smoke some rubber originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Jul 2010 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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