Mitsubishi Px-MiEV Plug-in Hybrid Coming In 2013

Mitsubishi will launch a plug-in hybrid crossover in 2013, the Japanese carmaker says, inspired by last year's Px-MiEV SUV hybrid concept.

Speaking at the LA Auto Show, Mitsubishi's boss of electric vehicle development Yoshikazu Nakamura said that the new production model is in advanced development, with a view to a global rollout.

"This is not only for customers in developed countries like Japan, the United States," Nakamura told industry paper Automotive News. "The next target might be China or other developing countries like Brazil or India."

He added that while the i-MiEV electric vehicle's need for recharging infrastructure ruled it out for use in developing nations, a plug-in hybrid with a petrol engine would be ideal.

Powered by a 1.6 litre four-cylinder petrol engine mated to an electric motor on each axle, the PX-MiEV concept can travel up to 50km on electric power alone before switching to a petrol-electric mode.