Revealed At 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show: North American i-MiEV, Outlander Sport And EV Partnership

Nov. 21, 2010 - PRLog -- Mitsubishi Motors Corporation's (MMC) North American subsidiary, Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) kicked off the international auto show season with a bang today as the company unveiled its all-new, ultra-eco-friendly and affordable i-MiEV, featured the stylish new 2011 Outlander Sport crossover, and announced a new partnership with Fortune 500 companies, Best Buy and Eaton Corporation, that will help make electric vehicle ownership easier and more attainable to the eco-conscious consumer.

The production version of the ground breaking 100 per cent electric-powered car i-MiEV, debuted at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show, is sure to be a game-changer in the North American automotive landscape.

The North American i-MiEV, when compared to its Japanese- and European-spec compatriots, features a slightly larger body to provide even more interior comfort for four adults, along with redesigned front and rear bumpers for enhanced protection in the event of a collision.  

Active Stability Control (ASC), a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) and airbags that control deployment force are standard features on the North American i-MiEV.

The North American i-MiEV is expected to have a MSRP of around USD$30,000 (before federal and available state financial incentives) and will be available in California, Oregon, Washington and Hawaii in November 2011 before rolling out nationally within one year's time of its initial launch.

All-New 2011 Outlander Sport
Now arriving at Mitsubishi dealerships across the United States, the 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport is a stylish and roomy 5-person compact crossover utility vehicle (CUV) that achieves an impressive 31 mpg highway and sports high-tech amenities including a Sportronic® continuously-variable transmission (CVT) and an available 40GB HDD navigation system featuring real-time traffic and storage for up to 3,000 songs.  

Standard features include steering wheel-mounted audio and cruise controls, LED taillights and Mitsubishi's innovative FUSE Hands-free Link SystemTM with USB input that allows users to make hands-free phone calls or access music on their iPod® with simple voice-commands.  

Eco-friendly equipment including electric power steering (EPS) and a brake energy regeneration system and safety features including 7 airbags, Hill Start Assist (HSA) and Active Stability Control (ASC) are all standard. The Outlander Sport has a MSRP starting price of only USD$18,495. Log on to outlandersport.com for more information.

In addition to Outlander Sport production vehicles, the Japanese auto manufacturer's floorspace also featured an Outlander Sport that was reconfigured with sophisticated electronic controls and GPS mapping software that allowed this particular vehicle to be piloted remotely over the internet by visitors who signed up for a "virtual" test drive on the outlandersport.com website.

Best Buy / Eaton Corporation Collaboration
A new EV charging station logistics collaboration with consumer electronics retailer Best Buy and leading power management company Eaton Corporation was announced at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show.

This cooperative effort will see Best Buy, through the company's Geek Squad division - a nationwide 24-hour task force of more than 20,000 highly skilled technicians - retail, perform site analysis and manage installation of advanced 220V (15A) Level 2 Charging Station equipment that will be manufactured by Eaton Corporation for an i-MiEV owner's home that will cut the battery charging time of their all-electric vehicle in half over a standard 110V (15A) electrical outlet.

Eaton Corporation, with approximately 70,000 employees doing business in more than 150 countries, is an ideal hardware partner as the company has more than 20 years’ experience in designing and manufacturing hybrid and electrical power systems in commercial vehicles.

For further information, contact:
Lenore Fletcher, Senior Manager Corporate Communications
Telephone: (08) 8275 2348
E-mail: lfletcher@mmal.com.au
www.mitsubishi-motors.com.au


--ABOUT MITSUBISHI--
Mitsubishi Motors Australia is part of the global Mitsubishi Motors organisation and is fully owned by Mitsubishi, one of the world's largest companies.  

The company's history dates back to 1870, when Mitsubishi's Japanese founder, Yataro Iwasaki, started a shipping company with three steamships. The company grew from strength to strength and, in 1914, registered the Mitsubishi three-diamond trademark. This symbol embodies more than 130 years of tradition, and has earned the confidence and trust of customers all over the world.  

Mitsubishi takes great pride from knowing that more than 11 million people from around the world have chosen to drive a Mitsubishi vehicle. There are Mitsubishi dealers in more than 200 sites across Australia. These professional and knowledgeable dealers help owners ensure their Mitsubishi car is always looked after by fully-trained Mitsubishi technicians, using genuine Mitsubishi parts that meet stringent global standards.  

www.mitsubishi-motors.com.au/vehicles/4wd/outlander
www.mitsubishi-motors.com.au/company/innovation/concept-cars/i-miev-sport

# # #

Mitsubishi works hard to develop award winning new cars and automotive technology.

If you would like to know more about the iMiEV electric car or the compact SUV, the Outlander, see the Mitsubishi website.