:Mitsubishi i

File:Mitsubishi i sketch (ichiro).jpg

File:2003 i concept.jpg

Two prototypes were exhibited during the car's development. The first was the "i" Concept, which debuted at the 60th Frankfurt Motor Show in 2003, and previewed the car's striking exterior. Motoring journalists were quick to seize on the distinctive silhouette, calling it "a very good egg",{{Cite news | last = Sey | first = Euan | title = Mitsubishi 'i': All round, a very good egg | newspaper = The Independent| date = June 20, 2006 | url = http://motoring.independent.co.uk/features/article1090796.ece | url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061008071836/http://motoring.independent.co.uk/features/article1090796.ece |archive-date = October 8, 2006}} and a "crystal ball" with which to see the future of Mitsubishi.{{cite web | last = Mathioudakis | first = Byron | title = Tokyo show: Mitsubishi's crystal ball concepts | publisher = GoAuto.com.au | date = October 21, 2003 | url = http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mellor.nsf/story2/D468D5BB21915C26CA2572100028B913 | access-date = March 11, 2009 | archive-date = March 3, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160303173846/http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mellor.nsf/story2/D468D5BB21915C26CA2572100028B913 | url-status = dead }} One reviewer even speculated it to be an allusion by the vehicle's French-born designer Olivier Boulay to the Renault 4CV, France's popular post-war "people's car" with which the i shared its four-seat, rear-engined layout. Its styling was formally lauded when the i won the Grand Prize at the 50th anniversary Good Design Awards from the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in October 2006, the first kei car to win the award.{{cite web|title=Good Design Grand Prize 2006 |publisher=G-Mark.org |url=http://www.g-mark.org/english/archive/2006/award-best15.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070813193445/http://www.g-mark.org/english/archive/2006/award-best15.html |archive-date=August 13, 2007 |df=mdy }}{{cite press release | title = "i" takes Good Design Grand Prize 2006 | publisher = Mitsubishi Motors | date = October 25, 2006 | url = http://media.mitsubishi-motors.com/pressrelease/e/corporate/detail1539.html | access-date = November 12, 2006 | archive-date = March 28, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090328234748/http://media.mitsubishi-motors.com/pressrelease/e/corporate/detail1539.html | url-status = dead }}

Explaining the choice of name, the company claimed that "i" could represent the owner (I, the nominative personal pronoun) as an encouragement to personal expression, or innovation, intelligence and imagination, keywords in the car's development.{{cite press release | title = Mitsubishi Motors chooses 'Outlander' and 'i' as names for new SUV and kei minicar models | publisher = Mitsubishi Motors | date = May 23, 2005 | url = http://media.mitsubishi-motors.com/pressrelease/e/corporate/detail1276.html | access-date = August 9, 2006 | archive-date = July 20, 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080720041617/http://media.mitsubishi-motors.com/pressrelease/e/corporate/detail1276.html | url-status = dead }} It was also a play on the Japanese word for love, 愛 ({{IPA|ja|ai|pron}}).{{cite web| title = Mitsubishi i Concept | publisher = Automobile Magazine | date = September 12, 2003 | url = http://www.automobilemag.com/auto_shows/2003_fms_mitsui/}}

The "i" Concept was powered by a 999 cc powerplant with the company's Mitsubishi Smart Idling (MSI) system, which turns off the engine automatically when the vehicle is stationary, and can restart it within 0.2 seconds.{{Cite book | title = Mitsubishi Motors Technical Review no.16 | year = 2004 | pages = 29–50 | publisher = Mitsubishi Motors | url = http://www.mitsubishi-motors.com/corporate/about_us/technology/review/e/pdf/2004/16E.pdf | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070929120801/http://www.mitsubishi-motors.com/corporate/about_us/technology/review/e/pdf/2004/16E.pdf | archive-date = September 29, 2007 | df = mdy-all }} So equipped, Mitsubishi claimed the car was capable of fuel consumption of no more than {{convert|3.8|L/100 km|mpgimp mpgus|1}}.

