Report: Each Mitsubishi model will have an electric or plug-in hybrid variant

Each future model from Mitsubishi will have an electric or plug-in hybrid variant, according to Helmut Bauer, Mitsubishi's German spokesman, in his interview with Automobilewoche. Recently, Mitsubishi has launched the i-MIEV electric microcar globally but apparently, it is embarking on a far more ambitious trail. Bauer said that each new car it develops will also run with the use of electricity. An insider revealed that there will soon be a hybrid or electric car from Mitsubishi that would be based on the PX-MiEV concept vehicle displayed at the Tokyo Auto Show last year. This model is expected to combine the frame of the existing Outlander model with the hybrid drive system of the PX-MiEV concept, which is powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine mated to a pair of electric motors.

Mitsubishi has confirmed that it is developing the new vehicle, which is expected to be built in 2013. The Lancer Evolution is another likely model that will be offered with an electric variant. It’s likely that the Evo XI will adopt a hybrid-electric system similar to that of the PX-MiEV.

This platform may consist of an electric motor driving the front wheels and a turbocharged 2.0-liter I-4 that will mainly power the rear axle. It’s possible that the package would result to an output higher than 350hp. This move is expected to benefit the carmaker’s development costs. An easy drop-in EV drivetrain would be an excellent option for any of its models. However, Mitsubishi has a difficult challenge ahead of it as developing an electric car means that several requirements have to be met such as achieving a low center area for the batteries, reducing the vehicle’s weight, and improving its aerodynamics. [via AutomobilWoche]