Mitsubishi Concept Teases Future Design, Autonomous Systems

Mitsubishi Motors Corp. says its eX concept electric vehicle previews the company's new "dynamic shield" styling that will be used throughout the carmaker's lineup. The concept, which will be publicly unveiled later this month at the Tokyo auto show, also features several autonomous-driving technologies that Mitsubishi plans to introduce by about 2020.

A low-slung compact crossover, the eX sports an angular design, trapezoid-shaped grille, swept-back headlights and lower lighting clusters that integrate the daytime running lights and fog lights. Boomerang-shaped taillights stretch from the car's beltline down into the bumpers, mimicking the design used for the new Pajero Sport SUV.

Tech features include several driver-assist systems, including lane-keeping and automated lane-changing capability, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot detection, rear and front cross traffic alerts, and automatic pre-crash braking. There also is a valet parking function that Mitsubishi says allows the car to find available spots and park itself. The carmaker hopes to begin offering select autonomous systems on production vehicles by about 2020.

The concept car's next-generation electric drivetrain includes a 45-kWh lithium-ion battery and a pair of 70-kW motors that provide full-time all-wheel drive. Driving range is listed at 250 miles, which doubles that of current Mitsubishi EVs.