The new Mitsubishi Mirage has already been introduced in Asian markets, and though it has not been confirmed for release in the U.S., this new Mirage will replace the Mitsubishi Colt which currently sells in worldwide markets.

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Ford recently announced the EPA fuel efficiency rating for its electric Focus model. Since it doesn’t burn any gasoline, the number isn’t in miles per gallon (MPG), but was given as miles per gallon gasoline equivalent, or MPGe. A new term to the automotive lexicon, it’s worth exploring exactly what MPGe means and how an MPGe rating is determined, especially as the number of electric cars and plug-in electric hybrids on the roads continues to increase.

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Among the many vehicles debuting in the U.S. at the New York Auto Show, Mitsubishi brought its refreshed 2013 Outlander.

Updates to the compact crossover include a face lifted front and rear end and standard 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels, offering a mild list of updates to its current best-seller.

Included in those updates, 18-inch alloy wheels are now standard — the front and rear fascias have a smoothed look too. The same headlights and recognizable Mitsubishi grille will, however, remain with new chrome trim surrounding them.

Production will also move from Japan, where the Outlander has traditionally been built, to the U.S. for its remaining life.

The company updated its CVT to offer smoother shifts and an improved driving feel while a new multi-link rear suspension will further contribute to the ride quality and handling.

A leather-wrapped shift knob, steering wheel and standard Bluetooth are now standard equipment. The top-end SE model also adds a six-speaker audio system, HID headlights, push button ignition and smart key passive entry.

GALLERY: 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport

The Mitsubishi Outlander Sport is getting a mid-cycle refresh, despite launching a mere two years ago in the U.S. The refreshed 2013 Outlander Sport will make its debut at the upcoming New York Auto Show.

The Japanese automaker will be giving the crossover new front and rear bumpers, side skirts, and an upgraded interior. In addition, the rear suspension of the Outlander Sport will be fine-tuned along with its CVT. Under the hood, the 2.0L four-cylinder should remain with 148-hp.

Chances are, the redesigned Outlander Sport will have some design influences from the 2013 Outlander, which debuted at the Geneva Motor Show. Out in Switzerland, Mitsubishi spoke about its new design language and said it was “still being formulated.” Perhaps we’ll get a clearer picture of where the Japanese automaker intends to go with the redesigned 2013 Outlander Sport.

Looking to take advantage of the weakening dollar, Japanese automaker Mitsubishi is going to double the production from its Illinois factory here in America.

This will boost production to 70,000 vehicles a year from the plant that currently produces the outgoing Galant. Once the midsized Galant model is discontinued over the next few months, the Outlander Sport crossover will be produced in Illinois.

The strength of the yen has caused several Japanese-based automakers to shift production of export-bound vehicles to America. The doubling of production lets Mitsubishi take advantage of its under-utilized Illinois plant to help meet the demand in markets where its factories are already operating at full capacity. Latin America and Russia are the target markets for exporting the Outlander Sports that will be produced in Illinois.

[Source: Nikkei]

Japanese automaker Mitsubishi will be releasing its i-MiEV Power Box on April 27th in their home country for around $1,785 (149,800¥). 

The i-MiEV Power Box is basically a vehicle-to-grid system that will allow the owners of an i-MiEV and the MINICAB MiEV to use their EV to power an outside device like a phone charger or even a fridge. Weighing in at 25 lbs, the Power Box plugs directly into the EV’s quick-charge outlet to convert electricity into AC 100V.

If the vehicle’s battery is fully charged, the Power Box can put out up to 1,500 watts, good enough for five or six constant hours of energy. According to the Japanese automaker, 1,500 watts is actually good enough to power a typical Japanese household for a full day.

Mitsubishi did warn that everyday use could eventually have a negative effect on the vehicle’s battery pack. The main use for the Power Box is for emergency situations when no other power is available or when the power grid is experiencing peak demand.

There’s no confirmation if the Power Box will make its way to other markets outside of Japan.

