Mitsubishi i-MiEV Sport Concept Unveiled

Japanese automaker Mitsubishi has brought its i-MiEV Sport concept car at the 2010 Australian International Motor Show in Sydney, offering visitors a glimpse of its future electric car line up. As you might have guessed, the lithium-ion battery-powered, all-wheel drive coupe concept is based on the i-MiEV electric vehicle.

Finished in a light green pearlescent paint, the i-MiEV Sport uses in-wheel motors at the front and a third motor driving the rear wheels, all controlled by the S-AWC (Super All Wheel Control) vehicle dynamics system. Weighing just 970 kg (2,138 pounds), it is capable of delivering 680Nm of torque.

Aside from the S-AWC, the vehicle also features an E-4WD system, a new E-AYC (Electric Active Yaw Control) system, ABS and ASC.

“Using the same rear-midship layout design as the i-MiEV, the Sport uses its long wheelbase to maximise interior space and retain a low centre of gravity by housing its high-capacity lithium-ion battery under the floor and the motor, inverter and charger beneath the luggage compartment,” a company statement reads.

The range of the coupe is 200 km (125 miles) on a single charge, increased by photovoltaic solar cells mounted in the roof and a power generating fan mounted in the front grille. Additional power comes from bright power-saving LED lighting, regenerative braking functions, heat-absorbing window glass and Mitsubishi’s Green Plastic resin technology.

“The focus for our display here at the show is on innovation and technology, and the i-MiEV Sport shows that, at Mitsubishi, electric vehicles have taken the next step forward. They have the performance possibilities to make them a whole lot of fun,” stated Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited’s (MMAL’s) President and CEO, Masahiko Takahashi.