The line-up for Mitsubishi's stand at the Tokyo Motor Show has been announced. Two cars will make their debut when the show opens on 30th November: the Mirage hatchback and the Concept PX-MiEV II. An energy efficient house will also be on display.
The Mirage is a compact car designed to be affordable to buy and run in emerging markets. It will also serve as an entry-level model in some countries. Even though it is modestly sized Mitsubishi claims there is space inside for five adults.
For the Japanese market version a target fuel economy figure of 84.7mpg has been set. To achieve this goal careful attention has been paid to cutting aerodynamic drag and rolling resistance. There is also a stop-start system fitted to the 1.0-litre, three-cylinder engine. The Mirage will go on sale first in Thailand in March 2012.
The Mitsubishi Concept PX-MiEV II is a mid-size plug-in hybrid. It combines the existing i-MiEV driveline technology with a small petrol engine in a SUV-style body. Fuel economy is claimed to be 169.5mpg while there is nearly 30 miles of range purely on battery power.
Depending on charging levels the drive system is designed to allow the driver to switch between internal combustion and battery power on the move. The vehicle also comes with an electrical socket that can be used to power electrical appliances when camping.
The PX-MiEV II boasts a twin-motor four-wheel drive set-up. It also uses Mitsubishi's latest traction control system derived from that fitted to the Lancer Evolution X. The electric motors are claimed to give acceleration equivalent to a 3.0-litre V6 engine even though the engine actually displaces one litre less.
The MiEV House is a so-called 'smart house' designed to save energy. This features the Home Energy Management System (HEMS) and Electric Vehicle Integration System (EIS). These systems work together to monitor energy use both within the home and from any electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles. The idea is that charging cycles are optimised to ensure that the electric car always has enough energy.
The 42nd Tokyo Motor Show runs from 30th November to 11th December.
John Lambert - 10 Nov 2011
