The latest automotive producer that announced its intentions of entering the hybridization pathway is Mitsubishi. The Japanese carmaker will introduce a plug-in hybrid SUV in 2013, as autoweek reports.
It was the automaker's Senior Executive Officer for Global Electric Developments who offered the information to the aforementioned source. Fortunately, the executive didn't choose to leave things in the dark. Instead, he explained that the future vehicle will draw inspiration form the Px-MiEV concept, which was brought to the world at the 2009 Tokyo Auto Show.
The company has been working on the project and has already reached advanced development stages.
The Px-MiEV concept is powered by a hybrid powertrain consisting of a 1.6 liter engine that delivers 114 hp and a peak torque of 125 Nm, which works together with two electric motors that offer 80.5 hp and a maximum torque of 200 Nm. Mitsubishi claims that the vehicle offers an impressive fuel economy figure of 2 liters per 100 km (117.6 mpg). The figure itself is a bold claim that becomes even bolder if we consider that we are talking about an SUV.
We will have to wait and see if the production model is similar to the concept. Let's hope that Mitsu decides to keep the bold lines and the manages to develop the technology that can sustain the aforementioned figures.
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