Later this month Mitsubishi will officially unveil its PX-MiEV II concept at the Tokyo Motor Show. The second version of plug-in hybrid crossover, it’s one that points directly towards a production model in the near future.

Using a plug-in hybrid system with a lithium-ion battery pack and a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, the unique hybrid system allows for gasoline to power the front wheels with electricity powering the rear wheels. Mated to Mitsu’s S-AWC (Super-All Wheel Control) setup, the automaker not only claims excellent vehicle control and dynamics, but promises that acceleration matches that of a 3.0-liter V6.

On startup the gasoline engine comes on automatically with a Battery Charge Mode acting as a generator for the electric motor. By pushing a button on the dash, a Battery Drive Mode allows for engages just electric power and shuts off the gasoline engine

The concept allows for 31 miles of emissions free travel and Mitsubishi is targeting a 140 mpg rating – although that number is based on the Japanese cycle and isn’t really relevant. What is important is that Mitsubishi claims a total driving range of 500 miles.

Mitsubishi is looking to re-enter the sub-compact segment in the U.S. and will do so in the near future with an all-new global small car, which will officially be unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show in just a few weeks.

Using a tiny 1.0-liter 3-cylinder engine and stop-start technology, as well as extensive weight savings, Mitsubishi believes the new Mirage will achieve a 70-mpg rating in Japan. Though much more generous a number than in the U.S., this should still result in something well above the 40-mpg mark by EPA standards. It’s not yet clear if Mitsubishi intends to offer the 1.0-liter engine in North America.

Mitsubishi will begin production of the new Mirage soon, with sales pegged to begin in Thailand in March of 2012.

See AutoGuide’s complete Tokyo Motor Show preview here, with coverage starting November 30th.

Recognized each year at the LA Auto Show, the finalists for the 2012 Green Car of the Year award have been released, spanning the gamut of possible alternative fuel vehicles. The nominee include the Ford Focus Electric, the 2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas, the Mitsubishi i, the Toyota Prius v and the 2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI.

While fully electric models like the Fusion Electric and Mitsubishi i are obvious choices, the list goes on to include the Prius v hybrid, the Passat TDI diesel and even the natural gas powered Civic.

“This year’s Green Car of the Year finalists underscore that there is no single solution to our transportation challenges,” said Ron Cogan, publisher of Green Car Journal and editor of GreenCar.com. “Here we have five exceptional answers to the question of how we’re going to increase efficiencies, reduce tailpipe and CO2 emissions, and decrease petroleum use. These nominees deserve to be recognized for their unique approaches in providing consumers diverse choices as cars intelligently evolve toward a more environmentally-compatible motoring future.”

Along with staff from the Green Car Journal, this year’s judging panel for the 2012 Green Car of the Year award includes Carl Pope, Sierra Club chairman; Frances Beinecke, Natural Resources Defense Council president; as well as Jay Leno and Carroll Shelby.

Last year the Chevrolet Volt took home the 2011 Green Car of the Year award.

Click here to see AutoGuide’s complete 2011 LA Auto Show preview

Rumors that the next-generation Mitsubishi EVO would go hybrid first surfaced over a year ago and now company president Osamu Masuko has reportedly confirmed as much.

Speaking with the UK’s AutoCar, Masuko said the Evo XI will come with a hybrid powertrain and that it will be on sale within the next three years.

Rumors have suggested the car could be a plug-in hybrid, or that it could use a diesel-hybrid powertrain, helping it deliver substantial amounts of torque from a very small displacement engine.

Several months back came reports that the EVO would be discontinued as Mitsubishi poured substantial resources into developing future electric cars. That was eventually rebuked by Masuko has insisted the EVO would live on, but “evolve” in a different direction.

[Source: AutoCar]

As automakers look for ways to save fuel and reduce emissions, idle shut-off systems are becoming increasingly prevalent. Now, Mitsubishi has jumped on the bandwagon, releasing the first details on its new 4J10 1.8-liter gasoline motor which features Auto Stop and Go technology.

The engine, which also incorporates an updated version of Mitsubishi’s MiVEC variable valve timing (that combines both valve lift and duration based on engine speed as well as continuously variable valve timing – previous motors had one or the other); will be available from this month in the Japanese Domestic Market RVR crossover, plus the Galant Fortis sedan and Sportback (known as the Lancer in North America and most other markets).

In JDM configuration, the new engine will be rated at 139 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and  126.9 lb-ft of torque at 4,200 revs and provides a roughly 12 percent gas mileage improvement on the Lancer and RVR. Although currently, the Auto Stop and Go system is only available on cars with manual gearboxes, Mitsubishi has been developing a version that can be used on those equipped with Continuously Variable Transmissions.

Given ever tightening fuel economy and smog requirements in other parts of the world, particularly Europe and North America, expect derivatives of this engine to appear in export markets in the near future, notably the Lancer sedan and Sportback, plus the RVR and ASX/Outlander Sport.

[Source: Carscoop]

In recent years, sales of Mitsubishi vehicles have been on a global decline. Some feared that this Japanese automaker could one day be forced to close its doors for good, if demand does not increase.

