Mitsubishi has released the first clear photos of the e-Evolution concept during its public debut at the Tokyo motor show.
As reported earlier, the e-Evolution plays on the company's famous EVO nameplate, but it's a completely different vehicle in almost every way to the rally-bred machine that went out of production last year.
The e-Evolution unveiled in Tokyo confirms the new concept as a full-electric 'high performance' SUV, described by Mitsubishi as a technical prototype incorporating the strengths of SUVs and EV powertrains. The e-Evolution is also the first concept by Mitsubishi under their adopted "robust & ingenious” design language.
The e-Evolution also hints at a new direction for Mitsubishi Motors as a whole, as the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance bet on a shift to electric cars in the near future.
“We aim to provide vehicles that fulfill our customers' desires through outstanding design, combined with the power, authenticity and carefully-considered functionality Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) is known for,” said Tsunehiro Kunimoto, MMC Head of Global Design.
The e-Evolution concept is powered by three high-performance electric motors, fed by a high-capacity battery system. The battery is located under the floor of the vehicle, providing a low centre of gravity for improved stability.
The triple motor 4WD system uses a single motor to drive the front wheels and a Dual-Motor Active Yaw Control (AYC) system that couples two rear motors through an electronically controlled torque-vectoring AYC unit. Braking is provided by electric calipers.
All of this is integrated into Mitsubishi's Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC) vehicle dynamic control system to improve cornering and traction performance.
The Mitsubishi e-Evolution concept also features an Artificial Intelligence system said to 'augments the driver’s capabilities. Sensors allows the AI system to instantly read changes in road and traffic conditions, as well as the driver’s inputs, to make it easier and safer to control the vehicle.
Mitsubishi is remaining tight lipped about the prospect of an e-Evolution production car, but with the company planing to release six all-new cars by 2020, some aspects of their latest concept could be carried over into a new model, especially the EV drivetrain.
"Robust & ingenious, the design language of the Mitsubishi e-Evolution Concept, is a study in contrasts," said Kunimoto.
"MMC vehicles of the future will be genuinely tough and functional, but also clever, resourceful, style-setting and technologically advanced,"
