| With the economic climate fast-approaching the | | | | promotes smaller, more efficient cars in return |
| nightmarish hell the media have been harping on | | | | for cheaper tax and insurance. That means the i |
| about for the past six months, there are certain | | | | MiEV is less than 4ft 10in wide (a full 10inches |
| consumer goods being left on the shelf. One | | | | narrower than a Fiesta) and looks even narrower |
| major casualty is the motor industry, because | | | | due to its lofty styling. Crucially it's a million miles |
| let's face it, having to choose between keeping | | | | better than the G-Wiz which will be the Mitsubishi |
| warm, fed and watered or having a new car but | | | | dealer's main rival when looking to clinch a sale. |
| dying of pneumonia is not really a choice at all. It's | | | | There's room for four adults and a decent boot is |
| perhaps odd then that your Mitsubishi dealer will | | | | another vital plus over the G-Wiz. Handling is |
| be unveiling a new car this summer - presumably | | | | surprisingly assured despite it being tall and |
| to an empty showroom. What's even more odd | | | | narrow, although having no engine noise takes |
| is that Mitsubishi are known best for two things. | | | | some getting used to! The best aspect though is |
| Firstly the Shogun which is not only a great 4x4, | | | | that despite only housing 67 horses, the i MiEV |
| but an aggressively styled fashion accessory for | | | | has no trouble keeping up with traffic thanks to it |
| any bouncer, body builder or just builder. | | | | having about the same weight as a supermodel. |
| A combination of being stylish, spacious and good | | | | Even when you're approaching the 87mph top |
| on the rough stuff is helped enormously by the | | | | speed on the motorway, you don't feel exposed |
| fact that the Shogun is turbo-charged so you can | | | | as you would in the G-Wiz, where even dual |
| go everywhere in a blur whilst having passers by | | | | carriageways are a no go area. Now the really |
| think they've seen the world's fastest elephant. | | | | crucial fact - battery charge. |
| The second car Mitsubishi is known for is of | | | | Yep, all electric cars fall foul of the reality that |
| course the Lancer Evolution range. In essence a | | | | you cannot go anywhere near the distance an |
| space rocket with another aggressively styled car | | | | internal combustion engine will allow you and the i |
| taped to it, the Evo is now in its tenth incarnation | | | | MiEV is no different. Mitsubishi say it'll cover 100 |
| and is showing no signs of slowing down in its old | | | | miles between charges but on a cold, frosty day |
| age. Popular in equal measure with car thieves and | | | | in Britain you'd be looking at 50 miles tops. For a |
| rally drivers the Lancer is a bone fide supercar | | | | commuter however this is perfect - the clientele |
| beater with the latest version completing the | | | | this car is squarely aimed at. The little car makes |
| 0-60mph dash in a dizzying 4.1 seconds. | | | | the business of recharging easy too, either plug it |
| Ok you say, so Mitsubishi are known for the | | | | into your household socket for a full recharge in |
| above, but why is this odd? Well when you see | | | | six hours or have an 80% charge in just 30 |
| what they're fighting the economic avalanche with | | | | minutes using a £3000 optional extra |
| all will become clear. Called the i MiEV, the new car | | | | charger from Mitsubishi themselves. Mitsubishi |
| is small, not aggressively styled, and is battery | | | | estimate an electricity cost of £45 per |
| powered. Have Mitsubishi lost their marbles? In | | | | 10,000 miles, in contrast to the £750 per |
| short no. Despite the car looking like a toy car, | | | | year spent fuelling an average family hatchback. |
| the engineering behind it is anything but child's play. | | | | The lack of emissions also mean road tax and the |
| Mitsubishi have been quietly working on battery | | | | congestion charge (if you're in London) are |
| powered cars since the mid nineties and the MiEV | | | | worries of the past as it's exempt from them all. |
| (Mitsubishi innovative Electric Vehicle) is the fruits | | | | 200 will be available for lease this summer costing |
| of their labour. Even the smallest details appear to | | | | £750 a month. |
| have been meticulously designed, with passenger | | | | Once production speeds up in 2010, expect the |
| space unimpaired with the batteries underneath | | | | price to drop to between £15,000 - |
| the floor (where the fuel tank would normally live) | | | | £20,000 to purchase. The long-term |
| and the motor itself under the rear seats. | | | | savings and the fact the i MiEV isn't just a very |
| The i MiEV has been built to comply with the | | | | good electric car, but a very good car explain |
| strictest emissions regulations on earth - the | | | | why your Mitsubishi dealer won't be worried about |
| Japanese K-car guidelines. The K-car policy | | | | the credit crunch. |