According to PSA Peugeot-Citroen and Mitsubishi, the halt is temporary, through neither company would say for how long it would last.
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The Japanese automaker said that on certain models, the air-bag sensors are incompatible with the self-diagnostic software used by the Safety Restraint System (SRS) system, causing the warning lamp to turn on.
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Mitsubishi will enter the fully decked out i-MiEV Evolution prototype, which was teased through a pair of sketches back in March, and a regular production i-MiEV in the event.
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And even though Mitsubishi isn't ready to drop full details yet, something tells us that we won't be laughing at this special version of the i-MiEV, with which the Japanese automaker will enter the 2012 edition of the legendary Pikes Peak International Hill Climb on July 8, an even that is held annually in Colorado, USA.
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In the first phase of "Initiative 120", the Berlin police will use a total of eleven vehicles that also include two examples of each of these models: the Opel Ampera extended range EV, the Renault Fluence sedan Z.E and Kangoo Van Z.E., and the Mitsubishi i-MiEV hatchback.
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Mitsubishi has been one of the first carmakers to enter the EV market with its iMieV, an all-electric city car that like the Outlander SUV has also spawned PSA Peugeot Citroen variants.
Speaking of the Outlander, the report states that a plug-in hybrid version of Mitsubishi’s crossover will also hit the market at the same time as the electric truck.
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That's the name of Mitsubishi's latest marketing campaign, which will see the Japanese auto manufacturer flooding a quiet Midwest town called –wait for it- Normal with 1,000 MiEV electric cars.
In addition, Mitsubishi will help install a high-tech EV charging infrastructure comprising of 30 ultra-fast Level 3 quick charge "refueling" stations spread across the town.
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The new budget model is called the ‘M’ and its price comes down to 2.6 million Yen (US$32,070 -€22,170) or 1,880,000 Yen (US$23,190 - €16,040) after Japanese government subsidies. It is powered by an electric motor producing 41-horses and has a reduced driving range of 120 kilometers (75 miles).
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The EV obtained an overall four star rating, the same score being awarded to the i-MiEV's sister models, the Citroen C-Zero and Peugeot iOn, which have the same design and safety equipment. The result was judged as "creditable" by the Euro NCAP.
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The company plans to roll out the "i" to West Coast dealers (specifically California, Oregon, Washington and Hawaii) in November 2011, with the Northeast getting access by March 2012, followed by nationwide availability by the end of 2012. According to Mitsubishi, the U.S.-spec model's MSRP is expected to be around $30,000, not including Federal and available state financial incentives. For the record, the larger Nissan Leaf EV has an MSRP of $32,780, again, not including any tax cuts.
Even though big ideas can come in small packages, for most things in America, consumers believe that "bigger is better" and "better is bigger". And seeing what happened with Mercedes-Benz and its Smart Fortwo mini, Mitsubishi decided to "fatten-up" the North American version of the i-MiEV, and make it bigger than its Japanese- and European-spec counterparts.
The small car would possibly be offered here in 2012 (it's said to have sub-1.5 liter 3-cylinder engine), but it's hard to believe a small efficient car (and the Lancer family) could be enough to justify keeping the brand here. There's light on the horizon, but more on that in a bit.
Even though we're still a full year away from the European market launch of the iOn, Peugeot has already started to take pre-reservations for the all-electric car in the UK. Revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, the i0n is actually a rebadged Mitsubishi i-MiEV. As part of the PSA Peugeot-Citroen and Mitsubishi deal, Citroen will also launch its own version of the i-MiEV called the C-Zero. With four doors and four seats, and a compact length of 3.48 m, the i0n is powered by a 64bhp electric motor that allows it to reach a top speed of 80mph or 129 km/h.
The small city car has a driving range of 80 miles (129 km) on a single charge of its lithium-ion batteries which can be recharged in six hours through a conventional mains power supply or recharged to 80% capacity within thirty minutes with a fast charging system.
Peugeot has not disclosed prices for the i0n. However, we do know that in Japan, the Mitsubishi i-MiEV is priced from 4,599,000 Yen (that's €34,500 or $51,300 at today's exchange rates), which is more than twice the cost of a Toyota Prius.
If the new Citroen C-Zero electric mini looks familiar that's because it is. See, while the French automaker claims in its press release that the EV is developed in collaboration with Mitsubishi, what it really means to say is that the C-Zero is the product of 'badge engineering'. Like its twin brother, the Peugeot i0n that was revealed at the Frankfurt Show in September, the C-Zero is nothing more than a Mitsubishi i-MiEV with Citroen badges.Due for launch in the last quarter of 2010, the C-Zero comes with the same electric-drivetrain as the i-MiEV meaning that it s powered by a permanent magnet synchronous motor delivering 47kW or 64bhp from 3,000 to 6,000rpm and a maximum torque of 180Nm from 0 to 2,000rpm that drives the rear wheels through a single-speed reduction gear.
The motor is powered by a 330-volt lithium-ion battery system comprising 88 50Ah cells (for onboard energy of 16kWh) which are mounted in the centre of the vehicle offering a range of around 130 kilometers or 80 miles.
A complete charge of the battery pack takes six hours through a conventional 220-volt socket while an 80 per cent charge is possible in about 30 minutes using an external station with a single-phase current of 125A at 400V, for power of up to 50kW.
