2013 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo to go hybrid

[Dave_au]

Lancer Evo to go hybrid

BRUCE NEWTON IN TOKYO

C/- SMH
http://www.smh.com.au/drive/green-mo...1022-h9lb.html

October 22, 2009



Mitsubishi Lancer Evo


The fastest Mitsubishi on the road is set to adopt a frugal petrol-electric drivetrain in a radical about-face for the rally-bred performance car.By Bruce Newton

The next all-new generation of Mitsubishi's iconic Lancer Evolution will go from red- to green-hot thanks to a petrol-electric hybrid powertrain.

The move was confirmed to Drive.com.au by one of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation's chief product strategists, Ryugo Nakao.

"The next Evolution will be a hybrid, combining ecology and sport," Nakao said, via an interpreter.

The revelation that the next Lancer Evolution will switch to hybrid propulsion confirms internet rumours and follows a trend for hybrid and electric sports cars from the likes of Audi, Porsche, Ferrari and Honda.

The all-new Evolution is due around 2013 as part of the next generation Lancer range.

The current version, known among fans - but not officially - as Evo X, has been on-sale since 2008.

It pumps out 217kW and 366Nm and accelerates from 0-100km/h in as little as 5.7 seconds.

It follows the same all-wheel drive turbocharged four-cylinder sports sedan blueprint as all its predecessors, which date back to 1992.

However, Nagao-san said the fundamental change to the next Evo's drivetrain was a response to changing consumer preferences.

It also reflects the tightening emissions standards in much of the world and Mitsubishi's commitment to becoming an electric vehicle (EV) leader.

However, the type of hybrid drivetrain the next generation Evolution will employ has yet to be finalised.

Nakao confirmed one option is the Plug-In Hybrid System debuted at the Tokyo motor show this week by the PX-MiEV cross-over concept.

This employs a petrol engine, permanent magnet synchronous motors mounted on both axles and a lithium-ion battery pack.

But in-wheel electric motor technology is also under consideration, Nagao-san confirmed. Indeed, an in-wheel electric Evo was tested in public at an EV rally by Mitsubishi back in 2005.

"We need to see what technology is appropriate," he said. "We have not decided which application as yet.

"The Evolution has to be harmonised with sports and ecology and from that point of view the most appropriate system will be applied."

He rejected the suggestion the Mitsubishi Evolution might continue with a traditional turbo-petrol drivetrain as well as adopting a hybrid drivetrain.

The Lancer Evolution hybrid will arrive amid a substantial overhaul of Mitsubishi's range.

The Challenger mid-size heavy-duty SUV arrives in December and the production version of the compact Cx cross-over in mid-2010.

Around the same time the i-MiEV electric vehicle should be on-sale, albeit in extremely limited numbers to selected buyers.

In 2011 expect to see the replacement for the Colt light car, currently known as 'Global Small'. Unlike Colt, which was co-developed with Mercedes-Benz, this will be an in-house Mitsubishi design and eventually spawn numerous derivatives.

A new generation Pajero is expected in 2012. This could spin-off a variety of different versions, including light and heavy duty and hybrid versions.

The front-end graphic of the PX-MiEV is one of three styling themes believed to be under consideration for the next Pajero.