Mitsubishi will unveil the North American version of its i-MiEV (Mitsubishi innovative Electric Vehicle) at the Los Angeles Auto Show (LAAS) this week.
The company has already released the 100 percent electric vehicle to the Japanese domestic market and is expected to release it in Europe later this year. It was also made available through leasing programs in Australia and North America earlier this year but the version to be unveiled this week will be modified slightly for the North American market.
In comparison to the Japanese and European models, the North American version of the i-MiEV will boast an enlarged body that is 285mm longer, 110mm wider and 5mm higher, resulting in a car that measures 3.68m long by 1.585m wide by 1.615m high (12.07 x 5.2 x 5.29 ft). Mitsubishi says the bump in dimensions provides enough room for four adults and is designed to "better meet the expectations of U.S. consumers."
Additionally, the North American-spec i-MiEV sports new front and rear bumpers and will include airbags that detect passengers and control deployment force, a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) and Active Stability Control (ASC) as standard.
Although it will boast the same dimensions as the Japanese version, Mitsubishi had already announced that it would also modify the vehicle slightly for European markets. The European-spec i-MiEV will feature a different front and rear bumper design that meets EU regulations, a re-arranged center stack in the instrument panel, and safety features including a stability control system and side curtain airbags as standard equipment.
Mitsubishi is set to release the battery-electric i-MiEV in North America and Europe from the end of this year.