File:2003 se-ro.jpg

The second prototype, called the Se-Ro and exhibited at the 2003 Tokyo Motor Show, previewed the production model's more conventional mechanical underpinnings, despite having a more radical appearance which bore little resemblance to the final design.{{cite web|title=Mitsubish Sero concept for the Tokyo Motor Show |publisher=Car Design News |date=October 16, 2003 |url=http://archive.cardesignnews.com/autoshows/2003/tokyo/preview/mitsubishi-sero/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061207014046/http://archive.cardesignnews.com/autoshows/2003/tokyo/preview/mitsubishi-sero/index.html |archive-date=December 7, 2006 |df=mdy }} Instead, its polished aluminium body was styled to resemble a zeppelin or airship,{{cite web | title = Concept Car: Mitsubishi SE-RO | publisher = 4Car | date = November 13, 2003 | url = http://www.channel4.com/4car/ft/feature/concept+car/1577/1 }}{{cite web | last = Schaffels | first = Brandy A. | title = First Look: Mitsubishi Se-Ro | date = October 22, 2003 | publisher = Motor Trend | url = http://www.motortrend.com/future/concept_cars/112_0310_mitsubishi_se_ro/index.html }} which Se-Ro design head Shuji Yamada described as a realization of his fantasies of the future from childhood.{{cite press release | title = Design Concept: Cool & Emotional | publisher = Mitsubishi Motors press pack, Tokyo Motor Show | year = 2003}} The aviation theme continued with the name; Se-Ro, short for "secret room", was a veiled reference to the Mitsubishi Zero fighter aircraft of World War II.{{cite web|last=Shahmanesh-Banks |first=Nargess |title=Going Japanese |publisher=Automotive Engineer |date=March 2004 |url=http://www.ae-plus.com/Key%20topics/kt-design-news11.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110214195816/http://www.ae-plus.com/Key%20topics/kt-design-news11.htm |archive-date=February 14, 2011 }}

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A lightweight steel (not aluminium) structure and a rear-engined layout allowed Mitsubishi to incorporate a larger front crumple zone, in order to meet current safety legislation requirements without compromising interior space. With no powertrain in front of the driver, the designers were able to shorten the front overhang and lengthen the wheelbase to {{convert|2550|mm|1|abbr=on}}, giving greater legroom for passengers than many comparable kei cars whose wheelbase is typically {{convert|130|-|190|mm|1|abbr=on}} less.{{Unreliable source?|date=June 2018|sure=y|reason=personal website}} The downside of this design was a reduction in cargo-carrying capacity, which was necessarily compromised by the engine's location in the rear.{{cite web | last = Sey | first = Euan | title = Driven: Mitsubishi i | publisher = 4Car | date = April 26, 2006 | url = http://www.channel4.com/4car/di/road+test/driving+impression/993/3 }}

File:Mitsubishi i 2.jpg

The i has a "rear-midship" engine mounted just ahead of the rear axle, a highly unusual configuration in a small car where front-engine design has dominated since the 1970s.{{Unreliable source?|date=June 2018|sure=y|reason=personal website}} The 3B20 three-cylinder powerplant has an aluminium cylinder block, a displacement of 659 cubic centimetres, and incorporates double overhead camshafts with MIVEC variable valve timing in the cylinder head. Initially only an intercooled and turbocharged engine was offered, until a naturally aspirated version was introduced for 2007.{{cite press release | title = Mitsubishi Motors Announces FY2006 First Half Financial Results and Forecasts for the Full Year | publisher = Mitsubishi Motors | date = October 30, 2006 | url = http://media.mitsubishi-motors.com/pressrelease/e/corporate/detail1542.html | access-date = December 30, 2006 | archive-date = March 28, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090328234755/http://media.mitsubishi-motors.com/pressrelease/e/corporate/detail1542.html | url-status = dead }}{{cite web|title=Mitsubishi i performance |publisher=Mitsubishi Motors |url=http://www.mitsubishi-motors.co.jp/i/performance/index.html |language=ja |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070223091321/http://www.mitsubishi-motors.co.jp/i/performance/index.html |archive-date=February 23, 2007 |df=mdy }} A four-speed automatic gearbox transmits power to the rear or all four wheels, depending on specification.

File:Mitsubishi i 2.JPG

MacPherson struts are used in the front suspension, and an unusual three-link De Dion tube/Watt's linkage is used in the rear. Front discs with anti-lock braking (ABS) and electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD) are standard across the range.{{cite web|title=Mitsubishi i specifications |publisher=Mitsubishi Motors |url=http://www.mitsubishi-motors.co.jp/i/spec/index.html |language=ja |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070227160107/http://www.mitsubishi-motors.co.jp/i/spec/index.html |archive-date=February 27, 2007 |df=mdy }} In common with many other mid- or rear-engined vehicles its fifteen-inch wheels have uneven-sized tires, 145/65 on the fronts and wider 175/55 on the rears, in an effort to minimise the chances of oversteer caused by the rear-biased weight distribution.{{Unreliable source?|date=June 2018|sure=y|reason=personal website}}

Three individual models, or grades, were available on the car's release in 2006; S, M, and G, in ascending order of price. They all shared the same five-door hatchback body style and turbocharged engine, but offered differing levels of options and standard equipment. In 2007 the base S model was given the new naturally aspirated powerplant, and was positioned below the two new grades, L and LX, whose engine it shared.

