MITSUBISHI MOTORS’ 2012 PIKES PEAK INTERNATIONAL HILL CLIMB TEAM & ALL-NEW ALL-ELECTRIC RACECAR ANNOUNCE i-MiEV EVOLUTION TO TACKLE PIKE SPEAK
Tokyo, May 18, 2012 – Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) will enter two all-electric vehicles (EVs) in the Electric Class of the legendary Pikes Peak International Hill Climb1. MMC will be aiming for victory in the Electric Class with the i-MiEV Evolution, a specially-prepared competition version based on the i all-electric vehicle2. MMC is also entering a regular production i in the event.
- Enter the i-MiEV Evolution
The i-MiEV Evolution uses the same motor, drive battery and other major components as the production i and has been developed in cooperation with several partner companies including Meidensha Corporation and GS Yuasa Corporation. The i-MiEV Evolution has been developed to showcase MMC’s advanced EV control and EV component technologies. MMC will use the technical knowhow garnered through the i-MiEVEvolution‘s development and usage for the development of future EV models with superior durability and reliability.
- All-pro Team
Driving the i-MiEV Evolution in the Pikes Peak event and also serving as team manager will be Mr. Hiroshi Masuoka – the first Japanese driver to post consecutive overall victories in the Dakar Rally. The Mitsubishi i will be piloted by Ms. Beccy Gordon, a winner in the Score International Off-Road Racing Series.
1. Mitsubishi Motors 2012 Pikes Peak Challenge Team
| Team Manager | Hiroshi Masuoka | |
| Drivers | Hiroshi Masuoka | Beccy Gordon |
| Competition Cars | i-MiEV Evolution | Mitsubishi i (i-MiEV in other countries) |
| Racing class | Electric Class |
2. Outline Description of Cars Entered for Pikes Peak
(1) i-MiEV Evolution
Developed for the Pikes Peak event, the i-MiEV Evolution basically uses the same motor, drive battery and other major components as the production i-MiEV fitted to a specially-designed racing-specific body which uses a tube-frame chassis and a carbon fibre cowl among other features designed to reduce weight and improve aerodynamic performance. Comprising a single motor driving the front and two motors driving the rear wheels, the car’s four-wheel-drive system provides superior motive performance and handling.
| L x W x H (mm) | 4341 x 1900 x 1339 | |
| Occupants | 1 | |
| Drivetrain | 4-wheel drive | |
| Motors | Number | 3 (1 front, 2 rear) |
| Max. output (kW) | 240 (80 kW x 3) | |
| Drive battery | Rated capacity (kWh) | 35 |
| Chassis | Specially-designed tube frame | |
| Cowl | Carbon fibre | |
| Tyres | 245/40R18 |
(2) Mitsubishi i
For the Pikes Peak event the production Mitsubishi i has been modified using a more aerodynamic front bumper and fitted with roll bars and other safety equipment.
The Mitsubishi i went on sale on the west coast of the United States (in the states of California, Washington and Oregon) and in Hawaii in November 2011 with plans to expand sales to the whole of the country by June 2012. The i also went on sale in Canada as the i-MiEV in December 2011, marking its full-scale launch targeting corporate and individual customers in the North American market.
| L x W x H (mm) | 3675 (+280) x 1585 (+110) x 1615 (+5) | |
| Occupants | 4 | |
| Drivetrain | Rear wheel drive | |
| Motors | Number | 1 |
| Max. output (kW/rpm) | 49 (+2) / 3,000 – 6,000 | |
| Drive battery | Rated capacity (kWh) | 16 |
| Tyres | F: 145/65/R15 R: 175/60 (+5)/R15 |
3. Driver Profiles
(1) Hiroshi Masuoka (Product Strategy Office, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation)
Hiroshi Masuoka began his Dakar Rally campaign in 1987 and became the first Japanese driver to post consecutive overall victories in the event when he won in 2002 and 2003. Currently Masuoka works at Mitsubishi Motors where his many duties include vehicle development, the training of company test drivers and the running of test drive sessions and other events both in Japan and overseas. Masuoka had the following to say before the event: “Given the tough driving conditions that Pikes Peak is known for, I’m really keen to show people the world over those electric vehicles are capable of gutsy motive performance and excellent handling in addition to their superior environmental performance.”
(2) Beccy Gordon
Beccy Gordon is an American off-road racer. She grew up in a family in which her father, brother and sister have all been successful racing drivers, as is her husband today. Gordon herself is an experienced driver having raced in a wide spectrum of motor sports and she is also a motorsport spokesperson. Gordon commented before the event: “I’m really happy to be able to drive the Mitsubishi i in the Pikes Peak race and am looking forward to giving it my best in an electric car, the type of vehicle that is set to become a major player in motor sports in future.”
4. Partner Companies (20 in all, listed in alphabetical order)
- Advics Co., Ltd.
- Akebono Brake Industry Co., Ltd.
- Dunlop Goodyear Tires Ltd.
- Endless Advance Co., Ltd.
- Enkei Corporation
- GKN Driveline Japan Ltd.
- GS Yuasa Corporation
- Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
- HKS Co., Ltd.
- Meidensha Corporation
- Mikuni Corp.
- Mitsubishi Corporation
- Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
- Mitsubishi Motor Dealers Association
- NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
- NipponYusen Kabushiki Kaisha
- NTN Corporation
- Showa Corporation
- Toray Industries, Inc.
- Tsuchiya Co., Ltd.
