Electric supercharger and electric motors now on the cards for new performance hero
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The next generation Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution may need to change its name to “Revolution”.
The new model has been widely tipped to have electric power – rather than a turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine – but more details have emerged about exactly how the system will work.
Although an earlier concept vehicle was equipped with an electric motor inside each wheel, motoring.com.au understands the production car due by 2014 will instead adopt a “range extended” hybrid system similar to the Chevrolet Volt – but tuned for high performance.
Well-placed sources say the new Lancer Evolution will have two electric motors – one for the front wheels, another for the rear – and be joined by an electric-supercharged four-cylinder engine that can power the onboard battery pack or drive the front wheels.
The hybrid system was unveiled at this year’s Tokyo Motor Show in the PX MiEV II concept SUV – but can be adapted for performance use.
The Evo would use its electric motors to sprint from rest up to, say, 100km/h, at which point the electric-supercharged petrol engine would take over.
“We are developing many plug-in hybrid and hybrid systems, but I cannot say when they will be introduced,” said Mitsubishi engineer Mitsuyoshi Hattori during a test drive of the company’s latest, PXII MiEV concept car in Japan recently.
Contrary to popular belief, electric motors are more powerful than conventional petrol engines on take-off because they make peak power at low revs, and then taper – typically the opposite of petrol engines.
Porsche, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi are all working on supercars powered by electric motors.
North American company Tesla started its electric-car business with a battery powered version of the Lotus sports-car that had Porsche-like performance.
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