Mitsubishi e-Evolution previews future SUV with AI

Mitsubishi has revived the famous Evolution moniker at the Tokyo Motor Show with the reveal of the e-Evolution concept.

The pure-electric, four-wheel drive SUV coupé is billed by Mitsubishi as a “technology concept” car, previewing future electric powertrain technology and the ability to reach Level 4 autonomy, which allows the driver to have their ‘mind-off’.

Mitsubishi executive vice president Mitsuhiko Yamashita described at its Tokyo unveiling as a “new evolution of the SUV” that proposes “a new direction for Mitsubishi Motors”.

It has the dramatic angular styling of recent Mitsubishi concepts but is less rugged in its execution.

The concept is at the sportier end of the Mitsubishi range and will be the brand’s flagship model if it reaches production, although there is no indication it will do so.

Instead, Mitsubishi is prioritising the launch of six new models and five facelifted ones of the next three years, typically more SUVs, all-wheel drive and electrified models, as part of a recovery plan aimed at boosting sales volumes and revenues by 30%, and harnessing the economies of scale that being part of the Renault-Nissan Alliance can bring.

It’s the technology of the car that previews production intent, and shows the way for Mitsubishi to create a fully electric SUV in its next generation of models beyond 2020.

Three motors power the mid-sized SUV – one at the front and two at the rear – with the two rear ones enabling active yaw control. It uses Mitsubishi’s S-AWC all-wheel drive system, meaning Super All Wheel Control, for permanent four-wheel drive.

Traction control akin to that seen on current SUVs confirms that the concept is also geared towards off-road driving, and has separate settings for snowy and sandy conditions. Indeed, Mitsubishi has made a link to the past Evo models in a video of the car conquering rally-style terrain and trails.

Mitsubishi Evo axed to usher in successor

Inside, the technology laden e-Evolution uses both augmented reality, to feed information to the driver more efficiently, and artificial intelligence, to underpin the car’s autonomous capability. Yamashita said the interior showed a future direction Mitsubishi could head in.

The model imagines a future Evo as an SUV despite the model’s history as a road-going version of its rallying sports saloon. It was last sold in this form in 2015, but none of the 1000 Final edition cars made it to the UK.

During the late 1990s Mitsubishi briefly produced a Pajero Evolution SUV in order to homologate cars for competitive use in a category of the Dakar Rally.