Mitsubishi To Show Tiny Car in NY

March 15, 2008

Mitsubishi will show its ultra-compact i-minicar next week at the New York International Auto Show. The stylish little vehicle is a gas-powered version of the slightly-better-known i-MIEV electric car concept, which will also be on display at the show. Unlike the i-MIEV, the ‘i’ is a production model that has been selling in Japan since 2006.

The four-seater i-minicar utilizes a lightweight aluminum chassis. It is powered by a three-cylinder 64-horsepower gas engine, combining a turbocharger with variable valve timing to achieve approximately 55 miles per gallon. Top speed is approximately 90 miles per hour. Though highway-capable, the ‘i’ is ideal for city driving with its concise overall length of 133.7. inches—28 inches longer than the Smart ForTwo and a foot shorter than the Mini Cooper—and a tight 13 foot turning radius. ABS and Electronic Brake Distribution come as standard safety features.

American consumers thirsty for greener car alternatives may want a definitive answer on when the i-minicar and/or i-Miev wil be introduced in the United States. But that question is not likely to be answered in New York or anytime soon.


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  • Hal Howell

    In the meantime, you can just go out and buy a Toyota Yaris Liftback 2 door, get 34 mpg in a car that is just as small and probably much less expensive than this car.
    Its comfortable, economical and fun to drive. I drive an ’07 Prius and hers is an ’07 Yaris. Both get great gas mileage.
    My wife drives hers and loves it. According to her, its just plain cute.

  • drivin98

    I like the Yaris but 34mpg isn’t especially great for such a small car. 55 mpg is great. Fantastic even. Or much better yet, the electric version. If they bring the electric here, it may well be my first brand new car purchase.

  • dmac

    I drive a 1999 Mercury Tracer that has survived 4 deer strikes, needs a tune up and hauls over a quarter of a ton of fun to work. It still gets over 33 mpg.

  • Boom Boom

    I think the deer strikes have made the Tracer more efficient.

    If they actually sell this thing, it gets better mileage than a Smart, has much more utility, and looks just as goofy. Not bad for a city car.

  • Hal Howell

    True, 34-35 mpg is not as good as 55 however, what will the i-Miev cost? The Yaris was $12,000 and nicely appointed with A/C, MP3 plug & AM /FM/CD, cruise control and automatic trans. On the highway it can get 39-40 mpg! Not bad for a gas only car. Of course, it would be nice if it were a hybrid but that will come in the future.

  • Anthony Narvaez

    Hey friends this is a Tatanano!…
    Congratulations with the electric car technology, is very well for our oxygen and atmosphere.

  • truck tarps

    What about the Tesla roadster, that goes from 0-100KM in 4 seconds.

  • Mike Low

    Once oil hits $200 a barrel there will be some serious interest in electric cars.
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  • b messy

    my civic 2006 lx runs 50+mpg freeway … i wrote a simple website for my own use to document how i did the changes.

    http://www.greenfuelbooster.com

  • dick brandlon

    We’re in France now and we’ve spoken to several people who drive the smart fortwo with a diesel engine. Sixty-five mpg isn’t unusual and one lady reported seventy. With lowwer tailpipe emissions than many of the US cars we allow on the road, why our government won’t allow this one is just another mystery. May I venture a guess that maybe Detroit is trying to squash it?

  • Gas and Electricity Prices

    That was a cute car. Yes I agree, those kind of car is very suitable for cities, and if I was not mistaken, those type of car also consume less gas and cheaper than the conventional cars.
    Gas and Electricity Prices

  • junior golf camps

    Wow..what a neat tiny car. I agree, that size of a cars is best to use in cities, not in major highway. The price is cheap for such a very beautiful car, i do hope US will allowed Mitsubishi to market it here.
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  • junior tennis camps

    Nice car and also cheap. Indeed this type of car, should only allowed in cities roads, that in big highways. To dangerous .
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  • Lasik Eye Surgery

    it is really great to hear abt cars,
    Are those American consumers still searching for the answer there? Hope they would have got it via the economical crisis? :)
    Is it?

    -Micky, Lasik Eye Surgery

  • seema

    That is cool and NY needs small cars like this. Hats off to Mitsubishi

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  • Jim Britt

    I drove a 1967 Opal Cadet in the early 1970s and it got 38 MPG!

    WHY do people think 32 MPG is so great considering all the technology that exists today? We should have V6 engines that get 40 MPG.

  • cosmetic dentist

    I think this is a good one from Mitusbishi…. as is the oncern on th fuel prices and energy scarcity, i think electric and solar power use would increase… so makes a lot of sense in the scenario if crude goes to $200 a barrel

  • cosmetic dentist

    I think this is a good one from Mitusbishi…. as is the oncern on th fuel prices and energy scarcity, i think electric and solar power use would increase… so makes a lot of sense in the scenario if crude goes to $200 a barrel.

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  • SamsungLN52A650

    Hey this is something very exciting one from Mistusbishi…. i would love to own one…. and this would be more relevant and useful if the same scenario of Crude at $200 a barrel and natural energy levels going down.

    This would be a great initiative.

  • SamsungLN52A650

    Hey this is something very exciting one from Mistusbishi…. i would love to own one…. and this would be more relevant and useful if the same scenario of Crude at $200 a barrel and natural energy levels going down.

    This would be a great initiative.

    SamsungLN52A650

  • Bob Riley

    So tiny and cute.. :)
    hybrid electrical vehicle – hybrid suv

  • Lew

    I think that once the government figures out a way to put a meter on the sun, solar power will then come into it’s own. Until they find a way to charge for it, it will lay on the back burner.

  • anderson

    Another way to look cute for a guy is to be completely oblivious of your obvious beauty. Cute Eid status Make him feel that he has to convince you of your beauty and that you are at most decent to look at.