Tokyo, 12 July 2000: Mitsubishi Motors Corporation announces that it will be an exhibitor at the Exhibition of Dream Technologies for the 21st Century(*1) sponsored by the Nihon Keizai Shimbun Inc., to be held from Friday 21 July through Sunday 6 August at the "Tokyo Big Sight" Tokyo International Exhibition Center.

(*1 Over one hundred exhibitors, including national research institutions and universities, private sector corporations and local authority bodies, will present the fruits of their scientific and technology research and development in five fields expected to figure prominently in the next century: Environmental Conservation; Information & Communications; Life Sciences; Space & Oceanic Development; and Foundation of Life.)

The aim of the exhibition is to offer families the opportunity to experience during the summer holidays the way science and technology interact with our daily lives. In line with this, MMC will be putting on a computer-graphic animated cartoon presentation that introduces some of the company's advanced environmental technology already featured in its vehicles, as well as some technology in the pipeline that promises great things for the future. The animated cartoon has been produced to make things easy to understand for the younger generation, and particularly for the primary and secondary school pupils who are expected to attend in large numbers, that is destined to play a leading role in the 21st century

The MMC animated cartoon depicts a day in the life of a family on its summer holiday sometime in the 21st century. The family is shown driving their Mitsubishi Habimo fuel-cell electric vehicle from their home in the suburbs through the city and down to the coast. On the way, "Heart" the dog and "Beat" the cat help the family learn about cars for the future and about current day environmental issues. The workings of the fuel-cell electric vehicle and MMC's own eco-friendly GDI (gasoline direct injection) engine are also explained in an easy-to-understand way.

MMC hopes that the exhibition will impress on the young people on whose shoulders the next generation rests, the importance of science and technology, and help to understand and thereby kick-start their creativity for the 21st century.

MMC stand		Cartoon characters Heart and Beat act guide the family to the auto society of the future

MMC exhibits

1. MFCV - Mitsubishi Fuel Cell Vehicle
   The MFCV is powered by an extremely clean miniature power generating plant - the fuel-cell which uses the oxygen-hydrogen reaction to produce power. Comprising a small reformer that reforms methanol at low temperatures with Mitsubishi's own catalyst technology and a high-efficiency fuel cell also developed by Mitsubishi, the compact system fits under the floor of a small car. The MFCV proposes an attractive new type of clean-energy vehicle, and the company is currently working towards the practical application of this technology.
   
   
2. MEEV-II - Mitsubishi Eco Electric Vehicle
   Ideal for getting around town, out shopping or on business, MEEV-II is an electric micro-car that measures just 2,600mm long and emits zero emissions and very little noise. This type of vehicle is expected to ease environment and energy related problems, congestion in towns and cities and to accommodate the needs of the aging society
   
   
3. FTO-EV
   Until last year, the 24-hour distance record for an EV, with multiple recharging stops, was 1,700 km. Using advanced manganese lithium-ion batteries, a Mitsubishi FTO-EV prototype completed a total distance of 2,142.3 km in the 24 hours between 8am 19 December and 8am 20 December 1999. This has been officially recognized as a world record by the Guinness Book of Records. Enabling the car to cover 150 km on a single 20-minute charge, MMC's advanced technology helped the FTO-EV to become the first EV to cover over 2,000 km in 24 hours.
   
   
4. SUW advance (ultra-low consumption HEV concept car)
   The inherent properties of MMC's high-efficiency GDI engine reduces the vehicle's dependency on the electric motor to enable the use of smaller batteries and motor. Exhaustive weight reduction and improved recyclability are some of the other eco-friendly features distinguishing this 5-seater hybrid electric vehicle concept car that returns ultra-low fuel consumption.
   
   
5. GDI SIGMA powertrain series
   On display are the GDI engine and the powertrain systems that exploit the synergies resulting from the marriage of this revolutionary eco-engine with various peripheral components.

GDI + CVT	GDI engine with continuously variable transmission powertrain returns superior fuel consumption and delivers silky-smooth response. Powers the Lancer Cedia launched in May this year.
GDI + Turbo	Inherent properties of GDI engine solve drawbacks of conventional supercharged engines to deliver lag-free response and return superior fuel consumption. Powers the Pajero iO 5-door Turbo launched in July this year.
GDI + ASG	GDI engine incorporates Automatic Stop & Go system that operates seamlessly to reduce urban fuel consumption. Powers the Pistachio launched in December 1999.
GDI + HEV	Compact hybrid EV system marries GDI engine and electric motor to deliver super-efficient power generation and performance.