World Premieres of Mitsubishi Motors Mi-Tech Concept buggy-type electrified SUV concept car and Super Height K-Wagon Concept
Takao Kato, chief executive officer, MMC, and Ashwani Gupta, chief
operating officer, MMC, presented those vehicles at the press conference and
explained MMC’s electrification strategy.
“We are dedicated to electrification technology, particularly plug-in
hybrids (PHEVs),” Kato said. “We will be expanding our lineup of electrified
vehicles by delivering more variations and leveraging the diverse
electrification technology in the alliance to make MMC the leader in the PHEV
category going forward.”
Gupta added that MMC plans to employ any of its electrification
technologies to new midsize and compact SUV by 2022 as well as Kei car in the
near future.
As for the Super Height K-Wagon Concept, the company announced that it is
the second wave of the next-generation Kei cars, and plans to release it by the
end of this fiscal year.
Overview of the exhibited vehicles
1. Overview of
MI-TECH CONCEPT
The MI-TECH CONCEPT was built to be “small plug-in hybrid electric SUV
that delivers unparalleled driving pleasure and confidence over all terrain in
light and wind.” This concept car embodies the MMC brand statement “Drive Your
Ambition” with a lightweight, compact, new PHEV drivetrain, a four-motor
electric 4WD system, and advanced driver assist and preventive safety
technologies—all packed into the small-sized electrified SUV.
(1)
Dynamic Buggy Type Design
Under the concept of “Stimulates the driver's adventure”, the MI-TECH
CONCEPT is designed to be a dynamic buggy-type vehicle that embodies the very
essence of Mitsubishi-ness.
(2) Light, compact PHEV drivetrain
The power generator in the new PHEV drivetrain is a lightweight, compact
gas turbine engine-generator in place of the traditional gasoline engine. As
environmental awareness grows and downsizing progresses, the concept explores
the technological proposition to plug the PHEV drivetrain into a small SUV. The
gas turbine engine-generator has a powerful output for its size and weight.
Another benefit of the gas turbine is its flexibility to run on a variety
of fuels such as diesel, kerosene and alcohol which can be selected depending
on the regions. Further, its exhaust is clean so it responds to environmental
and energy issues.
(3) Electric 4WD system
MMC took pride to apply its S-AWC Integrated Vehicle Dynamics Control
System to a Quad Motor 4WD System with front and rear Dual-Motor Active Yaw
Control (AYC) units. Making the brake calipers electric has also allowed for
high response, high accuracy control of drive and braking force of the four
wheels while delivering a drastic improvement in turning and traction
performance. When driving off-road and two wheels are spinning out, the ability
to transmit the optimal driving force to all four wheels makes it possible to
transmit force to the two wheels still on the ground and keep driving.
(4) Advanced driver assistance and preventive safety technologies
The vehicle comes equipped with Human Machine Interface (HMI) which
displays various information detected through sensing technology including
advanced optical sensors on an augmented reality (AR) windshield. With vehicle,
road, and surrounding traffic conditions shown on the AR windshield, drivers
can make accurate, heads-up decisions even in poor visibility.
Equipped also with MI-PILOT, next-generation driver assistance
technology, the concept car extends driver support not only on freeways and
ordinary roads, but also on unpaved roads.
2. Overview of SUPER
HEIGHT K-WAGON CONCEPT
The SUPER HEIGHT K-WAGON CONCEPT is a next-generation super height Kei
wagon that caters to drivers who want to go more places and longer distances.
Offering the wide-open passenger space of a super height Kei wagon, it delivers
the performance and functionality required in that vehicle category but with a
design that expresses the unique flavor of MMC’s SUVs.
3. Overview of the
MITSUBISHI ENGELBERG TOURER
The MITSUBISHI ENGELBERG TOURER, an SUV with three-row seats, evolves
MMC’s own Twin Motor PHEV drivetrain developed in the Outlander PHEV with the
addition of next-generation electrification technology and four-wheel control.
(1)
PHEV drivetrain
The MITSUBISHI ENGELBERG TOURER has an EV cruising range of more than 70
kilometers (km) (WLTP)*6, and with a fully charged battery and full fuel tank
it has a total cruising range of more than 700 km (WLTP).
(2)
4WD System
The system employs AYC to control the distribution
of drive power among the front two wheels, along with full-time 4WD with the
Twin Motor system that places high-output, high-efficiency motors at both the
front and the rear. These are combined with MMC’s Super All Wheel Control
(S-AWC) integrated vehicle behavior control system which dramatically boosts
driving performance - driving, cornering, and stopping - by integrating control
of braking force at each wheel (Anti-Lock Braking System - ABS) and the front
and rear motor output (Active Stability Control - ASC*7).
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