1995 Mitsubishi 3000gt on 2040-cars

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Automakers want to stop the EPA's fuel economy rules change, and why that's a shortsighted move

With a Trump Administration looming, the EPA moved quickly after the election to propose finalizing future fuel economy rules last week. The auto industry doesn't like that (surprise), and has started making moves to stop the EPA. Ford CEO Mark Fields said he wanted to lobby Trump to lower the standards, and now the Auto Alliance, a manufacturer group, is saying it will join the fight against cleaner cars. The Alliance represents 12 automakers: BMW, Fiat Chrysler, Ford, GM, Jaguar Land Rover, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Porsche, Toyota, VW, and Volvo. Gloria Bergquist, a spokesperson for the Alliance, told Automotive News that the "EPA's sudden and controversial move to propose auto regulations eight months early - even after Congress warned agencies about taking such steps while political appointees were packing their bags - calls out for congressional action to pause this rulemaking until a thoughtful policy review can occur." The EPA was going to consider public comments through April 2017, but then said it would move the deadline to the end of December. That means that it can finalize the rules before President Obama leaves office. The director of public affairs for the Consumer Federation of America, Jack Gillis, said on a conference call with reporters last week when the EPA originally announced its decision that it is unlikely that President Trump will be able to roll back these changes. Gillis also said on the same call that any attempt by the automakers to prevent these changes would be history repeating itself. "These are the same companies that fought airbags, and now promoting the fact that every car has multiple airbags," he said. "These are the same companies that fought the crash-test program, and now are promoting the crash-test ratings published by the government. So, it's clear that they're misperceiving the needs of the American consumer." There are more reasons the Allliance's pushback is flawed. Carol Lee Rawn, the transportation program director for Ceres, said on that call that the automotive industry is a global one, and many automakers are moving to global platforms to help them meet strict fuel economy rules around the world.

Mitsubishi launches, prices 2018 Outlander PHEV for U.S.

We've been waiting on this one a long time. Mitsubishi has been selling the plug-in hybrid version of its Outlander crossover for a while now, just not here in the U.S. It has seen popularity overseas, though, and is Europe's best-selling plug-in hybrid. It surpassed the 100,000 sales mark back in early 2016, thanks to Europe and Japan. Now, Mitsubishi is looking to electrify our shores, and will bring the all-new Outlander PHEV to the U.S. by the end of the year. The Outlander PHEV is powered by a 2.0-liter engine and two 60-kW electric motors, one situated at each axle, for a total estimated output of 195 horsepower. That makes it all-wheel-drive as well, using Mitsubishi's Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC) system borrowed from the Lancer Evolution, and it has already proven itself in off-road competition. A 300-volt, 12-kWh lithium-ion battery pack is located in the subfloor between the front and rear axles. It can be charged via plug (including DC fast-charging capability), or via the car's regenerative braking system (adjustable using paddle shifters). The vehicle features three different, automatically selected drive modes. EV Drive Mode makes use of the electric motors for all-electric driving. Parallel Hybrid Mode uses the gas engine to drive the front wheels, and provides added power from the electric motors as necessary (mainly at high speeds, where this mode is the most efficient). Series Hybrid Mode uses the gasoline engine as a generator to charge the battery and provide power to the electric motors, which are doing the propulsion work. There are also three driver-selected modes. Eco Mode reduces fuel and electricity consumption. Battery Save Mode conserves charge, operating in hybrid mode. Battery Charge Mode keeps the engine running to generate electricity and recharge the battery pack to make sure you'll have power for driving uphill or towing, for instance. EV driving range and fuel economy figures will be released soon, but Mitsubishi says it expects to exceed the premium competition (which offer about 14 miles of EV range). The Outlander PHEV is also big on technology. It offers a suite of safety systems, including blind spot and lane departure warnings, multi-view camera, adaptive cruise control, auto high beams, and forward collision mitigation. The vehicle offers a smartphone app that allows the owner to remotely control the charging schedule, climate control, lighting, vehicle settings, and monitor vehicle status.

2014 Pikes Peak Hill Climb: Final Practice Day 4 and pre-race notes

The running order has been established for the 92nd running of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb for all classes and everyone's had all the practice they're going to get. On Sunday, June 29, the 14,110-foot-high mountain will ask each of them, "Who wants some?" Unlike previous years, while the bikes will run according to class, the cars will run according to their qualifying times set on the bottom section of the course, regardless of division, the fastest guys going first.
That puts Romain Dumas at the head of the 67 car entries, having set a time of 3:37.525 in his Norma M20 RD in the Unlimited Class, but the next Unlimited entry doesn't appear until sixth, Piero Nappi in his Picchio P4 pp with a time of 4:03.357. In between them, the two Mitsubishi MiEV Evolution IIIs start second and third in the Electric Modified class, that first one driven by Greg Tracy 11 seconds behind Dumas. Then comes Monster Tajima is his E-Runner Pikes Peak Special, then Paul Dallenbach leading the Open Wheel class, four positions ahead of the next Open Wheel competitor.
Leaders in the other classes: Michael Skeen driving a Nissan GT-R in the Open class in seventh, 12 positions ahead of the next class entrant; Jeff Zwart in eighth, driving a Porsche 911, will be the first in Time Attack 1, his competition starting right behind him; Robert Prillka in 21st is the first Time Attack 2 entry in a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, three positions ahead of the next entry; in 23rd is Christopher Lennon in his 1973 Porsche 911 in the Vintage class, the next Vintage entry in 37th; the first Exhibition entrant is Donald Huffman in a Radical RXC in 50th, four positions ahead of the next in-class competition; and representing for Electric Production is Roy Richards in a Honda Fit EV.