Mitsubishi Evo To Go Plug-In Hybrid? World's Tuners Feel Faint

By John Voelcker

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We can't help it. Once in a while, we like to toss in big honkin' performance cars, like the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500. And even screaming smaller tuner sedans, like the 2010 Subaru STi WRC and Mitsubishi Lancer Evo.

But now comes news to rock the world: The next generation of the Mitsubishi Evolution Lancer, the STI's arch-enemy, is rumored to feature a plug-in hybrid powertrain.

Right now, tuners and drifters all over the world are feeling faint and looking for a nice calming glass of water.

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i-MiEV electric car a success

Mitsubishi has struggled in recent years, but its one bright spot is the global praise and sales success of its i-MiEV electric mini-car. And the company has been aggressively researching electric drive systems for more than a decade, with a dozen or more concept cars to show for it.

Mitsubishi’s latest system combines differential electric motors with their Super All Wheel Control (S-AWC) all-wheel-drive system--already found in the Evo--plus electronically controlled active yaw control.

S-AWC uses two permanent magnet synchronous motors, one each for the front and rear wheels, along with a four-cylinder MIVEC engine that also powers the front wheels or acts as a generator to recharge the lithium-ion battery pack.

First production plug-ins: 2013

Mitsubishi plans to equip its first production models with its plug-in hybrid system in 2013.  A similar system could appear in the next-generation Lancer Evolution XI, eventually, say reports attributed to company insiders.

The company's waning fortunes, however, have frozen funding for development of the Evo since 2007, however.  So any plug-in hybrid Evo will be years away yet. Still, we can dream ...

[Autocar via MotorAuthority]