egmCarTech

Mitsubishi is considering giving its U.S. dealerships a gasoline version of its new i MiEV electric minicar. The Japanese automaker already has plans to import an electric-version of the car to the United States in approximately 18 months.

During a dealer and media preview of the i MiEV in California last week, Mitsubishi said that a gasoline version of the minicar would compete against the Smart ForTwo, reports Automotive News.

Mitsubishi sells a gasoline-powered version of the car, known as the i, in Japan and Europe with a small turbocharged 660cc gasoline engine.

If it comes to the U.S., the model will be replaced with a 1.0L 3-cylinder engine without turbocharging, according to John Koenig, executive vice president for operations at Mitsubishi Motors North America.

Koenig said that he estimates a sales plan of 1,000 units a month to be enough to get executives to approve a re-engineering of the minicar for the United States.

- By: Kap Shah

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