Since we first heard of the new Russian ride, in addition to the changes to the design, there's also been a slight change to the company's name. Rather than E-Go, it's now E'Go, which we suspect is pronounced like the delicious but terrible-for-you toaster heated waffles.

Since the car will ride atop a Mitsubishi 3000GT with a twin turbo V6 massaged to 550 HP, there are concessions to be made for engineering and fabrication, which necessitated the changes we see here; the rear fascia takes on an entirely different look and a large intake just behind the door for some reason. The whole effect is of a car more uniform in its design but nevertheless a completely strange endeavor.
[E'Go Motors (translated)]

(We're taking a step back from 500 HP Week to bring you a timely first drive of a new vehicle. Sorry, these damn automakers are always messing with our timelines. — Ed.)

No, you're not seeing things –- that's a Mitsubishi Lancer's snout tacked onto the nose of a seven-passenger truck. This is the 2010 Mitsubishi Outlander. Do not adjust your screen.

We know what you're thinking: That is one big nose job.

In the industry, this sort of thing is known as a mid-cycle face-lift, a planned rejuvenation that occurs roughly halfway through a vehicle's production life. In these face-lifts, cosmetic updates are usually paired with a handful of mechanical and electronic refinements; the goal is to give sales a small boost and retain interest in the model until its replacement is ready for sale.

But enough with the background. We mention all of the above only so we can tell you this: Rarely is a face-lift this extreme. In one fell swoop, the Outlander has made the jump from relative nonexistence to something else entirely, something both polarizing and compelling. (Go ahead: Try and remember what the 2005-2009 Outlander's nose looks like. Five bucks says you can't.) It's like John Travolta's shift in Pulp Fiction –- at some point during that dance with Uma Thurman, Vinnie Barbarino began to matter again. And somehow, by borrowing a face, Japan's most anonymous SUV became interesting.

Also, Mitsubishi gave it an updated interior, the aforementioned differential, and ten more horsepower. We have thoughts on all of this.

Exterior Design ☆☆☆☆

This is one of those things that's entirely up to taste. The last Outlander suffered from anodyne looks and a wallflower vibe that encouraged parking valets to mistake it for a turkey sandwich. The truck you see here is as extroverted as its predecessor was sleepy; the gaping hole in its maw is either a killer shout-out to the Evo's rally heritage or a tribute to the everlasting glory of the Mississippi River catfish. We like it, but we also like bourbon milkshakes and playing the music of John Philips Sousa very loudly at three o'clock in the morning. We acknowledge that such things are not for everyone. Your call.

Interior Design ☆☆☆

Excellent use of space. A mix of above-average and below-average materials. (On a recent press launch, a certain journalist accidentally scratched the bejesus out of an Outlander's dash by simply skittering his fingernails across it. Diamond-like fingernails, or an interior in need of slightly more attention to detail? You be the judge.)

The Outlander's interior has the same refreshing sparseness and black-coffee simplicity found in all current Mitsubishis; things are occasionally boomy over rough pavement, but the thin pillars and good visibility prompt you to throw the truck around in ways that you probably shouldn't. The thickly bolstered front seats may not suit the girthier folk of middle America, but they hold you remarkably well when dropping into seemingly bottomless off-camber turns with one wheel in the air. (Not that we would know.)

Performance ☆☆☆

Make no mistake: There's no Evo firecracker under the Outlander's hood. Mitsubishi's 230-hp, 3.0-liter V-6 lives in the GT's scowling snout, and while it's competent and smooth, it's by no means overly potent. As with the old Outlander, the standard 6-speed automatic — intuitive and quick to respond to a prod of the shifter or the column-mounted paddles — is the best part of the package. (Interesting question: Would we take an Evo drivetrain if it were available? Sure, even though it would probably send the Outlander's sticker price through the roof. But we doubt that anyone else would want one.)

