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Mitsubishi Eclipse EV circuits Shikoku in 780 km public test run Tops 400km on single battery charge
A Mitsubishi Eclipse EV prototype successfully drove around the perimeter of Shikoku in a test run conducted, wîth the cooperation of Japan Storage Battery Co. Ltd., over public roads Saturday August 25 through Sunday August 26.The Mitsubishi Eclipse EV prototype was driven by a lightweight motor made by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and powered by manganese lithium-ion batteries made by Japan Storage Battery Co., Ltd. Watched by more than 300 EV enthusiasts who had gathered for the 'Shikoku EV Rally Festival 2001 Konpira' at the Kotohira Ikoi-no-sato Koen park, the Eclipse EV set off at 11:30am on Saturday August 25. It returned to park and crossed the finishing line 25 hours 4 minutes later at 12:34pm on Sunday August 26, having covered 780km over both normal roads and expressways on its circuit of the island.
The test run over public roads in Shikoku was held to coincide wîth the Shikoku EV Rally Festival 2001Konpira, organized by scientists at universities in Shikoku, wîth the purpose of demonstrating the increased cruising range per charge of the batteries and the enhanced practical utility of electrically powered vehicles. En route, the Eclipse EV broke the 400km mark for a single charge at Saga-machi, Hata-gun, Kochi Prefecture in three and a half hours on a single charge.
Working wîth Japan Storage Battery Co., Ltd., in 1999 MMC developed a new manganese lithium-ion battery that realized a 65-percent reduction in charging time, and a 10-percent increase in cruising range over a nickel-hydrogen battery. In December of the same year, a Mitsubishi FTO-EV prototype powered by the new batteries set a multiple-charge 24-hour world record of 2,142.3km over a closed circuit.
In this public road testing program that included moving off, braking, acceleration and deceleration performance, the newly developed Eclipse EV has confirmed the validity and applicability of MMC's EV technology in a way that could not be done in closed circuit testing.
Improving the basic performance of EVs and the high-performance batteries and lightweight motors that power them is a vital element in the further development of hybrid EVs and of the fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) that holds much promise as a future technology. MMC will feed back the results of the public road testing program in Shikoku into its product development.Source - Mitsubishi
The Mitsubishi Eclipse was introduced in 1989 and has remained in production in the modern era. The name 'Eclipse' came from a eighteenth century English racing horse which won 26 races. Since its inception, it has been redesigned on a number of occasions, and there has been four distinct generations. The first two generations were very similar and shared many mechanical components and design features. The third generation was a redesigned vehicle sitting a top a new platform.
There were four trim levels available for the first generation Mitsubishi Eclipse. The top-of-the line trim level was an all wheel drive version; the others were front-wheel drive. Both were available with the optional turbocharged engine. The trim levels included the base, GS, GS-T, and GSX. The base engine was a 1.8-liter 8-valve SOHC engine that produced just under 100 horsepower. The GS with DOHC was a 2-liter engine that raised horsepower to 136. The turbocharged version had over 180 horsepower.
Attached to the engine were a five-speed manual gearbox as standard equipment. A four-speed automatic was available for an additional cost. The AWD models included a limited-slip center differential and output shaft for a transfer case that was different than the FWD versions.
The second generation of the Eclipse began production in 1995 and continued into 1999. A Spyder version was now available, which offered convertible driving. Horsepower on all engines improved; the base 2.0-liter engine produced 140 horsepower. The 2.4-liter engine produced 141 and the 2.0-liter engine with turbocharger produced 210 horsepower.
There were now seven trim levels available including the RS, GS, GS Spyder, GS-T, GS-T Spyder and GSX.
In 1997 the model was giving aesthetic improvements. The front grille was updated, the headlights reshaped, and the driving lights became smaller and round. The reverse lights were moved away from their central position.
Built along side of the Eclipse was the Eagle Talon which was produced until 1989 when Eagle went out of business. The Talon was available in Base, ESi, TSi, and TSi AWD. Minor styling changes between the Talon and the Eclipse segregated these two vehicles.
The third generation of the eclipse appeared in 2000 and remained in production until 2005. It was a drastic styling change from its pior-self, with styling cues borrowed from the Mitsubishi SST design study which had debuted at the 1998 North American International Auto Show.
The Eclipse now shared a platform with the 8th generation Galant. Weight and size increased, and so did the engines displacement size. The base engine was a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that produced 140 horsepower. The 3.0-liter V6 engine raised horsepower to the tune of 200 horsepower.
The GTS trim was introduced in 2003. It had a 10:1 compression ratio and an improved Variable Induction Management air intake system that raised horsepower by 10.
The fourth generation of the Eclipse was shown at the 2005 Detroit Auto Show. The big news was the 3.8-liter V6 engine that raised horsepower to 263. The base 2.4-liter engine is rated at 165 horsepower. There is only one drive type available - front wheel drive. The Spyder version was released for 2007 at the North American International Auto Show.
By Daniel Vaughan | Jul 2007
For more information and related vehicles, click hereThere were four trim levels available for the first generation Mitsubishi Eclipse. The top-of-the line trim level was an all wheel drive version; the others were front-wheel drive. Both were available with the optional turbocharged engine. The trim levels included the base, GS, GS-T, and GSX. The base engine was a 1.8-liter 8-valve SOHC engine that produced just under 100 horsepower. The GS with DOHC was a 2-liter engine that raised horsepower to 136. The turbocharged version had over 180 horsepower.
Attached to the engine were a five-speed manual gearbox as standard equipment. A four-speed automatic was available for an additional cost. The AWD models included a limited-slip center differential and output shaft for a transfer case that was different than the FWD versions.
The second generation of the Eclipse began production in 1995 and continued into 1999. A Spyder version was now available, which offered convertible driving. Horsepower on all engines improved; the base 2.0-liter engine produced 140 horsepower. The 2.4-liter engine produced 141 and the 2.0-liter engine with turbocharger produced 210 horsepower.
There were now seven trim levels available including the RS, GS, GS Spyder, GS-T, GS-T Spyder and GSX.
In 1997 the model was giving aesthetic improvements. The front grille was updated, the headlights reshaped, and the driving lights became smaller and round. The reverse lights were moved away from their central position.
Built along side of the Eclipse was the Eagle Talon which was produced until 1989 when Eagle went out of business. The Talon was available in Base, ESi, TSi, and TSi AWD. Minor styling changes between the Talon and the Eclipse segregated these two vehicles.
The third generation of the eclipse appeared in 2000 and remained in production until 2005. It was a drastic styling change from its pior-self, with styling cues borrowed from the Mitsubishi SST design study which had debuted at the 1998 North American International Auto Show.
The Eclipse now shared a platform with the 8th generation Galant. Weight and size increased, and so did the engines displacement size. The base engine was a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that produced 140 horsepower. The 3.0-liter V6 engine raised horsepower to the tune of 200 horsepower.
The GTS trim was introduced in 2003. It had a 10:1 compression ratio and an improved Variable Induction Management air intake system that raised horsepower by 10.
The fourth generation of the Eclipse was shown at the 2005 Detroit Auto Show. The big news was the 3.8-liter V6 engine that raised horsepower to 263. The base 2.4-liter engine is rated at 165 horsepower. There is only one drive type available - front wheel drive. The Spyder version was released for 2007 at the North American International Auto Show.
By Daniel Vaughan | Jul 2007
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| Porsche Debuts Plug-In Panamera At Auto Shanghai | |
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