Mitsubishi to Enter I-MiEV Prototype in 2012 Pikes Peak Hill Climb
In Bertel’s post about Toyota Prius C sales outstripping those of the Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf, longtime reader geozinger said, concerning TTAC, “I can’t remember the last time I saw anything about the iMiev.” Let nobody say that TTAC is unresponsive to our readers. So I checked and geozinger has a point, the i-MiEV has been getting short shrift compared to the Volt and Leaf.
After the mayor of Normal, Illinois, home of Mitsubishi’s only North American assembly plant, asked the company to increase allocations of the i-MiEV to Normal (the car is being rolled out first on the coasts) because of the EVTown program in Bloomington and Normal, the company featured the midwestern city in its “Welcome to the New Normal” ad campaign featuring the i-MiEV. Other than that ad and the announcement that production of the larger North American spec i-MiEV began at Mitsubishi’s Mizushima plant in Japan last October, there really hasn’t been much news to report.
Earlier this month Mitsubishi announced that the “i-MiEV Prototype” will enter the 2012 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in July, with back-to-back Dakar Rally winner Hiroshi Masuoka at the wheel.
From the released drawing, the i-MiEV Prototype appears to be a scratch built tube frame race car, though Mitsubishi says it will “use the same EV components as the current production i-MiEV”. I guess the diamond star company can’t let Nissan have all the fun with the Leaf Nismo RC concept.
To make up for the relatively paucity of i-MiEV coverage in these parts, I’ve also included a gallery of photos plus video of the i-MiEV on display at last month’s Chicago Auto show. Press release on the i-MiEV Pikes Peak effort below.
“Mitsubishi Motors to Enter i-MiEV Prototype in 2012 Pikes Peak International Hill ClimbThu, Mar 01, 2012 – Tokyo -Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) will enter the i-MiEV Prototype in the 2012 edition (July 8) of the legendary Pikes Peak International Hill Climb held annually in Colorado in the United States. The i-MiEV Prototype is a prototype based on the MMC’s all-electric i-MiEV model, the first 100% electric vehicle (EV) to go into mass production and is already on the road in Japan, Europe and North America, with plans to expand to other markets.
The i-MiEV Prototype is to be driven by Hiroshi Masuoka, in many parts of the world known as a legendary race driver whom during the course of decades of racing success took on the brutal Dakar Rally 21 times, winning it consecutively in 2002 and 2003, driving Mitsubishi Pajero and Pajero Evolution models respectively.
The i-MiEV Prototype will use the same EV components as the current production i-MiEV. MMC will use the data obtained through its participation in the event to enhance the durability and reliability of pure EVs and plug-in hybrid EVs which it will be bringing to market in the near future.
In addition to MMC’s participation in the race, engineers from MMC’s development division as well as from its partner manufacturers of batteries, motors and other EV components will be sent to the event to collaborate closer on the sharing of technology and knowhow for the purpose of further boosting MMC’s EV development capabilities.
* The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is an annual automobile and motorcycle hill climb to the 4,300 meter summit of Pikes Peak in Colorado with entrants covering an elevation difference of almost 1,500 meters. First run in 1916 the hill climb is one of the oldest motor sport races in America. Atmospheric pressure, temperature, weather and other conditions vary significantly between the start and finish and this requires optimum tuning to ensure the vehicles produce their maximum performance all the way up.”
Ronnie Schreiber edits Cars In Depth, a realistic perspective on cars & car culture and the original 3D car site. If you found this post worthwhile, you can dig deeper at Cars In Depth. If the 3D thing freaks you out, don’t worry, all the photo and video players in use at the site have mono options. Thanks for reading – RJS
Ronnie Schreiber edits Cars In Depth, the original 3D car site.
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MiEV is RWD. I'm wondering if it helps or hurts.
Top Gear "reviewed" the Peugot iOn version of this car, and concluded that the Leaf was better in every way while being less expensive. In the UK it costs the equivalent of about $45K, which is ridiculous considering it looks like a $10K penalty box. Here it's closer to $30K which is slightly better, but it's still no Leaf.