Mitsubishi i Deemed Greenest of the Green

QUINCY, MASS. (02/22/2012)(readMedia)-- The Mitsubishi i has been named the Greenest Vehicle of 2012 by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), ending an eight-year reign for the Honda Civic Natural Gas. Arriving at Massachusetts Mitsubishi dealerships in the early part of this year, the Mitsubishi i is the first electric car in 12 years to top the ACEEE's list of the most environmentally friendly vehicles.

The ACEEE's Greenest Vehicles list features those with the highest Green Score, which is calculated from factors like tailpipe emissions, fuel consumption and emissions of other gases that contribute to climate change. The Mitsubishi i earned a Green Score of 58, the highest score any vehicle has achieved since the ACEEE's initial Greenest Vehicles rankings were released in 1998.

"The Mitsubishi i was designed to be the ultimate electric vehicle in terms of miles-per-gallon equivalent and range," said Michael Luu, sales manager of Quincy, Massachusetts Mitsubishi dealer Quirk Mitsubishi. "While the Mitsubishi i topped all of its competition handily, another electric car, the Nissan Leaf, tied for second. That says something about the effectiveness of all-electric cars in the consumer market; they're here to stay."

This year, the ACEEE made improvements to its evaluation system to increase the accuracy of its emissions estimates. In addition to the careful consideration of tailpipe emissions, estimates for emissions resulting from the manufacturing process have improved, and updated natural-gas extraction processes were taken into account. After all areas were considered, the Mitsubishi i earned a score high enough to knock the Honda Civic Natural Gas into second place.

Powered by a 49-kW rear motor and 16-kWh lithium-ion battery, the Mitsubishi i is able to reach 112 combined MPGe and a top speed of 81 mph. Using regenerative braking, which recharges the vehicle's battery during deceleration, Mitsubishi's electric vehicle is able to achieve a range of up to 62 miles. In addition to its recent accolades from the ACEEE, the Mitsubishi i also took first-place honors in the EPA's Fuel Economy Guide for 2012.

While it is squarely in the spotlight, the Mitsubishi i wasn't the only vehicle from the automaker to excel in the ACEEE's latest vehicle rankings. Beating out vehicles like the Ford Escape, Jeep Compass and Jeep Patriot, the 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport topped the Compact SUV category on the 2012 Best Vehicles by Class list for manual-transmission configurations. The Outlander Sport earned its top ranking with a Green Score of 42.

Equipped with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, the 2012 Outlander Sport can achieve up to 31 mpg on the highway and 24 mpg in the city with a manual transmission. With seating for five and up to 49.5 cubic-feet of cargo space, Mitsubishi's versatile crossover is well equipped for fuel-conscious families.

"The Outlander Sport is the perfect size for owners who need room for things they carry on a daily basis, like sporting equipment or the family dog," added Luu. "It has the capability to handle whatever you might throw at it during the occasional road trip or long vacation, and it won't drain your wallet at the pump while doing so."

About Quirk Mitsubishi:

Quirk Mitsubishi, located minutes from downtown Boston, has been serving Massachusetts Mitsubishi owners in the region for more than 30 years. With dedicated, knowledgeable sales and service professionals, Quirk works to build lifelong relationships with its customers and save them money. To discover everything that Quirk Mitsubishi has to offer, visit them online at www.quirkmitsubishi.net, like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/QuirkMitsubishi, call 617-249-5847, or stop by their showroom at 99 McGrath Highway in Quincy, Massachusetts.