Mitsubishi Reportedly Working on Plug-in Hybrids, Electric Coupe

Since the hybrid market tends to grow up as more and more customers are looking for this kind of vehicles, altering production to concentrate on hybrid pretty much makes sense. This is exactly what Mitsubishi prepares to do, according to Clean Green Cars, as the Japanese manufacturer gets ready to step into the hybrid market with its very own model.

Obviously, the hybrid would be mostly based on the same principle as all the others hybrids already available on the market or scheduled for release in the next few years: the vehicle runs on battery for a limited range (usually between 40 and 60 miles) but also features an additional small-displacement combustion engine that automatically recharges batteries while in motion and using regenerative braking energy technologies.

And according to the aforementioned source, Mitsubishi's new goal is to become “the world's most environmentally friendly car company” so such a model would really help it achieve this goal. However, the Japanese automaker wants even more than that: an electric coupe based on the i MiEV Sport coupe concept displayed at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2007.

The concept was a four-wheel drive vehicle powered by three engines, two of them mounted on the front wheels and one installed in the rear side of the car.

Clean Green Cars says Mitsubishi will debut an upgraded version of the i MiEV Sport Coupe concept at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show which is expected to be pretty much similar to the final production model prepared for early 2010.

And beside all of these environmentally-friendly plans, Mitsubishi will also launch the Colt hatchback this spring, an upgraded model featuring multiple low-emission functions.