Mitsubishi is all set for the challenge this coming weekend in Colorado, which is where the 2013 edition of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is to take place.
The company took part in the competition for the first time last year, with a 240 kW i-MiEV Evolution driven by two-time Dakar Rally winner Hiroshi Masuoka and a 49 kW production i-MiEV helmed by Beccy Gordon.
The MiEV Evolution finished second in the Electric Division, and the company says that participation in the event brought a rich harvest in terms of vehicle speed, acceleration and other on-road data, as well as drive battery consumption, motor temperature and other data and know-how critical to electric vehicle development.
This year, it’s back up the hill in two MiEV Evolution II all-electric four wheel-drive vehicles, upgraded with lessons learnt from last year’s outing. The company has added a S-AWC (Super All-Wheel Control) integrated vehicle dynamics control system to a two-front/two-rear four-motor drivetrain for increased handling and control in the new car.
These, together with a specially-designed body that provides reduced weight and improved aerodynamics, has resulted in a significant improvement in driving dynamics. Masuoka will pilot the one of the i-MiEV Evolution racecars, while six-time Pikes Peak motorcycle champion Greg Tracy will be in the other.
We were there to cover the 2012 event with Mitsubishi, where we spent time with the drivers. Read our interviews with Hiroshi Masuoka and Beccy Gordon as well as our post-race report.
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