Mitsubishi i MiEV Sport Air concept

Mitsubishi is a manufacturer in transition, moving away from its traditional SUV and pick-up core to a more environmentally-conscious future. The i MiEV electric city car is already being built in Japan for customers, Mitsubishi showing how a more sporting model using the same technology might look like with the i MiEV Sport Air Concept.

What's all the fuss about?

Electric cars are normally about economy, which usually means fun is forgotten. Not with the i MiEV Sport Air Concept, Mitsubishi taking the high torque, immediate output of the electric drivetrain and mating it to a sporting chassis and body. The result is a zero emissions green machine that can be driven with both a clear conscious and a big grin.

What makes it so green?

The i MiEV Sport Air is brimming with new technology, whether that be its lithium-ion batteries, or the semi-transparent solar panel embedded in the bonnet and clear cutaway roof panel. The low centre of gravity afforded by those batteries and the long wheelbase should ensure that the i MiEV Sport Air performs as well as it looks. Just plug it in for power, the i MiEV running exclusively on electricity.

When can I buy one?

Mitsubishi has demonstrated that it's completely committed to producing electric cars with its i MiEV city car going on sale later this year. This sporting concept is based on the same platform and uses the same technology so it's not unrealistic that this car may reach production. It's likely though that Mitsubishi will concentrate on its city cars until its production lines have the capacity to add a further, more sporting model. So not yet, but perhaps in the future.

Kyle Fortune