Some of us might have forgotten that the 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport exists, after seeing the next-generation Outlander debut at the recent 2012 Geneva Motor Show.

Nonetheless, the Japanese automaker did a light update to their Outlander Sport for the 2012 model year and the small crossover recently earned an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) top safety award. The 2012 Outlander Sport received the highest score of “Good” in front-, side-impact, rear, and roof-strength crash tests.

IIHS did stress that the award only pertains to the 2012 model, where Mitsubishi strengthened the roof in order to improve rollover protection. In addition to the new roof, Mitsubishi also made some updates to quiet the cabin and recalibrated the transmission.

The next-generation Mitsubishi Outlander has been unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show, sporting an innovative new plug-in hybrid system with an electric all-wheel drive feature.

The unveiling of the new Outlander also symbolizes the beginning of an all-new generation of vehicles from Mitsubishi, where the Japanese automaker hopes to become a greener and more global brand. If you’re wondering why the new Outlander looks so different than other Mitsubishi creations in the past, wonder no more. You’re looking at the new design language from the Japanese automaker, which they say is “still being formulated.” (We hope so).

While the new Outlander is exciting and all, the more exciting news is the fact that it’ll be Mitsubishi’s first model to sport their EV-based plug-in hybrid (P-HEV) system. The Outlander with P-HEV is essentially an electric vehicle but is supplanted by a gasoline engine when needed – much like how Chevrolet is branding its Volt these days in their commercials.

What makes it different though is that it’ll be the first permanent 4WD electric car in series production, and thanks to its unique drivetrain combination of a front electric motor with rear electric motor, plus front engine, drivers will have the choice of three driving modes to choose from. There will be a Pure mode, which utilizes a Twin Motor 4WD EV setup, while the Series mode is a Twin Motor 4WD EV supported by an internal combustion engine (ICE). Lastly is the Parallel mode, which is the Twin Motor 4WD EV supplemented by a FWD-powered ICE.

The P-HEV system will allow the Outlander to travel 31 miles in 4WD electric mode alone. But the versatility that the Outlander offers is what might attract buyers to Mitsubishi’s new system. Drivers will be able to control the use of battery power and when they want to focus more on battery charging.

Standard engine options for the new Outlander will be a 2.0L gasoline engine with 147-hp and 144 lb-ft of torque. A 2.2L DiD Clean Diesel is also available with 147-hp and 280 lb-ft of torque with a manual transmission, or 265 lb-ft of torque with an automatic.

No pricing was announced yet for the new Outlander, but we’ll be sure to catch more when the vehicle gets officially unveiled on the show floor.

GALLERY: 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander

One special Mitsubishi i-MiEV city electric car gets pumped up with performance enhancers as the Japanese automaker prepares to enter an all-electric race car into the 2012 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.

Details are limited for now, but Mitsubishi says the new i-MiEV hill climb prototype will be based upon many of the same production model components. However, judging from the illustrations, “production based” is loosely interpreted. Designed with a center single-seat driving position, the rendered i-MiEV hill climb prototype is significantly wider and more aerodynamically stylized than the standard road car.

The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb will be held on July 8th and the specialized i-MiEV will be piloted by Hiroshi Masuoka, a two time Dakar Rally winner in 2002 and 2003 behind the wheel of a Mitsubishi Pajero.

GALLERY: Mitsubishi i-MiEV Hill Climb Prototype

[Source: Carscoop]

The recent stories of the Tesla Roadster “bricking” will likely cause owners of other electric vehicles to worry. We’ve managed to track down and get a comment about the measures in place that can prevent other EVs from becoming damaged like the Tesla.

A “bricked” car is a lot like a bricked gadget. It can’t and won’t turn on, and is essentially useless (unless you want to use it as a giant and expensive paperweight).

Tesla Roadster

The story is that an owner let his Roadster die and left it uncharged for two months. The car then couldn’t be turned on or started, or re-charged. When the car was taken for repairs it was found that it would cost $40,000 to fix the vehicle.