File:Mitsubishi i rear.jpg|Rear view

File:Mitsubishi i interior.jpg|Interior

Mass production began at the company's Mizushima plant in Kurashiki, Okayama, in December 2005,{{Cite book | title = Facts & Figures | year = 2006 | page = 9 | publisher = Mitsubishi Motors | url = http://www.mitsubishi-motors.com/corporate/ir/share/pdf/e/fact2006.pdf | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120322203045/http://www.mitsubishi-motors.com/corporate/ir/share/pdf/e/fact2006.pdf | archive-date = March 22, 2012 | df = mdy-all }} before it was released for sale on January 24, 2006. Priced from ¥1,281,000 to ¥1,617,000, Mitsubishi initially aimed for 5,000 cars per month within the domestic market, and managed to exceed its target in its first month by over 1,000.{{cite press release | title = New Mitsubishi Outlander Japan's Best Selling SUV | publisher = Mitsubishi Motors GB | date = April 21, 2006 | url = http://www.worldcarfans.com/news.cfm/newsid/2060421.002/country/jcf/Mitsubishi/new-mitsubishi-outlander-japan's-best-selling-suv }} By the end of 2006, approximately 37,000 had been sold.[http://www.automotoportal.com/article/mitsubishi-i-to-go-on-sale-in-the-uk "Mitsubishi “i” to go on sale in the UK"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200223053253/http://www.automotoportal.com/article/mitsubishi-i-to-go-on-sale-in-the-uk |date=February 23, 2020 }}, Automotoportal, February 16, 2007 The company has already exported the i to Singapore, Brunei, Hong Kong, and New Zealand,{{cite web | last = Treece | first = James B. | title = Waiting for Export | publisher = Automotive News | date = October 10, 2006 | url = http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/CW/20061010/FREE/61009008/1111 }}{{cite press release | title = Innovative Award winning i-car Released in New Zealand | publisher = Mitsubishi Motors New Zealand | date = December 1, 2006 | url = http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0612/S00038/innovative-award-winning-i-car-released.htm | access-date = September 23, 2014}} where like Japan they drive on the left, and introduced it to the United Kingdom on July 1, 2007, with a price of GBP£9,000 and a target of 300 sales per year.{{cite web|title=New model – i |publisher=Mitsubishi Motors UK |date=February 16, 2007 |url=http://www.mitsubishi-cars.co.uk/i/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070701193918/http://www.mitsubishi-cars.co.uk/i/ |archive-date=July 1, 2007 |df=mdy }}{{cite web | title = Mitsubishi: i-car and Eclipse coming? | publisher = 4Car | date = March 21, 2006 | url = http://www.channel4.com/4car/news/news-story.jsp?news_id=14242 }}

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(source: Facts & Figures 2012 [http://www.mitsubishi-motors.com/content/dam/com/ir_en/pdf/fact/2013/fact_2013.pdf], Mitsubishi Motors website)

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File:Mitsubishi i hello kitty.jpg.]]

From July 25 to 31, 2006 the company displayed a unique Mitsubishi i Hello Kitty edition at the Mitsukoshi department store in Tokyo's Nihonbashi district. Based on the two-wheel drive G model, it had a pink paint scheme with co-ordinated interior, "Princess Kitty" decals on the doors and windows, a ribbon decal on the roof, and themed headrests with small, feline ears. The car, which was described as "the most quintessentially Japanese car...ever" for fusing two of the country's cultural icons—Hello Kitty and keijidōsha[http://www.autoblog.com/2006/07/07/the-ultimate-kei-mitsubishi-i-hello-kitty-princess-kitty-edit/ "The ultimate kei? Mitsubishi i Hello Kitty 'Princess Kitty' edition"], Alex Nunez, Autoblog.com, July 7, 2006—was eventually sold in a charity auction on behalf of UNICEF.

