Mitsubishi i

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Mitsubishi i

Manufacturer:	Mitsubishi Motors
Production:	2006–present
Class:	Kei car
Body style:	5-door hatchback
Engine:	3B20 660 cc I3 turbo
Transmission:	4-speed automatic
Wheelbase:	2550 mm
Length:	3395 mm
Width:	1475 mm
Height:	1600 mm
Curb weight:	900 kg (2WD) 960 kg (4WD)
Fuel economy:	5.4 l / 100 km
Fuel capacity:	35 L
Designer:	Olivier Boulay

The Mitsubishi i is a Japanese kei car from Mitsubishi Motors, first released on January 24, 2006.^[1] Explaining the choice of name, the company stated, "this new-age car encourages the owner to express him/herself ('I') fully. Starting with the letter 'i' (innovation) also served as a keyword in the development of the car."^[2]

1 Specifications
2 Domestic and foreign sales
3 Hello Kitty edition
4 Concepts: i and SE-RO
5 External links
6 Footnotes

[edit] Specifications

[edit] Drivetrain

The i has a "rear-midship" engine mounted just ahead of the rear axle, and a 4-speed automatic transmission with rear- or four-wheel drive, depending on specification. The 3B20 aluminium-block three cylinder powerplant has a displacement of 660 cc, a DOHC cylinder head with MIVEC variable valve timing and an intercooled turbocharger, giving peak power of 47 kW (64 hp) at 6000 rpm and peak torque of 94 N·m (69 ft·lbf) at 3000 rpm.

[edit] Dimensions

The use of a rear-engined layout allowed Mitsubishi to incorporate a larger front crumple zone, in order to meet current safety legislation without compromising interior space. With no powerplant up front, the designers were able to shorten the front overhang and lengthen the wheelbase to 2550 mm, giving greater legroom for passengers than many comparable kei cars whose wheelbase is typically 130–190 mm less. The downside of this design was a reduction in load capacity, which was necessarily compromised when the engine was moved to the rear.^[3] The i now has 659 L of luggage space.

[edit] Suspension and tires

The car uses MacPherson struts at the front, and an unusual 3-link De Dion tube / Watt's linkage at the rear.^[4] In common with many other mid- or rear-engined vehicles it has uneven-sized tires, 15" wheels fitted with 145/65 fronts and larger 175/55 rears, in an effort to minimise the chances of oversteer caused by the rear-biased weight distribution.^[3]

[edit] Domestic and foreign sales

Priced from ¥1,281,000 to ¥1,617,000, Mitsubishi initially aimed for 5,000 cars per month within the domestic market, and in its first month managed to exceed its target.^[5] The company is also "90% certain" that it will homologate the car for the European Union, and aims for a price of UK£9,000 and a further 1,000 sales per year from the United Kingdom market.^[6]

Hindustan Motors, a long time partner of Mitsubishi, will also import the car in complete knock down (CKD) form to India, where it will be assembled in their Chennai plant for the local market alongside the Lancer Cedia and Pajero SUV. 25,000 cars per year will be produced. A locally-produced engine may also be built at the company's Pithampore facility.^[7]

[edit] Hello Kitty edition

Mitsubishi i-Concept

Mitsubishi SE-RO

On July 25, 2006, Mitsubishi displayed a unique Mitsubishi i Hello Kitty edition version of the car in Tokyo. Based on the 2WD i Grade model, it had a pink paintjob with co-ordinated interior, "PrincessKitty" decals on the doors, a ribbon decal on the roof and Hello Kitty-themed headrests. It was eventually sold in a charity auction on behalf of UNICEF.^[8]

[edit] Concepts: i and SE-RO

Two prototypes were exhibited during the car's development. The first was the i-Concept, which debuted at the 2003 Frankfurt Motor Show and previewed the car's egg-shaped design, an allusion by French-born stylist Olivier Boulay to the Renault 4CV according to some reviewers, who commented that the shape provided a "crystal ball" with which to see the future of Mitsubishi.^[9] It would prove successful enough that in October 2006 the i won the Grand Prize at the 50th anniversary Good Design Awards from the Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, the first minicar to win the award.^[10]

The i Concept was powered by a 999 cc engine with a "Start-Stop" "Smart Idling System". So equipped, Mitsubishi claimed it was capable of fulfilling the "three litre initiative" for gasoline engines, meaning the fuel consumption was only 3.0 L per 100 km (94.2 mpg). However, the second concept car known as SE-RO and exhibited at the 2003 Tokyo Motor Show, previewed the production model's more conventional mechanical underpinnings, despite having a more radically styled body which bore little resemblance to the final design.^[11]