2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Race Chassis (certificate Of Destruction Title) on 2040-cars

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Ghosn's legacy: one of the auto industry's most effective execs

"Bob Lutz ... estimated that carrying out the Nissan operation would be the equivalent, for Renault, of putting $5 billion in a container ship and sinking it in the middle of the ocean." So wrote Carlos Ghosn in "SHIFT: Inside Nissan's Historic Revival," which was published in the U.S. in late 2004. Two points about that observation: It is in keeping with Lutz's "Often wrong but never in doubt." It shows that Ghosn is a remarkable executive, given that he was able to take Nissan from the edge of financial oblivion to one of the foremost automotive companies (although with alliance partners Renault and, more recently, Mitsubishi). In 1999, Ghosn created what was named the "Nissan Revival Plan." It could have just as well been called the "Nissan Resuscitation Plan." Things were that bad. Now Ghosn is in the midst of legal trouble, accused of financial improprieties of some sort. There is no indication that this is at anything near the scale of what happened at Volkswagen Group. There's malfeasance. And then there's malfeasance. It is likely that this is going to be the end of Ghosn's career, but at age 64, and as a man who has spent nearly the past quarter-century essentially on airplanes, it is probably a good time to leave the stage. What his next act will be — to court or even prison — is an open question. But arguably, Ghosn's performance in the transformation of Nissan and Renault, which also needed some strong medicine to keep it from collapse in the early '00s (although one suspects that the French government would have done its damnedest to keep it propped up), makes him one of the all-time most-notable executives in the auto industry. Ghosn closed plants in both France and Japan and he worked to dismantle the Nissan keiretsu network of interlocked companies, things that were absolutely unthinkable. He established plans with stretch goals in their titles, like the "20 Billion Franc Cost-Reduction Plan," and worked with his people to achieve them, despite the pushback that seemed to come along with the announcement of the plan. As in, as he recalled in SHIFT, "Some people said, 'He's off the deep end. He's raving mad. Doesn't he know that at Renault you set the most conservative goals possible so you can be certain to reach them?' My answer to that sort of thinking was 'You're going to get what you ask for. If you set the bar too low, you'll be a low-level performance.

Mitsubishi debuts Concept CA-MiEV, a new suburban EV with a 186-mile range

Mitsubishi is stretching the electric jellybean. For years, the i-MiEV was regular presence at Mitsubishi's auto show booths around the world, and the car rightfully earned its nickname because of its rounded shape. Today, at the Geneva Motor Show, Mitsubishi finally unveiled a version of the i-MiEV that looks much more more at home among the alternative-powertrain car fleet of the near future.
But there's more being elongated here than just the shape. The official range of the standard i (as the i-MiEV is known in the US) is 62 miles. The Concept CA-MiEV - where the CA stands for Compact and Advanced - is supposed to be able to go 300 kilometers (186 miles) from a 28-kWh lithium-ion battery and lightweight 80-kW motor/inverter/charger unit. This is kind of astonishing, given the range estimates of other compact and midsize EVs on the market today - most are in the 80-100-mile range. Of course, the specific test used to get the 186-mile result matters, too, since the regular i received 98 miles on the LA4 driving cycle range. The US-i has a 16-kWh pack.
The increased distance means that Mitsubishi is talking about the Concept CA-MiEV as the "suburban EV," with enough range for "about one week of driving for an average European driver." If you need more, Mitsubishi hints that the flat battery pack leaves room for a range-extender. Add in convenience features like WiTricity wireless charging and the ability for the car to send an emergency email if it's stolen, and you've got the commuting vehicle of the future. With a coefficient of drag of just 0.26 and boomerang lights, of course.

Mitsubishi to showcase eX crossover concept in Tokyo

The Tokyo Motor Show is coming up at the end of the month, and Mitsubishi isn't about to sit it out. That's where the Diamond Star automaker will unveil the eX Concept pictured here. The electric crossover concept packs what the company terms as a "next-generation EV system" into what looks at first blush like a rather dramatic design. Mitsubishi is telling us next to nothing about the eX and its specifications. However, it indicates that the concept incorporates an all-electric powertrain, all-wheel drive, an automated driving system, vehicle connectivity, and active safety systems. The automaker has also only revealed the one rendering above, but it bears all the hallmarks of a modern Mitsubishi concept like the ones we've seen in recent years. That includes the company's signature Diamond Shield front grille, flanked by narrow, angular headlights and oversized running lamps. Naturally, this concept rides on oversized wheels and boasts spindly little mirrors, all in an effort to tell us this is a bonafide show car and not a pre-production prototype. We'll look forward to seeing more in the near future, but in the meantime you can delve into what little Mitsubishi is telling us at this point in the press release below. Related Video: MITSUBISHI MOTORS LINEUP AT 44TH TOKYO MOTOR SHOW – ANOTHER STEP FORWARD WITH SUVS AND ELECTRIC POWER 08/10/15 from Mitsubishi Motors in the UK Print this page Add this release to Your Downloads TOKYO — Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) will unveil the Mitsubishi eX1 Concept, a compact SUV concept car, with a next-generation EV system at the 44th Tokyo Motor Show 20152. The concept car showcases MMC's next-generation electric vehicle (EV) technologies, a new take on the Dynamic Shield front design concept, and a vast range of other technologies for superior driving pleasure in a compact crossover package. MMC's display reflects the main theme of "Driving Beyond" – another step forward with SUVs and electric power. ELEGANCE & SUV & 100% ELECTRIC The Mitsubishi eX Concept is a vision for a unique all electric powered compact SUV aimed at the fast growing compact SUV market. It uses MMC's state-of-the art EV and all-wheel control technologies combined with automated driving, connected car, and active safety systems. Both exterior and interior design indicate the direction MMC Design is taking.