Mitsubishi S.U.P.
Published Oct 11, 2006
0 Ratings
What is it?
Mitsubishi S.U.P.
What's special about it?
Catering to the active lifestyles of the environmentally conscientious youth brigade, the S.U.P. (Sport Utility Pack) is a four-wheel-drive vehicle that incorporates an inline four hybrid powertrain that routs juice to the front wheels, while the rear wheels are motivated by their own electric motors. Called a "soft HEV" (hybrid electric vehicle), the S.U.P uses a GDI-ISA engine (Gasoline Direct Injection and Integrated Starter and Alternator) for the front wheels with an idle-start feature and regenerative braking. Augmenting the power source as well as supplying juice to each of the rear wheels is a pair of electric motors that run on lithium ion batteries.
This comma-shaped design exercise is characterized by a line that runs the length of the car and all around the front and rear fascia. The door panels are translucent and detach from the inside to reveal storage spaces, and the louvered roof panels open up like Venetian blinds to reveal a large sunroof. It has a water storage tank and a shower head just in case you want to hose off after a dip in the ocean.
Why should you care?
Like Subaru, Mitsubishi is mating hybrid technology to four-wheel-drive accessibility. This less-than-illustrious carmaker is trying to shed its "D'oh!" past by forging ahead with new ideas; the S.U.P. seems to be a step toward that direction. — Liz Kim
Mitsubishi S.U.P.
What's special about it?
Catering to the active lifestyles of the environmentally conscientious youth brigade, the S.U.P. (Sport Utility Pack) is a four-wheel-drive vehicle that incorporates an inline four hybrid powertrain that routs juice to the front wheels, while the rear wheels are motivated by their own electric motors. Called a "soft HEV" (hybrid electric vehicle), the S.U.P uses a GDI-ISA engine (Gasoline Direct Injection and Integrated Starter and Alternator) for the front wheels with an idle-start feature and regenerative braking. Augmenting the power source as well as supplying juice to each of the rear wheels is a pair of electric motors that run on lithium ion batteries.
This comma-shaped design exercise is characterized by a line that runs the length of the car and all around the front and rear fascia. The door panels are translucent and detach from the inside to reveal storage spaces, and the louvered roof panels open up like Venetian blinds to reveal a large sunroof. It has a water storage tank and a shower head just in case you want to hose off after a dip in the ocean.
Why should you care?
Like Subaru, Mitsubishi is mating hybrid technology to four-wheel-drive accessibility. This less-than-illustrious carmaker is trying to shed its "D'oh!" past by forging ahead with new ideas; the S.U.P. seems to be a step toward that direction. — Liz Kim