It’s stated several times in the Roadster’s owner’s manual not to leave the vehicle discharged for an extended period of time. Specifically: “Situations may arise when in which you must leave your vehicle unplugged for an extended period of time. If this is the case, it is your responsibility to ensure that the battery does not become fully depleted.” Lastly, “Over-discharge can permanently damage the battery.” While it’s clear that owner negligence caused this damage, some blame can be put on the manufacturer to have more safety measures to protect the vehicle.

Nissan Leaf:

Nissan states that the Leaf cannot be fully discharged “thanks to an advanced battery management system designed to protect the battery from damage. One element of the battery management system is a failsafe wall that stops the battery from reaching absolute zero state-of-charge, even after a period of unplugged storage,”Steve Yaegar, Nissan’s technology communications manager said.

Still there are some warnings in the Leaf’s manual that advises owners to take proper care of its battery. One of the more conspicuous warnings says: “Avoid leaving your vehicle for over 14 days where the Li-ion battery available charge gauge reaches a zero or near zero (state of charge)”

When pushed, Yaegar skirted the issue of what would happen to a Leaf if a user ignored that advice.

Chevrolet Volt

While the Chevrolet has a gas generator to help keep the battery charged, what would happen if the battery is discharged completely? Nothing really. Chevrolet spokesperson Robert Peterson told us “This isn’t an issue for the Volt. The Volt uses only 10.4 kW of its 16 kWh battery. The rest of the battery space serves as a buffer to prevent overcharging or deep discharging.”

Mitsubishi i-MiEV

In the i-MiEV’s warranty manual, Mitsubishi states that the standard warranty does not cover any damages to the Li-Ion battery resulting from “failure to keep the main drive lithium-ion battery charged during storage of the vehicle.”

John Arnone a representative from Mitsubishi, said that while the i-MiEV battery can be fully discharged, if left for a long period of time it will still be able to be recharged by the usual means.

Smart ED

It’s true that electric Smart cars aren’t really on sale (lease-only), a member of customer relations told us that the upcoming 2013 model shouldn’t encounter any issues if left discharged. She did warn us that it may take a bit longer to fully charge back up again though.

It’s clear that electric vehicles are in their infancy. Being able to drive about without paying for gas certainly is a huge benefit. However, potential electric car buyers are already concerned about cost, range anxiety and charge times. Looks like its time to add battery maintenance to that list of concerns.

10. Mini Cooper S Clubman

Cars can be bad for your health, and we’re not just talking about tailpipe emissions. The Ecology Center has published a list of the least and worst toxic vehicles from 2011-2012 after testing 205 different models with the aid of an x-ray fluorescence analyzer.

The tests consisted of scanning interior components such as the seats, dashboard, carpets, headliner, and door trim, and identifying the elements in each material. Based on the size of the item and the amount of contact a person would have with it, the numbers were crunched and the car given a score from a scale of 1-5, with a low score showing the chemicals being tested for weren’t detected, while a 5 would indicate high levels of the chemicals were detected.

Items commonly found in car components include elements like bromine, chlorine, antimony, mercury and lead.

Coming in as the 10th worst pick is the MINI Cooper S Clubman with an overall score of 2.84. The Cooper S Clubman is the MINI for those that wish to have a little more room than the standard Coopers. The Clubman is 9.4 inches longer overall than the standard MINI with a 3.2-inch longer wheelbase.

After revealing two PX-MiEV concepts, the second of which debuted at last year’s Tokyo Motor Show, Mitsubishi has now released a few details on the production version of its new Outlander crossover, which will make its official world premiere at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show.

Looking very much like the second PX-MiEV concept, the new Outlander promises to feature upgraded interior fixtures and proper third row seating, which seems to be the latest trend in the family crossover segment.

Sources say the new Outlander, which will initially go on sale in Russia this summer followed by other European markets, will be powered by 2.0-liter gas four-cylinder and 2.2-liter MIEVC diesel engines with a choice of front or all-wheel drive. Auto Stop technology and a six-speed automatic transmission are also reported to be in the cards, at least for some markets.

