"Every new car we develop will also be able to be driven by electricity," (translated) Helmut Bauer, Mitsubishi's German spokesman, told Automobilwoche. The source also says that one possible upcoming hybrid or electric car from Mitsubishi would be based on the PX-MiEV concept vehicle shown at last year's Tokyo Auto Show. It should combine the frame of the existing Outlander model with the hybrid drive system of the PX-MiEV concept, which features a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine working in conjunction with a pair of electric motors.
The company reportedly confirmed that the new vehicle is being developed, and will be ready sometime in 2013. Another possible candidate for an electric version is the Lancer Evolution. The Evo XI could possibly adopt a hybrid-electric system similar to that of the PX-MiEV. The platform could consist of an electric motor driving the front wheels and a turbocharged 2.0-liter I-4 that will primarily power the rear axle. The package could deliver an output higher than 350 horsepower.
This idea should be beneficially for the company's development costs. If Mitsubishi can get an easy drop-in EV drivetrain, it would be a nice option to have on any car. But it is not as easy as it first sounds. Creating a good electric car means making a low center area for the batteries, keeping the vehicle as light as possible and making it more aerodynamic.
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