Mitsubishi Pushes New Hybrid Concept at Auto Show – Miami Lakes Automall Mitsubishi
If you go to a * Mitsubishi dealer * in the near future, you may be delighted to find an array of eco-friendly (and wallet-friendly) options. The automaker pushed a new concept at the Chicago Auto Show last week for a full-size SUV plug-in hybrid.
The concept, known as the GC-PHEV, actually made its first appearance at the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show, but Mitsubishi officials brought it back to the Chicago Auto Show saying that it represented the future of its automotive technology. Mitsubishi says that its 2016 models will feature some of the concept design, starting with the Outlander.
GC-PHEV stands for Grand Cruiser Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle. The concept is a full-size SUV similar to the Chevy Tahoe and the Ford Expedition. The concept is a diversion for Mitsubishi, which hasn’t had an SUV of that size since its Montero in 2006. The GC-PHEV is longer and wider than the Pajero, and it has three rows of seats.
The new concept SUV has a MIVEC 3.0-liter, V6 engine that has 335 horsepower and an 8-speed automatic transmission. Other features include a 70-kilowatt electric motor that has 94 horsepower and an all-wheel control system that can distribute power to each wheel as specified. The battery is a 12-kilowatt lithium-ion battery, and it gives the SUV an electric range of 25 miles. The battery can even power electricity to a house for up to 13 days.
Interior features include a touch-screen workspace between the back two rows of seats. The middle row of seats can even turn around to create a mobile meeting space for conference calls and other work on the go. The workspace can connect with your cell phone to sync data. The windshield also has a car-to-car communication system and can display data right on the glass, such as when a car is pulling into your blind spot.
Safety features include a blind spot warning system, auto braking (triggered by collision sensors), and adaptive cruise control. It also has an innovative system known as “Unintentional Vehicle Move-Off Control,” which helps determine when you accidentally accelerate when you mean to brake. The system uses a camera at the front of the vehicle and several sensors to make that determination. It responds by cutting off the power to the engine.
While the GC-PHEV is just a concept, many of its features are likely to show up in vehicles at a Mitsubishi dealer near you very soon. We are excited to see what the future holds.
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