The Mondays 011: Future Clarity

Better late than never.

Lightning in a Bottle

HT: Jeff Holland

California-based ElectricGT, perhaps best known for converting a Magnum PI-style Ferrari 308 into an EV, is introducing an electric crate motor. And it’s actually a motor, too, since it’s not an engine. Hooray #pedanticnovelty

Included is pretty much everything needed to convert your project vehicle to fully electric. (Batteries not included, of course.) In other words, this is a proper electric powerplant, complete with motor, controllers, and all that jazz, ready to bolt up to a wide variety of manual transmissions.

The juice is loose.

That Ferrari, by the way, went from making mid-200hp from a sub-3-liter V8 to making more than 500hp on clean, quiet battery power. Spare us the repeatedly-proven-false nonsense about how EVs are bigger polluters once manufacturing is considered. This thing cool, and we’re going to see more of this type of swap as time goes on.

Time to get our collective heads out of the sand.

MI-TECH: Remember when Mitsubishi dominated WRC?

From the MI-TECH press release. I’m just gonna put this here.

“‘We are dedicated to electrification technology, particularly plug-in hybrids (PHEVs),’ [Takao] Kato [MMC CEO] said. ‘We will be expanding our lineup of electrified vehicles by delivering more variations and leveraging the diverse electrification technology in the alliance to make MMC the leader in the PHEV category going forward.’”

And this, too:

“MMC took pride to apply its S-AWC Integrated Vehicle Dynamics Control System to a Quad Motor 4WD System with front and rear Dual-Motor Active Yaw Control (AYC) units. Making the brake calipers electric has also allowed for high response, high accuracy control of drive and braking force of the four wheels while delivering a drastic improvement in turning and traction performance. When driving off-road and two wheels are spinning out, the ability to transmit the optimal driving force to all four wheels makes it possible to transmit force to the two wheels still on the ground and keep driving. MMC has thus delivered a safe, exhilarating driving experience in which the driver feels with the vehicle in all conditions, either in daily driving or when traversing rough roads, while also allowing for thrilling new driving experiences such as 180-degree spins by counter-rotating the left and right tires.

Brian says, “I told you so.”

For many of us, the 1990s were the heyday of Mitsubishi Motors—back when Tommi was giving Colin, Richard, and Carlos headaches on the special stages. But the 20 years of turbocharged, all-wheel drive street car performance that followed was 100% borne out of MMC’s desire to go all in and become a leader with those platforms.

Today, the writing’s on the wall. Mitsubishi is an environmentally conscious global player with its eyes set on dominating the PHEV and, perhaps, electric 4WD markets. Say what you will about the Mirage, Outlander, Outlander Sport, and Eclipse Cross—Mitsubishi is the brand to watch. #ichimaiiwa

Our favorite part of the 2019 Rebelle Rally

The 2019 Rebelle Rally has come to an end. Trophies have been awarded. Teams have disbanded and returned home, no doubt taking more than a little sand with them. Ah, memories. We wanted to share the favorite memories we’re taking with us into next year.

Rebelle is the first women’s off-road navigation rally raid event in the United States. It’s a hard core, precision driving challenge in legitimately challenging environments—and the competitors are all women. We love that this is a serious event for serious gearheads.

Record the Journey entered a disabled veteran in the contest. They help veterans and their families get back to who they were before they answered their country’s call. USAF veteran Karah Behrend teamed up with 4-time Rebelle competitor Rachael Ridenour and took home 2nd place in the Crossover class.

Mitsubishi donated a 2019 Eclipse Cross to the effort. They sent the EC to OG Mitsubishi performance experts, Road Race Engineering, for a few upgrades. The Eclipse Cross might not be a DSM—and it might not be a Pajero, either—but lift it, mount some BFG ATs, and fit a bit of armor and it’s a pretty damn neat little machine.

Playing with cars is more than a game. Empowering people, changing lives, and involving a new Mitsubishi vehicle? You might say these are a few of our favorite things.

Small Batch. Big Impact. Ichimai Iwa.