The French company says that the four-seater C-Zero, which measures in at just 3.48m in length, can accelerate from zero to 100km/h (62mph) in 15 seconds, from 60 to 90 km/h (37-56mph) in 6 seconds and reach a top speed of 130km/h or 80mph.
Now that the i-MiEV hybrid has become a production reality, Mitsubishi is exploring other possibilities to expand the city car's range with the world premiere of the i-MiEV Cargo concept at next month's Tokyo motorshow. The pint-size breadvan with the does away with the hatchback model's rear doors while gaining additional cargo space at the back thanks to a newly designed and taller rear end.The cube-shaped rear compartment measures 1,350 mm wide by 1,180 mm deep and 1,100 mm high and features a flat floor. According to Mitsubishi, it allows every inch of available space to be utilized - not that there's much to go around...
There are no changes to the drivetrain that consists of a 330-volt lithium-ion battery system located under the floor deck and an electric motor that drives the rear wheels and develops an output of 47kW or 64HP and 180Nm or 132.8-lbs/ft of torque.
Looks like Pug's designers had a much easier task than initially thought when we decided to 'chop' a Peugeot fascia on the Mitsubishi i-MiEV after the announcement on the introduction of the Peugeot and Citroen EVs based on the Japanese mini. In what seems like a five minute job, Peugeot slapped one of its logos on the i-MiEV, changed the alloy wheels and slightly altered the front bumper to accommodate Euro-plates and 'voila': the new Peugeot i0n...The French automaker, which claims to be the manufacturer with the most "zero emission" electric vehicles sold in the world to this day with models like the Peugeot 106 Electric that was produced between 1995 and 2003, will display the i0n for the first time at the Frankfurt Motor Show later this month..
The European-spec i-MiEV (let's not fool ourselves, that's what the i0n is) is motivated by an electric motor that drives the rear wheels producing an output of 47kW or 64HP and 180Nm or 132.8-lbs/ft of maximum torque that allows the 3,480 mm long mini to achieve a top speed of 130 km/h (80mph).
The four-seater EV has an operating range of 130 kilometers or 80 miles on a single charge of its lithium-ion batteries that can be fully recharged in six hours using a domestic mains power supply. If you use the fast charge system, the batteries can be recharged up to 80% capacity within thirty minutes.
Production of both the Citroen and Peugeot variants of the Mitsubishi i-MiEV will commence in October 2010 with sales pegged to start in Europe towards the end of 2010.
We remind you that the PSA Peugeot - Citroen Group has another ongoing project with Mitsubishi in the form of the Outlander based Peugeot 4007 and Citroen C-Crosser SUVs.
Earlier this year, Mitsubishi and PSA Peugeot Citroen announced that they had signed a Memorandum of Understanding regarding collaboration on electric vehicles (EVs) based on the Japanese firm's i-MiEV EV. Today, Osamu Masuko, CEO of Mitsubishi Motors and Philippe Varin, CEO of PSA, finished the deal by signing a cooperative agreement in Paris. The vehicle is to be sold in Europe in both Peugeot and Citroen versions with production planned to commence in October 2010 and sales by the end of 2010.Mitsubishi launched the new-generation EV i-MiEV in Japan in June, and will begin global sales of the right-hand drive vehicle this year with LHD versions following in 2010.
In Japan, the EV i-MiEV is priced from 4,599,000 Yen (almost $50,00 US / €35,00 at today's rates), or more than double the price of a JDM Toyota Prius that costs 2,050,000 Yen or $22,000.
The all-electric version of the i-MIEV is powered by an electric motor that drives the rear wheels and develops an output of 47kW or 64HP and 180Nm or 132.8-lbs/ft of maximum torque.
According to Japanese automaker, the vehicle's lithium-ion battery pack that can be charged in 7-14 hours delivers up to 100 miles or 160 km of pure electric driving.
It is expected that the PSA group will follow a similar path to that of the Toyota co-developed Aygo, 107 and C1 project with the i-MiEV, meaning that the differences between the Citroen, Peugeot and Mitsubishi models will most likely be limited to the front fascia and the rear end design.
*The Peugeot picture above is a Carscoop Photoshop
The much anticipated production version of Mitsubishi's pure-electric i-MiEV minicar was unveiled today in Japan. Mitsubishi will begin leasing the minuscule EV principally to corporations and to local authorities in Japan in July. Individual sales are due to start in the Land of the Rising Sun in April 2010, followed shortly after by Europe and later on, the United States. In Japan, prices for the i-MiEV have been set at a hefty 4,599,000 Yen which is about $47,500 US or €33,700 at today's rates. That's more than double the price of a Toyota Prius that costs 2,050,000 Yen or $21,200 in Japan. 
The production model of the four-seater EV which is based on Mitsubishi's 'i' minicar does not differ significantly from the concept version which was last previewed at the New York Auto Show this past April. Measuring in at 3.395mm or 133.6-in. in length, the i-MiEV is roughly the same size as the Fiat 500.
While retaining the i's rear mid-ship architecture, the i-MiEV replaces the conventional gasoline engine, transmission and fuel tank with a 330-volt lithium-ion battery system located under the floor deck, electric motor and onboard charging system. The electric motor that drives the rear wheels develops an output of 47kW or 64HP and 180Nm or 132.8-lbs/ft of maximum torque.
According to Mitsubishi, charge times to replenish the lithium-ion battery pack will be 7-14 hours, although the automaker said that it is developing fast charging stations throughout Japan that will take just half an hour. A full charge delivers up to 100 miles or 160 km of pure electric driving.
