The theme for next month’s 2009 Tokyo Motor Show is quickly shaping up to be an electric one, with yesterday Honda showing off its new CR-Z Concept 2009 hybrid sports car and today Mitsubishi revealing a new plug-in hybrid concept based on its Pajero SUV.
Powered by the new proprietary plug-in hybrid system, which significantly extends the frequency a hybrid vehicle is driven in all-electric mode, the 2009 Mitsubishi Concept PX-MiEV promises a fuel economy in excess of 117.6 mpg.
Mitsubishi’s plug-in hybrid system combines differential electric motors with its Super All Wheel Control (S-AWC) all-wheel drive system and electronically controlled active yaw control. The front and rear wheels are powered by two permanent magnet synchronous motors, while a 1.6-liter four-cylinder MIVEC engine is also used to power the front wheels or act as a generator.
In addition, the vehicle comes with the newly-developed plug-in hybrid system in which electronic circuitry automatically switches to the optimum drive mode for different driving conditions and remaining energy in the drive battery to extract maximum efficiency from the electric motors and from the gasoline engine.
Designers looked at almost every elements of the car in an effort to maximize fuel economy. For example, LEDs were used for the head and tail lamps as they use less power than conventional xenon and halogen units, while the wheel hubs feature a special design that helps improve brake cooling as well as aerodynamic performance.
The interior was designed to give an image of an airplane cockpit, with an instrument panel that envelops the passengers and plenty of LED elements. The vehicle also features a windshield that uses heat-reflecting glass to reduce the amount of heat energy passing through and uses infrared ray blocking glass in the door windows. The body paint also incorporates heat-reflective and insulation technology.
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