From Wired

Next Mitsubishi Evo May Be Diesel Hybrid

By Chuck Squatriglia June 14, 2010 12:00 pm




Mitsubishi is talking about developing a diesel hybrid drivetrain and installing it in — get this — the next-gen Evo.

We already knew Mitsu was considering giving the Evolution XI a hybrid or even plug-in hybrid drivetrain based on the system in the Concept PX-MiEV. That project was axed last month, according to Autocar, and the engineers are headed in a diesel direction.

Autocar doesn’t cite any sources but says engineers hope the torque of a diesel combined with the torque of an electric motor will allow the Evo XI to do zero to 100 km/hr in less than 5 seconds while cutting CO2 emissions to less than 200 grams/kilometer.

The drivetrain in the Concept PX-MiEV features a pair of 81-horsepower electric motors driving the front and rear wheels. A conventional 1.6-liter gasoline engine producing 114 horsepower provides additional power to the front wheels, and it also serves as a generator for the lithium-ion battery. The system is good for 117 mpg when running gasoline; a diesel engine would probably increase that if Mitsu were to adapt the system to a diesel hybrid configuration.

A diesel-electric drivetrain is an interesting idea, but as Autocar notes, it could be risky. Such a car might be ruled ineligible to compete by various motorsports sanctioning bodies, and could undermine sales because diesels aren’t at all popular in the United States.

Photo of the 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution: Mitsubishi