Mitsubishi reveals sketches of new small global car

Mitsubishi has revealed those official sketches of its upcoming small global car, which is going to be produced in a new facotry in Thailand. The new model will be sold in emerging markets, as well as Japan, but it is not known whether it will make to Europe. Expect to see it at the Geneva Motor Show in March.

[Source: Autocar]

Toyota displays iQ-based EV in Japan

Toyota displayed its iQ-based EV (earlier post) at Eco-Products 2010 in Japan. The capacity and the voltage of the lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery are about 11 kWh and 270 V respectively. The drive range of the vehicle is 105 km under the JC08 test mode.

The charging time is about 10 hours with AC100V input and about four hours with AC200V input (in the normal charging mode). Under the CHAdeMO charging standards, which are promoted by Japan's CHAdeMO Association, the EV can be charged up to 80% capacity in about 15 minutes. The connectors for normal charging and rapid charging are located on the front side of the vehicle.

The actual car is scheduled to be mass-produced and released in the Japanese, US and European markets in 2012.

[Source: Tech-On!]

Subaru shows carbon fibre roof of Impreza WRX STi tS

Back on December 3 (earlier post), it was revealed that the upcoming Impreza WRX STI tS will feature a carbon fibre roof, which has been developed with Toray (東レ).  Subaru has now revealed a teaser image and the only new info is... that the tS version will be only available in Japan (as with the Forester tS STi).