17.7.2007 Introducing the new Mitsubishi-i

After much anticipation, Mitsubishi have at last launched the award winning 'i' car in the UK. There has been much speculation about the efficiency of the i's 57bhp, 660cc, three-cylinder turbo engine and the practical advantages of its rear-mid-engine configuration. Not only does the i trump the passenger space provided in many existing city cars, it also boasts a remarkable 54.6 mpg with CO2 emissions of just 114g/km (road tax band B) and emits fewer local pollutants than any of its diesel equivalents.

The i is built around a bespoke aluminium space-frame chassis with the engine located in front of the rear axle. This unique rear-mid-engine configuration is reflected in the 'one motion' shape. The i is also narrower than other city cars, but its wheel-at-each-corner stance lends it an exceptionally long wheelbase promoting high-speed stability and a 9 metre turning circle, which will be especially helpful for manoeuvring on busy urban roads.

Initially 300 units of the Mitsubishi i are available to purchase in the UK, with plans for more to follow according to demand. London is probably Mitsubishi's intended target market – depending on how the London Congestion Charge bands change next year, the i could be exempt from the congestion charge within 12 months.

If the Japanese market is anything to go by, the i will be a big hit in the UK. Last year in Japan, over 37,000 units were sold and a string of awards culminated in the i being named "Car of the Year" by the Automotive Researchers & Journalists of Japan (RJC) and "Most Advanced Technology" by Japan's Executive Committee of the Car Of the Year awards.

According to Jim Tyrrell, Mitsubishi Motors UK's Managing Director: "The i offers a genuine alternative in a congested market. Its diminutive dimensions make it an ideal choice for the forward-thinking city dweller, but it's also capable on the open road. In Japan, the i has already become a cult car and we're confident that its space and sophistication, coupled with Mitsubishi's reputation for quality and reliability, will also make it a hit in the UK."

Mitisubishi are already implementing plans to add to the Mitsubishi i family by building a new research vehicle – the Mitsubishi innovative Electric Vehicle (i MiEV). The i MiEV, which is heavily based on the i, will be used for joint research programmes with a number of Japanese power companies who will conduct field tests, collate data and assess the commercial viability of an EV (electric vehicle). To create the i MIEV, the i's internal combustion engine is removed and replaced by the combination of a compact, lightweight electric motor and high-energy density lithium-ion batteries. Mitsubishi plans to introduce the i MiEV to the market in 2010.