LA Auto Show preview: American-sized Mitsubishi i-MIEV electric car

Nov 10, 2010 1:55 PM

Mitsubishi will debut the North American version of its new i-MIEV electric car at the Los Angeles Auto Show next week. The dimensions have been stretched for this revised i-MIEV to address American expectations. The four-passenger car measures 144.9 inches, making it 11 inches longer then the European and Japanese model and an inch shorter than a Mini Cooper. At 62.4 inches wide, it is four inches wider than the overseas model and still about 3.5 inches narrower than a Mini Cooper. These changes can make the car more palatable to potential buyers.

Last year, we had an i-MIEV at our Auto Test Center and shared our first impressions behind the wheel, including:

Within limits, the i-MIEV is brilliant. The packaging is amazing in that for such a tiny footprint it can fit four adults with ease, even if they happen to be 6-foot professional basketball players. And it accelerates well, emits very little noise at low speeds and has acres of glass to let in plenty of light.

The version we have, on loan from Mitsubishi for a few days, is what the company is already selling in Japan for about $50,000 a copy: a Smart size, rear-wheel drive four-door hatchback powered by a 16-kwh lithium-ion battery and a 47-kw motor, the equivalent of 64 horsepower.

We look forward to seeing this updated, American-sized model next week when we're in Los Angeles to cover the show.

—Jeff Bartlett

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