In early 2013, Mitsubishi plans to launch a Plug-in Hybrid version of the new Outlander, which will incorporate a variant of the 2.0-liter gas engine with dual electric motors (one for each set of wheels) and a lithium-ion battery pack. Clearly derrived from the second Px MiEV concept, Mitsubishi officials say that the Plug-in Hybrid version will deliver a driving range of more than 500 miles (800 km) and very low emissions output (below 50 grams per km is expected).

As for North American sales of the new Outlander, they’re expected to begin towards the tail end of 2012, though don’t bet on the diesel engine making it to our shores.

Mitsubishi has released a lone teaser image of an all-new model it plans to debut at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show. No specifics were given about the new vehicle, but in a release the company did say it will be a, “strategic and innovative premium vehicle”. It will also showcase the brand’s new design direction.

“This re-focused design language, while still being formulated, is envisaged as an open design concept, meant to be flexible enough to suit specific vehicle requirements whilst staging Mitsubishi’s famous Three Diamond logo accordingly,” reads the release. “Refined yet assertive, this new engineering-driven look can be understood as the new expression of Mitsubishi’s near century old tradition of technology tailored for today’s world.”

Mitsu says the unnamed model will be the first of a new generation of global products, which are being launched as a part of the company’s “Jump 2013″ business plan.

Some speculation points towards a production version of the PX-MiEV plug-in hybrid crossover, although Mitsubishi states in the release that it will introduce a plug-in hybrid next year, while this model will hit dealers in 2012.

Some cars handle better than others in snow and as high-performance beasts go, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII is certainly among the best.

The Evo, as it is commonly called by enthusiasts, is a lot like the Subaru WRX STi. They’re both beefed up rally versions of their manufacturer’s humdrum sedans. Stiff suspension, power-a-plenty and a rigorous all-wheel drive systems make these the go-to for off road racers.

That really doesn’t mean anything, though, if you’re caught in a snowy pile up on the highway like the driver in the video below was. Thankfully for him and his car, he understood that driving on an embankment and dinging up his ride was better than stomping on the brakes and sliding out of control. According to the West Virginia Metro News, about 30 vehicles were involved in the crash.

Unfortunately for so many others around him, winter defensive driving is an easily forgotten skill that can save you money and your life. Just remember that front- rear- or all-wheel drive cars cant do diddly without a driver’s due diligence. Stay calm, dress warm and keep a kit in your car in case you get stuck.

That said, there’s a reason our review of the 2011 Evo MR features us hooning around in the snow: it’s damn fun. You don’t buy this car for comfort, you buy it because road gripping, lane churning performance and precision are an enthusiast’s bread and butter.

You can watch the video below, and as always— drive safe. Warning: there is a lot of swearing in the video.

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Mitsubishi has achieved decent amounts of success with the i-MiEV electric car in its home land, and also in Europe, where this model is also sold badged as a Peugeot iOn.

Next month, the i-MiEV will be going on sale in America (called simply the “i” in our market), which will no doubt increase sales numbers of this innovative commuter car.

Not ones to rest on their laurels, Mitsubishi has announced an ambitious plan to electrify themselves, by producing eight electric-vehicles by 2016.  These will include plug-in hybrids and full electric vehicles.

Part of this new plan is to produce small SUV’s and light trucks which will attract farmers, contractors, and others who use light trucks as part of their work.

Mitsubishi is well under way with this new project, and expects to put its electric truck on sale globally by April 2013. It’s not clear if the light truck will be part of Mitsubishi’s North American line-up, but its other electric vehicles will be available here.

Mitsubishi hopes to sell 42,000 electric vehicles in 2012, double the number it moved this fiscal year. The American market is a crucial part of Mitsubishi’s goals. The “i” car as mentioned before will go on sale soon with a starting price of $29,125, minus the Government rebates.

[Source: Automotive News]

For nearly two decades, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution (more commonly known as just the ‘Evo’) has been the benchmark sports sedan around the world. It might have arrived a bit late in the American market, only going on sale in 2003 with the Evo VIII model, but it has well-established itself as a giant killer in the industry and is currently the only Mitsubishi product with an enthusiasts following.

