Mitsubishi Motors Corp. took the dune buggy to a new level with its MI-Tech Concept, showcased last week at the Tokyo Motor Show.
The open-cockpit two-seater is a mixture of buggy and SUV, designed with no top or doors. But Mitsubishi last week put the emphasis on the concept's fuel flexibility.
MI-Tech is a plug-in hybrid, equipped with a lightweight drivetrain that employs a four-motor, four-wheel-drive layout. The hybrid system uses a compact turbine generator in place of the conventional gasoline engine generator, the company said.
Mitsubishi said the system can run on gasoline, diesel, kerosene or alcohol, allowing drivers to select which fuel to use depending on their region.
"This is an electrified SUV that fulfills the driver's desire," Mitsubishi Motors CEO Takao Kato said during the concept's debut. "It delivers a safe and confident driving experience from daily commute to holiday leisure.
"It delivers unparalleled driving pleasure."
Kato did not say whether the concept might go into production.
The configuration of dual motors on the front and rear axles adjusts the torque difference between the left and right wheels to provide optimum torque for each tire, the company said.
MI-Tech also features the driving support technology MI-Pilot, which warns of potential danger such as a collision, as well as an augmented reality windshield that projects real-time information for the driver.
