After teasing the car with a darkened image a few weeks back, Mitsubishi has finally unveiled the Mi-Tech Concept at the Tokyo Motor Show 2019.
Inspired by dune buggies, Mitsubishi says the Mi-Tech represents the very essence of “Mitsubishi-ness”. The buggy-type vehicle sports a light-blue body color, and emphasises on its electric powertrain with copper-coloured motor coil motif on the grille, inner wheels and interior.
On the front, the signature Dynamic Shield design makes a return. Due to the reduced cooling requirement of the electronic drivetrain, the grille is now a solid satin-plated piece.
Flanking the large grille is the new T-shaped headlights, embedded into the bodywork of the front end. At the bottom of the front bumper are two aluminium skid-plates to protect the body and undercarriage, while an air intake sits in between.
On the side, the highly raised overfenders surround the large diameter tires, providing stability and grip on loose terrain.
A large hexagon shape dominates the entire rear-end, and the T-shaped light design pattern carries over to the rear with the large tail lamp enclosure.
Moving inside, the horizontal instrument panel along with the keyboard-shaped switches of the Mi-Tech concept enhances usability while driving. A large horizontal grab handle positioned on the centre console also acts as a hand pad while operating the switches.
The entire dashboard of the Mi-Tech is minimalistic and void of any information other than a small screen behind the steering wheel. This is because Mitsubishi uses the entire windscreen as an augmented reality (AR) display!
Vital information of the vehicle, road, and surrounding traffic conditions can be projected directly onto the AR windshield.
The Mitsubishi Mi-Tech concept is powered by a lightweight and compact gas turbine engine generator. The gas turbine stands out with its flexibility to run on different fuels such as diesel, kerosene, and alcohol, while the exhaust remains clean and environment-friendly.
No power figures were provided at the unveiling, other than that “the gas turbine engine-generator has a powerful output for its size and weight”.
Mitsubishi fitted the Mi-Tech with their Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC) vehicle dynamics control, paired to a quad-motor 4WD system. The independent Active Yaw Control (AYC) on both the front and rear axle allows for the optimal torque to be transmitted to all four wheels for better offroad experience.
The new electric drivetrain also presents unique new driving experiences, such as 180-degree spins by counter-rotating the left and right wheels.
The Mi-Tech Concept comes with a brake-by-wire system, allowing for high response and accuracy in the control of braking force at all four wheels, providing a claimed drastic improvement in turning and traction performance.
Mitsubishi’s next-generation MI-PILOT driver assistance technology will also be present on the concept buggy, capable of driver support not only on ordinary freeways and city roads, but also on unpaved terrain!
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