Ride and Handling ☆☆☆☆

Handling is the Outlander's main party trick — it's blessed with decent steering feel and a suspension just sharp enough to be handy in the hills. The Super All-Wheel Control business is Japanese embroidery for the electronically controlled front differential; it shuffles torque between the front wheels when it senses wheelspin, but most people won't notice it in action. (The "Tarmac/Snow" setting on the console knob simply modifies how aggressively the system does its job.)

All told, the end result is something that sneaks up on you. The Outlander will hustle down a country road or blaze down a freeway with surprising speed, but it doesn't have any interest in throwing its talents in your face.

Toys and Tech ☆☆

Items of note: a 710-watt Rockford Fosgate stereo with a ten-inch subwoofer in the trunk; a sunroof; an optional navigation system. The stereo can store songs on its internal hard drive, and there are iPod and video jacks in the center console. Given the price point, this is a respectable, but not remarkable, amount of icing.

Value ☆☆☆

At $29,990, the Outlander GT is almost three grand more than the base Outlander ($27,130). Neither is a bargain, and both feel a bit too expensive for what they are. It's kind of like eating out in California if you're from the Midwest –- the food is generally pretty good, but you can't shake the feeling that there's a better deal just down the street.

Overall: 76%

A good SUV, but not a great one. That said, the GT is a more well-rounded truck than the base Outlander, and it's definitely worth paying a premium for. On top of that, the competition — specifically, the offerings from Nissan, Hyundai, and Ford – isn't anywhere near as much fun to drive. This is what you buy if you have to have a mid-size crossover and don't want to spend a lot or drive an appliance. It'd be nice if both this and the regular Outlander were a bit cheaper, but you can't have everything.

Suitability Parameters: Who Should Buy This?

● Tuner Crowd
● Soccer Moms
● Rally Freaks who breed

Suitability Parameters: Who Shouldn't Buy This?

● Penny Pinchers
● Speed Merchants
● Treehuggers
● People who think the Mercury Mariner handles just fine

Also Consider:

● Ford Escape
● Honda CR-V
● Mazda CX-7
● Nissan Rogue

Vitals:

Model Year: 2010
Make: Mitsubishi
Model: Outlander
Trim: GT
Price, Base/As Tested: $29,990/$29,990
Engine: 3.0-liter SOHC V-6
Horsepower & Torque: 230 hp @ 6250 rpm/215 lb-ft @ 3750 rpm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Curb Weight: 3860 pounds
0-to-60: 7.5 sec (est.)
Top Speed: n/a
Crash Testing, Front/Rear/Side: n/a
Fuel Economy (EPA): 18/24 mpg

Actually, the Arrow did all right for its time, certainly a more interesting car than most of the other vaguely sporty economy machines of the Middle Malaise Era. We wish more Arrows were on the street today, but most were crushed decades ago. Thanks to Joe Hardrock for the tip!

Before we go any further, let's make one thing clear: When I say "sideways," I mean sideways. What we have here is some unhinged, prescription-strength, industrial-grade madness. And the cars—bone-stock Evolution Xs—do it happily, and they ask (beg, plead, pray) for you to keep it up, and all four tires burn like the Cuyahoga while you dance the dance of a thousand rally stars. If you listen closely, you can hear Tommi Mäkinen laughing.

But I'm getting ahead of myself.

For the most part, one-day driving schools are not the stuff of legend. You show up, you take a class, you play on a skid pad, and you go home. This is not what happens at the one-day Evolution Experience. Mitsubishi Motors and Russell are well aware of the Evo X's strengths, and as such, the Evo school's curriculum was designed to highlight the car's killer chassis and all-wheel-drive system. Over the course of eight hours, you become intimately familiar with both the laws of physics and the Evo's staggeringly talented rear differential. You also spend most of your time leading with your taillights.