Other limited production models include the i Play edition, a run of 3,000 cars only available in white or black, and featuring a dashboard-mounted slot for an iPod nano,{{cite web | title = Mitsubishi Motors lineup | publisher = Mitsubishi-motors.co.jp | date = January 23, 2007 | language = ja | url = http://www.mitsubishi-motors.co.jp/pressrelease/j/products/detail1459.html }}{{cite web|title=Mitsubishi 'i (the eye)' "Play Edition" |publisher=Mitsubishi-motors.co.jp |date=May 17, 2006 |language=ja |url=http://www.mitsubishi-motors.co.jp/i/lineup/lin_01.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070126004954/http://www.mitsubishi-motors.co.jp/i/lineup/lin_01.html |archive-date=January 26, 2007 |df=mdy }}

Also 100 of the i Kurashiki edition with faux denim upholstery, to be sold at a single Mitsubishi dealership in Kurashiki, Okayama, the prefecture where the bulk of Japan's domestic blue jeans manufacturers are located.[http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/14/mitsubishi-releases-jeans-themed-i-kurashiki-edition/ "Mitsubishi releases jeans-themed "i" Kurashiki Edition"], Alex Nunez, Autoblog.com, December 14, 2006

1st Anniversary special editions based on the L and M grades were also introduced in early 2007 to commemorate the car's first year on sale.{{cite web|title=Mitsubishi i' Grade/price |publisher=Mitsubishi-motors.co.jp |date=March 7, 2007 |language=ja |url=http://www.mitsubishi-motors.co.jp/i/lineup/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070315014945/http://www.mitsubishi-motors.co.jp/i/lineup/index.html |archive-date=March 15, 2007 }}

{{Main|Mitsubishi i-MiEV}}

File:Lawson-car.jpg recharging from an on-street charging station in Japan.]]

Mitsubishi has given the i a prominent role in the company's alternative propulsion research projects, developing a version using their MiEV (Mitsubishi innovative Electric Vehicle) technology in 2006 and exhibited at the 22nd International Battery, Hybrid and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle Symposium & Exposition in Yokohama. MMC provided three power companies with vehicles in 2006 and 2007 in order to evaluate how a "fast-charge" infrastructure might be developed for electric vehicles. Fleet testing by five power companies was conducted later in 2007,{{cite press release | title = Mitsubishi Motors builds new research EV, "i MiEV" for joint research with power companies | publisher = Mitsubishi Motors | date = October 11, 2006 | url = http://media.mitsubishi-motors.com/pressrelease/e/corporate/detail1533.html | access-date = January 7, 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090614021205/http://media.mitsubishi-motors.com/pressrelease/e/corporate/detail1533.html | archive-date = June 14, 2009 | url-status = dead }} with a view to future public sales between 2008 and 2010.[http://thefraserdomain.typepad.com/energy/2006/10/mitsubishi_i_mi.html "Mitsubishi i MiEV Single Motor EV"], James Fraser, The Energy Blog, October 12, 2006[http://www.worldcarfans.com/news.cfm/newsID/2060818.008/country/jcf/mitsubishi/mitsubishi-i-in-detail "Mitsubishi i: In Detail"], F. de Leeuw van Weenen, WorldCarFans.com, August 18, 2006

The Mitsubishi i-MiEV electric car was launched in Japan for fleet customers in July 2009 and for the general public in April 2010.{{cite web|url=http://www.greencarcongress.com/2009/06/imiev-20090605.html|title=Mitsubishi Motors Begins Production of i-MiEV; Targeting 1,400 Units in Fiscal 2009|publisher=Green Car Congress|date=June 5, 2009|access-date=April 4, 2010}}{{cite web|url=http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/21/report-mitsubishi-i-miev-on-sale-in-hong-kong-priced-at-50-00 |title=Report: Mitsubishi i-MiEV on sale in Hong Kong, priced at $50,000 U.S.|publisher=Autoblog.com}} Sales to the public in Hong Kong began in May 2010,{{cite web|url=http://www.greencarcongress.com/2010/05/hksar-20100520.html#more|title=Mitsubishi Begins Sales of i-MiEV to Individuals in Hong Kong; First Individual Sales Outside of Japan|publisher=Green Car Congress|date=May 20, 2010|access-date=May 21, 2010}} and a trial began in Australia in September 2010.{{cite news|url=http://sydney-central.whereilive.com.au/news/story/electrifying-news/|title=Electrifying news; Sydney Council buysi MiEV electric car|publisher=Sydney Central|date=September 15, 2010|access-date=September 27, 2010}} Sales in several European countries began in late 2010 and between December 2011 and March 2012 for the United States west and east coasts, respectively.{{cite web|url=http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/News/Search-Results/Industry-News/Mitsubishi-i-MiEV-2011-electric-car-to-cost-39000/ |title=Mitsubishi i-MiEV (2011) electric car to cost £39,000 |date=March 24, 2010 |publisher=CAR magazine |author=Pollard, Tim |access-date=March 24, 2010 }}{{cite web|url=http://wardsauto.com/ar/mitsubishi_imiev_price_100401/|title=Mitsubishi Targets i-MiEV Starting Price Below $30,000|publisher=WardsAuto|date=April 1, 2010|access-date=May 21, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100409074626/http://wardsauto.com/ar/mitsubishi_imiev_price_100401/|archive-date=April 9, 2010|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.plugincars.com/mitsubishi-i-electric-vehicles-now-arriving-east-coast-states-113634.html|title=Mitsubishi i Electric Vehicles Arrive on East Coast}}

