Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) has announced that it will take on the legendary Pike Peak International Hill Climb this July with an electric one-off, the i-MiEV Prototype. Slated to use the same powertrain components as the current Mitsubishi i-MiEV (aka the Mitsubishi i here in America), Mitsubishi says it will use the data obtained through this effort to enhance the durability and reliability of the pure EVs and plug-in hybrid EVs it plans to market worldwide in the near future.
To further leverage its involvement in this year’s Race to the Clouds, engineers from Mitsubishi internal development division will join personnel from its various partner suppliers and manufacturers of batteries, motors and other related EV components. This collaboration is meant to more find ways to more effectively share technology and knowledge that will help the automaker expand its own expertise in various development capabilities.
Wheelman for the new Mitsubishi i-MiEV Prototype will be off-road specialist Hiroshi Masuoka. Masuoka is a 21-time participant in the grueling Paris-Dakar Rally Raid, events that he won outright in 2002 and 2003 driving Mitsubishi Pajero and Pajero Evolution models, respectively.