In recent years, Mitsubishi has been given a lifeline by the PSA group, which owns Peugeot and Citroen. Both of these French companies have made their own versions of the Mitsubishi i-MiEV and the Outlander SUV.

Now is the turn of the Outlander Sport to put on some new clothes. For 2012, buyers in Europe will be able to pick up a Peugeot 4008 (pictured) or a Citroen C4 Aircross. Both these French models are identical to the Mitsubishi under the skin, but the skin is radically different, and also quite attractive.

Hopefully this continued partnership with the French will keep Mitsubishi afloat for a long time, so it can work on bringing us the next Evo model.

[Source: Car and Driver]

Gallery: Mitsubishi Outlander

The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution might be the Japanese brand’s highest performance model but the most recognizable model it’s produced over the past several decades is easily the Eclipse. Axed from the company’s lineup this year the Eclipse could return admits Greg Adams, Mitsubishi Motors North America VP of marketing.

Of the two, don’t look for the Eclipse to return any time soon, with Adams commenting that sporty cars in this category have peaked. So far this year sales are up by 105.4 percent, although at 6,721 units that’s just a fraction of the car’s all time sales high of over 72,000 units in 2002. In total, the car has accounted for just shy of one million units over its lifetime.

The Eclipse was axed this year along with the Endeavor SUV and Galant mid-size sedan when the automaker announced plans to close its plant in Normal, Illinois. While having a mid-size sedan on offer in North America seems like a no-brainer, Adams says that for the most part demand for such cars is limited to North America. “If we can make the numbers work between this market and other markets, we need to take a look at it,” he said.

Adams did not comment on any possible product sharing arrangement with Nissan. The two Japanese automakers did sign an agreement last year to work together on development of mini-cars, and most recently announced that in Japan Mitsubishi would sell a rebadged version of the Infiniti M.

With larger vehicles axed from the brand’s lineup, Mitsubishi is continuing on with its Lancer and Outlander models and has added the Outlander Sport crossover over the past year with a goal of reaching the 100,000 sales mark. So far this year North American sales have reach just over 60,000 units, a 65% increase and a sign of a brighter future for Mitsubishi.

GALLERY: Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder

[Source: WardsAuto]

Nissan and Mitsubishi continue to cozy up, with the latest announcement including the sharing of Nissan’s newest flagship luxury sedan. Sold in North America as the Infiniti M, Nissan will supply what it dubs the Fuga in its domestic market to Mistubishi. The new Mitsubishi-badged vehicle will go on sale in Japan starting in the summer of 2012.

In addition, both automakers have signed on to work together to bring Mitsubishi’s MINICAB-MiEV (a larger version of the tiny electric car intended for commercial use) to market next year.

This news is the latest development from an agreement that began back in December of 2010 that has also seen Nissan supply its NV vehicles to Mitsubishi as well as a joint-venture to develop minicars for the Japanese market.

Mitsubishi certainly had a great run with its sporty Eclipse model, but unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. The last Eclipse ever produced will be auctioned off by Mecum as a 2012 Mitsubishi Eclipse Coupe SE with a 3.8L V6. It is a special-edition Eclipse custom built by Mitsubishi Motors North America to commemorate the Eclipse’s 22-year run and will be auctioned off September 15-18th, 2011 at the St. Charles Auction with all the proceeds being donated to Japan’s Red Cross earthquake relief.

The one-of-a-kind Eclipse features a Kalapana Black paint scheme on the outside, which was selected by Mitsubishi’s Facebook fans, 18-inch Dark Argent wheels, SE lower side graphics, sunroof, leather interior, a 650-watt Rockford Fosgate 9-speaker audio system with SiriusXM, hands-free Bluetooth, rearview camera and HID headlights.

“Our goal with this Mitsubishi Eclipse SE was to create a very special car that would best honor the closing of this vehicle families’ chapter, built at our Normal, Illinois facility,” said Greg Adams, VP Marketing & Product Planning at Mitsubishi Motors North America. “We believe this one-off 2012 Mitsubishi Eclipse SE will become a highly collectible automobile, and we are excited to work with Mecum Auctions to offer it to collectors at their high-energy events.”

The iconic Eclipse has sold over 980,000 cars since production started 22 years ago and makes the Eclipse the best-selling Japanese brand sports car in the last 20 years (if you consider the Eclipse a sports car that is.)

GALLERY: Last Production Mitsubishi Eclipse

Yoichi Yokozawa, CEO of Mitsubishi Motors North America confirmed that a new Lancer SE model will be arriving this fall as a 2012 model. The SE model will receive all-wheel drive, like its Ralliart and Evolution siblings, however it will be powered by the naturally aspirated engine found in the DE, ES and GTS trims.

The SE model will likely sell for around $20,000 and is expected to account for 15-20 percent of all Lancer sales. Mitsubishi plans to sell 100,000 units in the U.S again and hopes adding the SE to the Lancer lineup will boost sales – and stay competitive with long-time rival Subaru. Mitsubishi last sold over 100,000 vehicles in the U.S. in 2007, with 128,993.

[Source: Automotive News]