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Mitsubishi's electric i-MiEV: Not cheap, but it's fun

I drove the all-electric Mitsubishi i-MiEV for a few days. It has the usual electric-car limitations, including its battery range and a relatively high price, even if it is currently the least-expensive in the country. But I was surprised to find that it was a lot of fun to drive. Read all about it at Sympatico Autos by clicking here.

Mitsubishi RVR: He said, she said ...

My husband and I had a difference of opinion on the Mitsubishi RVR, and so I wrote that into my story. Here's why you shouldn't buy a car based solely on what reviewers think of it - find out more by clicking here.

(For any American readers, this is the vehicle you know as the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport.)

In review: 2011 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder GT-P

On Canadian Driver, I have a look at the 2011 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder -- rain and all, naturally, since it's a ragtop -- which you can find by clicking here.

In review: Mitsubishi's 2011 Eclipse Spyder

In Metro, I have a short review of the 2011 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder; you can find it by clicking here. 

More on the 2010 Mitsubishi Outlander ...

I have another look at the 2010 Mitsubishi Outlander, this time on Canadian Driver; you can find it by clicking here. 

Three degrees of separation ...

The press kit for the 2010 Mitsubishi Outlander says that the new seat fabric's "surface texture is reminsicent of Alcantara with a premium feel."

In other words, a Mitsubishi seat is supposed to be like Alcantara, which is supposed to be like suede ...

In review: 2010 Mitsubishi Outlander

In the Toronto Star, I have a review of the 2010 Mitsubishi Outlander; you can find it by clicking here. 

An ad campaign we'll never see in North America ...

Mitsubishi Motors is introducing a new compact pickup truck in the United Kingdom, which features more load length and extra power.

The advertising campaign? The company plans to run it under the banner, "What would you do with an extra seven inches and bit more poke?"

Year-end wrap-up: My best and worst cars

  Each year, the Toronto Star asks its automotive writers to pick the best and worst cars driven during the year. My choices for 2008 can be found by clicking here.

Up today: Malibu Hybrid, Galant Ralliart, and Quit Being Polite

I have three stories in today's Toronto Star. There's a review of the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid, found here; the 2009 Mitsubishi Galant Ralliart, available here; and an opinion piece on why being polite on the road isn't always safe, found by clicking here.

In review: Mitsubishi Galant Ralliart

  On today's Canadian Driver, I have a review of the 2009 Mitsubishi Galant Ralliart. You can find it by clicking here.

In review: Mitsubishi Eclipse and Ford Flex

  On today's Canadian Driver, I have a not-so-glowing review of the Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder; you can find it by clicking here.

I also have a road-trip story about the Ford Flex, available here.

A busy day in the paper today ...

I have three stories in today's Toronto Star newspaper.

The cover story, on upcoming old-car shows, can be found here. My thanks to photographer Richard Spiegelman who had a 1957 Chevrolet picture -- I couldn't find one anywhere in my files.

Earlier, I'd written a rant here on airbag safety, which I massaged and turned into an opinion piece. It's in the paper here.

And finally, I have a review of the Mitsubishi Lancer, which you can access by clicking here.

Small is beautiful!

No, it's not a Smart. This is a Mitsubishi i Car, and -- keep your fingers crossed -- it just might be coming to North America.

It's been on sale in Japan since 2006, and last summer, Mitsubishi brought one over to Canada and let me drive it for a few days. I took it to a cruise night where, as you can see, it proved immensely popular with the spectators. (I also had great fun with its right-hand-drive configuration in a left-hand-drive world.)

The company has announced that it will bring three i Cars to the New York International Auto Show, which starts up in a few days, including this gasoline-powered version, and an electric one that can recharge overnight on a regular household outlet or power up with a quick-charge when necessary.

Either way, it'll be great if we can get more mini-cars into the transportation mix, especially in urban environments. Unlike the Smart, the i Car holds four people (surprisingly well, given its tiny footprint), which will make it accessible to those who need more than a two-seater. This is how sustainable transportation works: not just with giant leaps, but with little steps that bring us closer to fitting each driver with the car to suit his or her needs.