ELECTRIC HILL CLIMBING

4x4magazine | 19/05/2012 | 0 Comments

Mitsubishi will enter two all-electric vehicles in the Electric Class of the legendary Pikes Peak International Hill Climb held annually in Colorado in the United States, a i-MiEV Evolution specially developed race car and one regular production i-MiEV.

Developed for the Pikes Peak event, the i-MiEV Evolution basically uses the same motor, drive battery and other major components as the production i-MiEV fitted to a specially-designed racing-specific body which uses a tube-frame chassis and a carbon fibre cowl among other features designed to reduce weight and improve aerodynamic performance. Comprising a single motor driving the front and two motors driving the rear wheels, the car’s four-wheel-drive system provides superior motive performance and handling.
Team manager Hiroshi Masuoka will be aiming for the victory with this competition-special vehicle – the first Japanese driver to post consecutive overall victories in the Dakar Rally when he won in 2002 and 2003.
The production Mitsubishi i-MiEV for the Pikes Peak event has been modified only using a more aerodynamic front bumper and fitted with roll bars and other safety equipment.
It will be piloted by Beccy Gordon, a winner in the Score International Off-Road Racing Series. She comes from a family with a rich history in auto racing – brother Robby had a distinguished career in Indy, NASCAR and off-road racing; sister Robyn is the first woman to score an overall win in the Baja 1000; father Bob was a longtime combatant in off-road racing; and great-grandfather Huntley was an Indy car driver in the early 1900s. Beccy’s husband, Ryan Hunter-Reay, is currently a driver for Andretti Autosport in the IZOD IndyCar Series.