Mitsubishi Reveals Trio of Fuel-Saving Concepts
These design studies hint at the direction Mitsubishi will head in the near future with some of its utilities. First up is the GC-PHEV concept; the latter-portion of its name is Mitsubishi shorthand for Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle. This is a full-size SUV with full-time four-wheel drive. It’s powered by a supercharged 3.0-liter MIVEC V6 engine that’s matched to an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Next up is the XR-PHEV, a compact sport utility concept. According to Mitsubishi it’s been developed to take driving pleasure to new levels. The car is motivated by a tiny 1.1-liter direct-injection turbo MIVEC engine that’s assisted by a high-efficiency electric motor and a high-capacity battery pack.
Lastly we have the AR concept, that’s the letter “A” followed by the letter “R.” But no matter how it’s spelled this vehicle is a next-generation compact MPV. It features a lightweight mild-hybrid drivetrain centered on that 1.1-liter turbo engine mentioned above.
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All three of these concepts share fuel-saving features but that’s not all. They each benefit from Mitsubishi’s suite of advanced driver-assistance technology, which includes things like adaptive cruise control, forward collision management as well as lane-departure warning. The company may be struggling in North America but these vehicles prove they still have a pulse.
GALLERY: Mitsubishi Concept GC-PHEV
GALLERY: Mitsubishi Concept XR-PHEV
GALLERY: Mitsubishi Concept AR
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Born and raised in metro Detroit, Craig was steeped in mechanics from childhood. He feels as much at home with a wrench or welding gun in his hand as he does behind the wheel or in front of a camera. Putting his Bachelor's Degree in Journalism to good use, he's always pumping out videos, reviews, and features for AutoGuide.com. When the workday is over, he can be found out driving his fully restored 1936 Ford V8 sedan. Craig has covered the automotive industry full time for more than 10 years and is a member of the Automotive Press Association (APA) and Midwest Automotive Media Association (MAMA).
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