Kiwis love test driving the iMiEV [w/VIDEOS]
Click above and scroll down to watch the video
Things you'll find in the videos (pasted after the jump) of everyday New Zealanders test driving the Mitsubishi iMiEV: astonishment at the silent motor, a joke about the horn "sounding like an electric car," another joke about putting a huge exhaust pipe under the back, just to mess with people and someone not getting anxious about the exhaust generated at a stoplight. "I'm just enjoying the guilt-free," says driver #1, Laurie Foon. Overall, the (assumed) natural responses to people testing this all-electric city car in the videos posted by MitsubishiMotorsNZ shows that the company should have a hit on their hands if they can just deliver what the car promises.
Tipster Yanquetino said that he "found that this particular 'soccer Mom's' reaction to the iMiEV was more informative than a lot of the 'official' propaganda we see on the internet. Nothing like spontaneous, unrehearsed reactions, if you ask me." He added: "I now want an iMiEV more than ever."
Thanks to Yanquetino for the tip! You can give us your own reactions after checking the clips out. We've pasted all six after the jump.
Gallery: i-MiEV in HD
[Source: YouTube]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Throwback 9:51AM (3/23/2009)
I'm sure all the responses where positive. If there where negative ones Mistsu would have shown those too, right?
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jpm 2:43PM (3/23/2009)
try not to be cynical. how could anyone not like an EV? Unless you're the kind of jackass that needs a 5 ton SUV to do around town driving or commuting.
Herm 10:02AM (3/23/2009)
Laurie Foon.. she gets anxious about the exhaust! lol, she is so cute. She will get hit hard by range anxiety.
This is the perfect 2nd vehicle for a family, no maintenance and never have to stop at a gas station and get assaulted.
It looks quite roomy and comfortable. It will sell well if the price is right.
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polo 1:37PM (3/23/2009)
*yawn*
"Range anxiety" will last approximately 2 days with an EV with that kind of range. For the vast majority of the population who stays within a 40-mile zone of their residence for 85% of the year, this will be just fine. And its more likely families and individuals will use this as their only car.
Gav 3:10AM (3/25/2009)
You'll probably find most people would use it as a first vehicle, and a gas car (for long distances only) would be the second vehicle.
It's a shame it was never demonstrated in New Plymouth, I'd have loved to take it for a spin.
Eddy 4:42PM (3/23/2009)
Very nice, although not new to me. I have been driving my converted car for 2 1/2 years. At first I had the same reactions: wow! no noise, etc. So far I have NOT purchased over 1000 gallons of gas. I'm glad that the auto industry is finally gearing up to produce the cars many, many of us want and need to drive. Good show Kiwis!
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WantElectricNow 4:02PM (3/23/2009)
You mean Good Show Japanese? :-)
I bet they are just testing in a small market like New Zealand ( and at home in Japan) before going big in North America and Europe
Eddy 8:30PM (3/23/2009)
As painful as it is to accept that the Japanese won in the auto industry (i.e. how long can we have GM in artificial life?) now we need to win on the energy independence front. You are right, here come the Japanese with their EVs; I will continue driving my converted Chevy S10 and Saturn SL, both 100% EVs.
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Ben 12:46AM (3/24/2009)
It makes me sad that the US will be getting a "pigged out" version of this i-MiEV because what works in New Zeeland is deemed too small for so called resource devouring Americans who would die without supersized seating and other luxuries the rest of the world really doesn't demand. Still, even a pigged out electric version of the i-MiEV should be a great car to have.
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Gav 3:39AM (3/25/2009)
After watching all the vids it's a pity they didn't pick at least one technical person to ask some decent questions. The "general population" opinion was important but I want to know the tech specs! Battery life, savings compared to a gas car, electricity usage, economy (kw/h per km) etc.
Even though they've used rule number one (All EVs must look odd) I'd still buy one if they're within my price range when they come out. I mean it!
73% of NZ's electricity is completely renewable so come on Mitsubishi, let us kiwis be among the first to go electric!
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