Mitsubishi will enter two all-electric vehicles (EVs) in the Electric Class of the legendary Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, to be run on July 8.
The Japanese automaker will be aiming for outright victory in the Electric Class with the i-MiEV Evolution, a specially-prepared competition car, loosely based on the all-electric i-MiEV production car.
The second Mitsubishi entry will be a regular production i-MiEV (called Mitsubishi i in the U.S.).
The i-MiEV Evolution uses the same motor, battery and other major components as the production i-MiEV and has been developed in cooperation with several partner companies including Meidensha Corporation and GS Yuasa Corporation.
It has been developed to showcase the company's advanced EV control and component technologies. Mitsubishi will use the technical knowhow garnered through the i-MiEV Evolution's development and operation for the development of future EV models with superior durability and reliability.
Driving the i-MiEV Evolution in the Pikes Peak event will be team manager, Hiroshi Masuoka – the first Japanese driver to post consecutive overall victories in the Dakar Rally.
The Mitsubishi i-MiEV will be piloted by Beccy Gordon, a past winner in the Score International Off-Road Racing Series.