Although we’ve been expecting Mitsubishi to bring a gasoline-powered version of its i microcar to North America, company spokesmen have confirmed that no decision has been reached on a small Mitsubishi for the U.S. We’ve been told that the Japanese automaker is still debating whether it wants to keep the i’s unique shape strictly for the electric i-MiEV, which is scheduled to arrive here in late 2011. This would be similar to what Toyota has done with the hybrid-only Prius, associating its silhouette with eco-friendliness. Should Mitsubishi decide not to offer a gas i here, it would most likely bring a version of the small car that will replace the Colt, based on its upcoming “global small” platform.
While we can understand why Mitsubishi would want to save the i shape just for electrified vehicles, the company needs something—anything—to create brand awareness, and having multiple variants of the i on the road could only help.
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