1999 Mitsubishi SUW Advance

The Mitsubishi SUW (Smart Utility Wagon) is a series of concept cars sharing a common design theme and was first exhibited by Japanese automaker Mitsubishi Motors at the 1999 Frankfurt and Tokyo Motor Shows. This five-passenger compact car boasts ultralow fuel consumption powered by a GDI-HEV hybrid fuel system using an in-line one of a trio of Mitsu "sport-utility wagon" concepts four-cylinder engine and a CVT transmission. To realize the vision of the world's motoring future, our engineers packed it with cutting-edge technologies focusing on ecological performance and sophisticated design elements. The result is a versatile, ultra-economical car with a distinctive worldwide appeal.

Source: www.thecarconnection.com

Image Source: Mitsubishi Motors Corporation

Mitsubishi SUW Advance concept vehicle was displayed at the 2000 Chicago Auto Show. Characterized by a soft-shape silhouette, wîth the cabin tapering at the rear and truncated overhangs wîth the wheels placed at the corners the exterior styling projected a reassuring look of stability. The cabin featured a people-friendly design, the instrumentation being shaped for maximum ease of use with displays located for maximum visibility and legibility. The five-passenger prototype came powered by a compact and economical hybrid system that combined a high-efficiency GDI engine, small-capacity motor-generator unit and lithium-ion batteries, mated to a CVT (continuously variable transmission). The driver could instruct the Voice Command System to operate various vehicular functions and provide navigation information.

www.chicagoautoshow.com