Looks like Pug's designers had a much easier task than initially thought when we decided to 'chop' a Peugeot fascia on the Mitsubishi i-MiEV after the announcement on the introduction of the Peugeot and Citroen EVs based on the Japanese mini. In what seems like a five minute job, Peugeot slapped one of its logos on the i-MiEV, changed the alloy wheels and slightly altered the front bumper to accommodate Euro-plates and 'voila': the new Peugeot i0n...The French automaker, which claims to be the manufacturer with the most "zero emission" electric vehicles sold in the world to this day with models like the Peugeot 106 Electric that was produced between 1995 and 2003, will display the i0n for the first time at the Frankfurt Motor Show later this month..
The European-spec i-MiEV (let's not fool ourselves, that's what the i0n is) is motivated by an electric motor that drives the rear wheels producing an output of 47kW or 64HP and 180Nm or 132.8-lbs/ft of maximum torque that allows the 3,480 mm long mini to achieve a top speed of 130 km/h (80mph).
The four-seater EV has an operating range of 130 kilometers or 80 miles on a single charge of its lithium-ion batteries that can be fully recharged in six hours using a domestic mains power supply. If you use the fast charge system, the batteries can be recharged up to 80% capacity within thirty minutes.
Production of both the Citroen and Peugeot variants of the Mitsubishi i-MiEV will commence in October 2010 with sales pegged to start in Europe towards the end of 2010.
We remind you that the PSA Peugeot - Citroen Group has another ongoing project with Mitsubishi in the form of the Outlander based Peugeot 4007 and Citroen C-Crosser SUVs.