However, earlier in the year there were rumors that the Evo might get killed off. Thankfully, those are not true but according to company insiders, a plug-in hybrid Evo will be launched within three-years time.

It is believed that the hybrid Evo will make do with a diesel-electric combination to further cut down on its environmental footprint. But since diesel is not very popular in markets like Japan and America, it might also very well be available with a gasoline-electric system. So the next Evo might offer different mechanical specifications for different markets.

The new Evo will also get an updated version of Mitsubishi’s S-WAC all-wheel drive system for even better handling, and like the current model, will be the halo model for the company.

[Source: WhatCar?]

Unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show, the Mitsubishi PX-MiEV II is, as the name suggests, the second in a line of concepts previewing a future hybrid crossover by the brand.

Looking significantly more production ready than the last version, the crossover concept gets a plug-in hybrid system with an electric motor at the rear wheels mated to a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder gasoline engine moving the front wheels. Of note, the car features a version of Mitsu’s S-AWC (Super-All Wheel Control) system, as well as a Battery Drive Mode where it can operate on pure electric power.

Mitsubishi is targeting a 31 mile electric-only range with a 140 mpg rating and a total range of 500 miles.

GALLERY: Mitsubishi PX-MiEV II

Mitsubishi has officially unveiled its new global small car, which is expected to help expand the brand’s lineup in North America. Bringing back the Mirage badge this sub-compact offering is just 146-inches in length, or roughly a foot shorter than the Honda Fit.

Unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show, the display car features a 1.0-liter 3-cylinder engine that uses start-stop technology to achieve a 70-mpg rating on the less strict Japanese test cycle. Still, that number should result in over 40-mpg on the U.S. EPA cycle, putting it ahead of rivals.

While 3-cylinder cars in North America aren’t unheard of (take the old Subaru Justy as an example), it’s still unlikely that Mitsubishi would offer this engine option in the U.S.

Mitsubishi hasn’t said as much, but based on the design (hub-caps included) it appears as though the concept was to create a low-cost budget vehicle along the lines of the Nissan Versa, rather than a stylish and high-content small car like the Ford Fiesta.

GALLERY: Mitsubishi Mirage

10. 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid LE: 43/39 MPG

The Top 10 Most Fuel Efficient cars have been named for 2012 by the Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA (those guys that come up with the official ratings for cars) has compiled the list, which is dominated by Japanese automakers. Those remaining two are domestic vehicles, although with one being a commercial van, it almost should count. On the list are electric and hybrid vehicles only, with no diesels or pure gasoline engines.

In 10th spot is the first of three Toyota models and the first of four if you count the larger Toyota company and Lexus. The Toyota Camry Hybrid LE is officially rated at 43 mpg city and 39 mpg highway. With a combined rating of 41-mpg, it’s the only true mid-size sedan to achieve an average of 40-mpg or better. And these numbers don’t come at the expense of performance either, with 200-hp on tap. Of note, XLE models, which have more content and are heavier, are rated at 40 mpg city and 38 mpg highway.

Read AutoGuide’s 2012 Toyota Camry Review here

Mitsubishi has confirmed that two top executives at their American divison have left the company, and that Mitsubishi has no plans to replace them – a curious development for an automaker with mercurial fortunes.

Mitsubishi has struggled in recent years, but has enjoyed a sales surge in recent months, as well as the launch of their all-electric city car, dubbed the i. Gregory Adams, vice president of marketing and product strategy for Mitsubishi Motors North America, and Mike Krebs, vice president of corporate planning and incentives both left the company on October 31st, with Krebs having been at Mitsubishi for over a decade.

Adams position may have an impact on the launch of the i, which is relying on social media and other unorthodox marketing methods to make an impact on consumer perceptions. A Mitsubishi spokesman told Automotive News that day-to-day operations wouldn’t be impacted by the departures.

[Source: Automotive News]

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