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Mitsubishi Unveils Production i MiEV

June 5th, 2009 by Steve Cypher

Delivery to corporate and governmental users in Japan will begin in late July with retail sales to individuals beginning in April 2010.

The invisible manufacturer

Here at LotPro.com, we really have to pity poor Mitsubishi. As the red-headed stepchild of the Japanese automakers, the brand has found selling vehicles in the U.S. a bit of a rough row to hoe. If it wasn’t for the success of the Lancer (with 5 different trim levels plus two for the Evolution), which accounts for nearly half of all its passenger car sales here, the company’s footprint in the U.S. would be very small, indeed.

This isn’t to say that the vehicles that the company produces are bad, but they are, for the most part, forgettable. But that situation, hopefully, is about to change.

Mitsubishi i

The i minicar

Just like every other Japanese manufacturer, there are a whole slew of models that Mitsu produces for its home market that never see the light of day here in the States. One of those models is the i minicar.

First released in Japan in January of 2006, the i features innovative styling as well as a unique mid-rear engine layout. Its overall length (133.7 inches) falls almost squarely between that of the Honda Fit (161.6 inches) and a Smart fortwo (106.1 inches). So why even mention the i?

i-MiEV

i-MiEV

At the 2009 Geneva auto show, Mitsubishi exhibited two electric concept versions of the i, called the i-MiEV (for Mitsubishi in-wheel motor Electric Vehicle). Today, the company unveiled the production version and announced that it expects to lease 1,400 copies to corporations and governmental units in Japan with an eye on accepting orders, beginning in July, from individuals for delivery beginning in April of 2010.

i-MiEV

Standard features include a single charge range of 100 miles from its stack of 88 lithium-ion cells and a top speed slightly north of 80 mph. It also features a climate control system with an air conditioner powered by an electric compressor and a heating system that circulates warm water from an electric heater.

The i-MiEV also comes standard with LED headlamps and rear combination lamps with LED emitters for the taillamps and stop lamps. And as if using electricity for motive power weren’t enough, the electric i also uses PBS (polybutylene succinate)-bamboo fiber Green Plastic for the interior trim on the tailgate.

i-MiEV

Inside, the i-MiEV will have an available entertainment system complete with a 7 inch display and navigation (to be updated through the use of SD flash cards) based on solid state drive (SSD) technology to ensure maximum power conservation.

The rest of the story

The good news is that it looks like Mitsubishi is planning on bring the i-MiEV over here sometime in the near future. The bad news is that the vehicle sells for 4,599,000 yen (a cool $46,800) in Japan.

i-MiEV