Mitsubishi will have 15 vehicles on display on its 2011 Tokyo Motor Show stand late this month. Among them will be the Concept PX-MiEV II, believed to be the hybrid version of the next Outlander crossover. The Concept will showcase the Japanese automaker's latest "green technology."
The Concept PX-MiEV II is a plug-in hybrid PHEV that combines Mitsubishi's existing EV technology in an SUV body. The hybrid setup increases range over conventional small EV-only city cars. The automaker uses technology lifted from its i-MiEV (or "i" in the U.S.) electric city car and a conventional gasoline engine. Mitsubishi claims the Concept PX-MiEV II has a range of 800 km (496 miles) and can achieve as much as 60 km per liter (around 141 mpg).
Mitsubishi says it can go as far as 50 km (31 miles) on battery power alone. The gasoline engine can be used as a generator (like the Chevy Volt) or drive the wheels directly. The Concept PX-MiEV II uses a 2.0-liter MIVEC four-cylinder engine making 94 horsepower combined with two 80-horsepower electric motors that drive Mitsubishi's S-AWC (Super-All Wheel Control) four-wheel-drive system - the same system used in the Lancer Evolution X. Mitsubishi claims the instant torque from the electric motors help it accelerate like a 3.0-liter V6 engine.
Among the cars on Mitsubishi's stand will be one each of the Concept PX-MiEV II. RVR, Galant Fortis, Pajero, Outlander, Delica D-2, and Delica D-3; two each of the Mirage, MINICAB i-MiEVs, and Delica D-5; and four i-MiEV electric vehicles.