Mitsubishi to unveil 2011 i-Miev at LA auto show

Sketches from Mitsubishi's global corporate site show a wider-bodied i-MiEV that could be what the carmaker will unveil at the 2010 LA Auto Show.

(Credit: Mitsubishi Motors via Autoblog)

Mitsubishi announced on Twitter that the U.S. version of its 2011 Mitsubishi i-MiEV will be unveiled at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show next month.

Could a wider version of the i-MiEV mean the four-seater will become a five-seater?

(Credit: Mitsubishi Motors via Autoblog)

Earlier today Autoblog posted online sketches it snagged from Mitsubishi's global corporate site of a wider-bodied i-MiEV. They're guessing that these drawings could be the beefed-up version of the compact EV that will enter the North American market next year.

The all-electric compact car that we've been seeing up to this point is the Japanese model that seats four and has a 100-mile range. The i-MiEV is expected to be upgraded for the North American market, though details on its new features have not been released. The wider body allows for better side-impact protection, such as stronger cross beams, letting it meet U.S. crash-protection regulations. The car is expected to sell for under $30,000--less than the $32,780 MSRP for the Nissan Leaf--before the $7,500 federal tax credit.

Source: Autoblog