The CA-MiEV, an astounding vehicle concept, was unveiled and world premiered at 2013 Geneva Motor Show by Mitsubishi Motor Corporation (MMC), testifying to its long standing effort in driving the distance onto the electro-mobility not-so-rocky road.
Mitsubishi, whose global warming related R&D dates back to 1966, can flaunt the success of its much acclaimed i-MiEV, the electric version of Mitsubishi i, whose eyebrow-raising acronym stands for Mitsubishi innovative Electric Vehicle.
Pioneered in 2009 and rebadged by PSA Peugeot Citroen within the European market that was leading the way,the i-MiEV was fondly nicknamed as the “electric jellybean” because of its rounded shape and was widely embraced as the vehicle of the future for consumers to express their eco-selves.
The Compact and Advanced (CA) MiEV version of the i-MiEV, though not meant for production, acts as a declaration of intent that builds up on the existing technology first and foremost hinting to the possibility of extending the EV potential beyond a strictly urban environment.
The design itself is elongated, and great emphasis is put on compact sleekness.
The 5-door spaceship-like vehicle of the future is in fact arrow shaped and has a coefficient drag target of 0.26, with a full flat floor, rear view cameras and minimal air intakes.
The boomerang sculpted lights appear in the front as ice-cold eyes giving it precision and direction, while the rear ones hint to flames for power and forward motion.
Form here complements function; in that the mile-range extends from the standard i-MiEV 62 miles to reach the 186 miles (300km), thanks to the advanced aerodynamics and, for the tech savvy reader, a high density 28-k Wh lithium-ion battery and lightweight 80-kW all-in-one integrated motor/inverter/charger unit.
This increased mileage repositions the vechicle as a “suburban EV”, with enough range for approximately one week of driving for the average European commuter. The flat battery pack also leaves room for a range extender if more would be needed.
The high efficiency drivetrain moreover accounts for magnetic resonance wireless charging technology.
Mirroring its always on users, the vehicle presents convenience features which connect it to the rest of the planet, such as automatic e-mailing and e-calling in case of theft and emergency, along with remote controlling and data transfer from smartphone to in-car system.
