Page 1 of 1 With the unveiling of the ' i 'concept car at the 2003 Frankfurt Motor Show, Mitsubishi Motors gives a first look at a totally new generation of small cars. ' i ' represents the concept of a radical and attractive small car, which is scheduled to appear on the Japanese market in autumn 2005 and could later make its way to Europe as well.
Named for 'myself' and 'love' ('ai' means love in Japanese), and also for 'innovation', 'imagination', and 'intelligence', ' i ' challenges the conventions of small car design and engineering. It offers a spaciousness only seen so far in vehicles of the next larger segment, despite its compactness. All without detracting from Mitsubishi Motors visual identity or doing away with its Japanese Modern design philosophy.
Through this new approach, Mitsubishi Motors designers and engineers have aimed not only at the highest level of passive safety for the occupants, but have tackled that new frontier of automotive safety: pedestrian protection. Indeed, the front of the body is shaped so that good results may be expected when it comes to the pedestrian safety part of the Euro NCAP Crash test procedure.
Furthermore, in the 5-star result at the FIA/ADAC test ' i ' has proved that the low target figures for CO2 emissions (90 g/km or lower in EU mode to be qualified as a '3l car' in Europe) and exhaust emission (EURO 4) are not vain promises. ' i ' scored 89 g/km of CO2 and kept the low exhaust emission standards of EURO4. Which makes ' i ' the first car ever to achieve 5-star rating in both categories as well as in the total rating. The test results show that Mitsubishi is consistently using its technical expertise in the construction of small cars and engines to successfully face the challenges of the future and to protect the environment.
' i ' breaks with tradition in its powertrain too, as the 100% newly-designed unit, made up of a 1.0 l 50 kW (68 hp) engine and CVT transmission is located in the rear of the vehicle and drives the rear wheels, which are carried by a de Dion rear axle. As the 5-star FIA/ADAC Eco-test result shows, ' i ' can meet the demands of the future stricter consumption and exhaust regulations. Furthermore, this layout gave the designers far more scope to design the front end of the body so that, in a crash, not only are the occupants optimally protected but attention is also given to the protection of pedestrians. Page 1 of 1
With the unveiling of the ' i 'concept car at the 2003 Frankfurt Motor Show, Mitsubishi Motors gives a first look at a totally new generation of small cars. ' i ' represents the concept of a radical and attractive small car, which is scheduled to appear on the Japanese market in autumn 2005 and could later make its way to Europe as well.