The i won the 2007 Car of the Year award from the Japanese Automotive Researchers and Journalists Conference (RJC),{{cite press release | title = "i" takes RJC Car of the Year 2007 | publisher = Mitsubishi Motors | date = November 15, 2006 | url = http://media.mitsubishi-motors.com/pressrelease/e/corporate/detail1550.html | access-date = December 30, 2006 | archive-date = March 28, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090328233841/http://media.mitsubishi-motors.com/pressrelease/e/corporate/detail1550.html | url-status = dead }} and two other "Car of the Year" awards, from the Carview Corporation website and the Consumer's Choice. It also won the "Most Advanced Technology" Special Achievement Award at the 2006–07 Japan Car of the Year awards, where it was nominated unsuccessfully in the overall Car of the Year category,{{cite press release | title = " i " takes "Most Advanced Technology" Special Achievement Award in the Car of the Year Japan 2006–2007 | publisher = Mitsubishi Motors | date = November 20, 2006 | url = http://media.mitsubishi-motors.com/pressrelease/e/corporate/detail1553.html | access-date = December 31, 2006 | archive-date = March 28, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090328233852/http://media.mitsubishi-motors.com/pressrelease/e/corporate/detail1553.html | url-status = dead }} and ranked first in the Japan Mini-Car APEAL Study published by J.D. Power Asia Pacific in October 2006, with a higher score than any previous winner.{{cite press release|title=The Mitsubishi i Ranks Highest in Appealing to Mini-Car Owners in Japan |publisher=J.D. Power Asia Pacific |date=October 31, 2006 |url=http://www.jdpower.co.jp/press/pdf2006/2006JapanMiniCarAPEAL_E.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927213743/http://www.jdpower.co.jp/press/pdf2006/2006JapanMiniCarAPEAL_E.pdf |archive-date=September 27, 2007 }}

Aside from the 2006 Good Design Grand Prix, its style won Design Awards from the Japan Automotive Hall of Fame (JAHFA), and the magazines Popeye and Car Styling.

• Mitsubishi i-MiEV electric car

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{{Commons category}}

• Official sites:

::{{cite web|title=Japan |language=ja |url=http://mitsubishi-i.jp/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051026021928/http://mitsubishi-i.jp/ |archive-date=October 26, 2005 |df=mdy }} • {{cite web|title=Singapore |url=http://www.mitsubishi-i.com.sg/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070629165242/http://www.mitsubishi-i.com.sg/ |archive-date=June 29, 2007 |df=mdy }} • {{cite web|title=New Zealand |url=http://www.icar-yousmile.co.nz/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070613120438/http://www.icar-yousmile.co.nz/ |archive-date=June 13, 2007 |df=mdy }} • {{cite web|title=United Kingdom |url=http://www.mitsubishi-cars.co.uk/icampaign/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070701193804/http://www.mitsubishi-cars.co.uk/icampaign/ |archive-date=July 1, 2007 |df=mdy }}

• {{cite web | title = Mitsubishi/Sanrio website | language = ja | url = http://happydrive.net/ | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110723142452/http://happydrive.net/ | archive-date = July 23, 2011 | df = mdy-all }}
• {{cite web|title=2017 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport Concept |publisher=Mitsubishi Review |language=en |url=http://carreviewsrelease.com/2017-mitsubishi-pajero-sport-concept/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121045242/http://carreviewsrelease.com/2017-mitsubishi-pajero-sport-concept/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 21, 2016 }}

{{Mitsubishi Motors vehicles}}

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Category:Cars introduced in 2006

Category:Hatchbacks

Category:Kei cars

I

Category:All-wheel-drive vehicles

Category:Rear mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive vehicles

eo:Mitsubishi i