Mitsubishi Small Crossover: Official Designs Show the Less Exciting Nature of the Production Model

Remember how promising Mitsubishi's all-new small crossover looked in the teaser sketch that was released back in October? Well, if these official designs are of any indication, then the reality is that the as-yet unnamed crossover won't be as near as exciting as Mitsubishi wanted us to believe. On the other hand, the production model does retain most of the styling cues featured on the 2007 Mitsubishi cX concept, on which it is based, with most changes concerning the rear end of the car that appears to have grown in length.

Leaving the styling aside, Mitsubishi's baby crossover uses the Japanese firm's mid-size global platform, which also forms the basis the Lancer and Outlander. However, the new model will be smaller than the Outlander and will compete, at least in Europe, against Nissan's forthcoming Quazana crossover.

Power will come from four-cylinder gasoline and diesel engines including Mitsubishi's new 1.8-liter turbocharged that made 136 horsepower and 280 Nm of peak torque in the 2007 cX concept.

The new crossover is scheduled to go on sale in Japan next February, and in Europe and other markets, in the summer of 2010.

Mitsubishi Teases Baby Crossover Model, Sales Start from February 2010

This is an official sketch of Mitsubishi's new compact crossover model that will go on sale first in Japan in February 2010 with Europe and other markets following in the summer of the same year. It is derived from the Concept-cX show car that was revealed at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show in Germany and it is based on Mitsubishi's mid-size global platform that also underpins the Outlander and Lancer models.

The concept measured 4.1m (161.4-in.) in length, 1.75m in width and 1.55m in height with a 2.52m long wheelbase, but the production model is believed to slightly grow in size.

The small crossover model, which will compete head on with Nissan's forthcoming production version of the Qazana, will be the firm's first model to receive Mitsubishi's new 1.8-liter diesel engine with a variable geometry (VG) turbocharger that delivered 136 horsepower and 280 Nm of peak torque in the concept. It will most likely be offered in two- and four-wheel drive variants.

The European premiere of the model will take place at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show next March. It remains to be seen if the small crossover will also make its way across the Atlantic.

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2007 Mitsubishi Concept cX

Tokyo '09: Mitsubishi PX-MiEV Plug-in Hybrid SUV Concept gets 118mpg

Highlighting Mitsubishi's efforts to catch up to its domestic rivals in hybrid technology at this year's Tokyo Show is the PX-MiEV, a compact sized four-wheel drive crossover fitted with a 1.6-liter petrol engine and two electric motors, one for the front wheels and one for the rear. At low to medium speeds the PX-MiEV can rely on the front and if necessary, the rear electric motor also to motivate the vehicle. At higher speeds the gasoline engine, which is also used to generate electricity for the electric motors, kicks in to help power the crossover.

The PC-MiEV is equipped with battery pack that can be replenished through regenerative breaking, the gasoline engine, a regular household plug or a high-power quick-charging station. In electric-only mode, the PX-MiEV has a range of 30 miles or about 50km.

The Japanese firm said that the PX-MiEV is good for 117.6mpg US which come to around 2.0 lt/100km or 141mpg UK.

All Photos Shot by our Tokyo Motor Show man Phil Alex

VIDEO: Toyota FT-86 and Honda CR-Z Coupes and other 2009 Tokyo Show Cars Filmed in the Flesh

This year's Tokyo Motor Show that runs for the public from October 24 to November 4, 2009 may be a shadow of its former self as aside from the domestic automakers, Lotus and Alpina are the only foreign brands that will be present at the event, but still, the show will play host to some very significant debuts including the hotly-anticipated Toyota FT-86 rear-wheel drive 2+2 and Honda CR-Z Hybrid near-production coupe concepts.

The video below includes live footage of both coupes as well as from the Mitsubishi PX-MiEV SUV Concept, Mazda Kiyora Concept (Japanese Premiere) and the production Nissan Leaf, that were filmed by the folks over at Japan's Motor Magazine during what appears to be a special pre-show event.

Tokyo '09: Mitsubishi i-MiEV Cargo, an All-Electric Breadvan for the not so Needy

Now that the i-MiEV hybrid has become a production reality, Mitsubishi is exploring other possibilities to expand the city car's range with the world premiere of the i-MiEV Cargo concept at next month's Tokyo motorshow. The pint-size breadvan with the does away with the hatchback model's rear doors while gaining additional cargo space at the back thanks to a newly designed and taller rear end.

The cube-shaped rear compartment measures 1,350 mm wide by 1,180 mm deep and 1,100 mm high and features a flat floor. According to Mitsubishi, it allows every inch of available space to be utilized - not that there's much to go around...

There are no changes to the drivetrain that consists of a 330-volt lithium-ion battery system located under the floor deck and an electric motor that drives the rear wheels and develops an output of 47kW or 64HP and 180Nm or 132.8-lbs/ft of torque.

Tokyo '09: Mitsubishi Concept PX-MiEV Hybrid Could Preview New Compact SUV

Mitsubishi will be showing an all-new compact crossover concept model called the PX-MiEV at the 41st Tokyo Motor Show in late October. At 4,510mm (177.6-in.) long, 1,830mm (72-in.) wide and 1,655mm (65-in.) tall, with a wheelbase of 2,630mm (103.5-in.), the PX-MiEV Concept is shorter (-130mm / 4.3'') but wider than the current generation Outlander SUV.

The concept is motivated by a new plug-in hybrid drivetrain that combines a 1.6-liter gasoline engine and Mitsubishi's all-new S-AWC (Super All Wheel Control), that utilizes E-AYC (Electric-powered Active Yaw Control) to transfers torque to the rear left and right wheels, with a pair of electric motors (one at each axle) and a battery.

The battery can be replenished either through regenerative breaking, the gasoline engine or via a regular household plug or a high-power quick-charging station.

Mitsubishi said that at low to middle speeds the PX-MiEV relies on the front electric motor to move the vehicle. If the driver is confronted with snow, rain or any other low surface friction situations then the system automatically switches to four-wheel drive mode by feeding power to the rear electric motor.

When the battery is low on power, the system starts the gasoline engine to generate electricity and automatically switches to the series hybrid mode using the electricity generated to power the two electric motors.

At higher speeds the gasoline engine drives the front wheels but if necessary, the system switches in both front and rear electric motors to provide additional power and assist the petrol unit engine, providing high acceleration.

The PX-MiEV's exterior styling is rather simple while the futuristic-looking interior is said to have been designed to give an image of an airplane cockpit in order to improve the driver's concentration - or so Mitsubishi claims.

Other notable features on PX-MiEV include the electronically-controlled air suspension that gives the driver the choice of three ride height modes (auto, high and low) and a new "Multi-Around Monitor" that uses cameras located at strategic points on the body to provide the driver with a combined image of the full perimeter of the vehicle.