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| - Plug-in electric technology proves itself in punishing rally three years in a row - |
TOKYO, Aug 19, 2015 - (JCN Newswire) - An Outlander PHEV plug-in hybrid electric four-wheel drive SUV, run by the Two & Four Motor Sports rally team with technical support from Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC), entered the FIA-certified Asia Cross Country Rally 2015 (AXCR) held in the northern part of Thailand, starting on August 8 and finishing on August 14. Driven by Takatsugu Aoki with co-driver Wuttichai Trithara, the team covered the 2,400-kilometer rally in 40 hours 1 minute and 51 seconds to take first place in the T1-3 electric vehicle class, and 20th place overall.
 | | Outlander PHEV Completes Asia Cross Country Rally 2015 |
The AXCR celebrated its 20th anniversary this year and the Outlander PHEV, having successfully finished this rally three years in a row proved again its outstanding levels of reliability, durability and all-terrain performance as well as the durability of the Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) powertrain even under severe road conditions.
Stage-by-stage Results
The Outlander PHEV began no difficulty on August 8, the first day of the event, and then set off in the ceremonial start held at the remains of Thailand's old capital Chiang Mai. The next day (August 9) in the first day of full competition it finished in 17th place overall after successfully forging several wide and deep rivers that marked the very difficult Leg 1 of the rally. On August 10 Leg 2 took competitors over the longest and most mountainous stage of the rally with many sharp changes in elevation. After suffering a broken windshield the Outlander PHEV was forced to miss out the latter half of the stage and dropped to 25th place overall. Leg 3 on August 11 saw competitors driving over relatively flat and dry roads and Outlander PHEV's electric motor-powered acceleration and its S-AWC integrated vehicle control system helped it to climb up to a 22nd place finish. On Leg 4 (August 12) and Leg 5 (August 13) the Outlander PHEV steadily improved its position. On the final stage Leg 6, August 14, Outlander PHEV posted the third fastest time over a relatively flat course taking competitors back to Chiang Mai and crossed the finish line in 20th place overall.
Rally Car Overview
The rally car is based on the production Outlander PHEV. Main components of the rally car's PHEV control systems were swapped out to production model parts in order to further promote MMC's EV and 4WD control technology development.
To this end the electric motors' output was enhanced, generator output raised, capacity of the drive battery increased. Changes made to the Twin Motor 4WD System which utilizes the S-AWC (Super All-wheel Control) Integrated Vehicle Dynamics Control System knowhow honed from the Lancer Evolution enhance traction performance.
In addition, the rally car takes full advantage of the performance provided by the higher-output PHEV system and Twin Motor 4WD System through a higher ground clearance and longer suspension stroke, the use of rally-spec high-profile tires and other modifications made to improve its off-road performance. These changes resulted in the 2015 Outlander PHEV completing the rally for the third year in a row.
A Word from Technical Director Yasuo Tanaka
Surface conditions were tougher than expected. However the rally car showed plenty of its performance. The motor, generator, battery and other EV components made it through the rally with no issues - proof of its reliability and durability. We will complete a much better rally car and we are aiming for a higher placing for the Baja Portalegre this fall.
Next up for the Outlander PHEV: Portugal's Baja Portalegre Rally
MMC will be entering a similar-specification Outlander PHEV rally car in the Baja Portalegre 500 cross-country rally due to be held in the Portalegre municipality in the eastern part of Portugal from October 22 through 24. The car will be driven by team captain Hiroshi Masuoka who posted successive victories in the Dakar Rally in 2002 and 2003. Technical support will be supplied by team manager and technical director Mr. Yasuo Tanaka from MMC's EV Component Research Department, including four engineers from the same department.
Entering these cross-country rallies held in such differing regions under such different punishing conditions found in Asia and Europe makes it possible to gather valuable data which will be fed back into the development of production cars.
Contact:
Public Relations Department
http://www.mitsubishi-motors.com
+81-3-6852-4275
Topic: Press release summary
Source: Mitsubishi Motors
Sectors: Automotive
http://www.acnnewswire.com
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