Monday, June 16, 2014

Mitsubishi to launch plug-in hybrid SUV in 2013

Do you remember the Mitsubishi PX MiEV Concept? It was presented at 2009 Tokyo Motor Show and I found it a nice looking concept. So, what new now about it? Actually, according to Yoshikazu Nakamura, senior executive officer of Mitsubishi's global electric vehicle business, a plug-in hybrid SUV will be launched in 2013. The car will be similar to the concept.

The PX MiEV Concept was powered by a 1.6-liter four cylinder engine mated to a hybrid system with two electric motors, one for the front wheels and one for the rear. Mitsubishi hasn't named its plug-in hybrid SUV, but it will carry the "MiEV" (Mitsubishi innovative Electric Vehicle) moniker, Nakamura said. 

Now, just a question... what's the point in having cars like RAV4 EV and PX MiEV? I really think that "eco" technologies should be available in mass produced cars, but a big SUV with a limited mile range on the EV mode is destined for commuting, isn't it? So, people still want SUVs in order to move in big cities... and therefore, the marketing guys came up with this brilliant idea! Bring out a relatively green big SUV (after all, the tag "green" is the important bit), which in fact is not necessarily a green car... The fundamental element for a green car is weight reduction and if weight is low, then the 30-mile range of an SUV on EV mode can easily become 100-miles...

[Source: Automotive News]

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