If the whole process sounds boring, then you're either the type of person who gets carsick in the parking lot at church or you have no soul. The school's exercises are spread across two large skid pads and all of Infineon Raceway's 2.5-mile track; the program is aimed at drivers of modest skill, but the ass-out exposure to one of the best all-wheel-drive production cars on the planet should be enough to draw more experienced 'shoes. As with most Russell programs, the emphasis is on tailored instruction and at-your-own-pace improvement; the school's instructors are happy to vary their teaching style based on student skill and need. Counterintuitive lessons abound—the Evo's unique all-wheel-drive system and active rear diff ensure that a lot of old-school techniques don't apply, and you can find yourself at minimum yaw if you try and go with your instincts. (A tip: Countersteer less, throw the car around more. And don't be afraid to throw it hard.)

All told, the Russell program isn't so much driving school as treatise on the Evo's genius—by showing ordinary folk the ins and outs of sliding a rally rocket on dry pavement, it merely reinforces the Lancer's formidable legend. At $1000 tuition, is it a bit too expensive for what you get? Probably. Is the whole production simply an elaborate advertisement for the most capable Mitsubishi ever built? Of course. Does that make it any less worthwhile? Not in the slightest.

The details: Jim Russell Racing Driver's School. Infineon Raceway, Sonoma, California. One thousand ($1000) dollars tuition per driver. www.jimrussellusa.com.

Photo + Mechanic's credit: Kerry Pierno and Darren Barrone
Video credit: Al Navarro

Mitsubishi admits in their press release they're going to make a strategic shift from "being an SUV-focused nameplate to a manufacturer of environment-friendly passenger cars & crossovers, with a presence in the "authentic off-roader" segment." We look forward to the authentic off-roader segment and a move away from utterly forgettable cars (with the exception of the EVO and Lancer Wagon). They claim this to be "pre-empting" the change in the market, which we think is a charitable description of where the market is. Either way, it's a step in the right direction.

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) announces today the forthcoming introduction of its all-new on-road Compact Crossover, to be retailed first in Japan from February 2010 onwards.
Derived from the much-acclaimed 2007 Concept-cX show car, it is the latest development of MMC's mid-size global platform ("Project Global").
This most important product will further support Mitsubishi Motors' strategic shift from being an SUV-focused nameplate to a manufacturer of environment-friendly passenger cars & crossovers*, with a presence in the "authentic off-roader" segment** – itself pre-empting structural changes in market demand.
As such – and after i-MiEV – this on-road Compact Crossover will be the Corporation's next game changer towards lower impact vehicles, in their format and/or in the innovative MMC proprietary technologies they will feature.
The European premiere is scheduled for the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. 

Despite being more similar in weight and size than you'd expect, the Evo is still significantly lighter and smaller than the CTS-V, but the Cadillac obviously has a huge power and torque advantage. Perhaps more tellingly, the Evo can lap the 12.93 miles of fast corners on the Nurburgring within 12 seconds of the CTS-V. Tomorrow, we'll see what that gap looks like after 4.1 miles of tight turns and one long straight.

The full 4.1-mile course at Monticello is a monster, with 20 corners and three straights. The Cadillac CTS-V isn't just muscle and no cornering, but with torque vectoring differentials and weighing 600 Lbs less, the Evo is still going to give it a run for its money. At the very least, this should be a close race.

Here's my own turn-by-turn analysis of what challenges Lutz and I are going to face tomorrow, who's going to have the advantage in which sections and where it's most likely we'll see the 77-year-old crash his 556 HP Cadillac.

Photo Credit: jdoggny @ Flickr
Section: Turn 1
Description: The map does neither the tightness of this corner nor the lack of runoff justice. A near 90-degree left hander taken at the bottom of 2nd gear, the downhill braking zone for which comes at the end of the second longest straight on the track.
Analysis: The more powerful CTS-V will reach a higher speed on the straight, meaning it'll need to brake earlier. The Caddy has a huge understeer issue in this corner if you try to push it, meaning Lutz will basically have to park the car, throwing away the corner and therefore the setup for 2.
Advantage: Evo X
Risk of Lutz Crashing: High

Section: Turn 2
Description: You take a late apex through this 2nd gear right hander in order to get your power down early so you can accelerate through turn 3.
Analysis: The Evo will be better setup going into this corner and, thanks to AWD, will be able to get its power down much earlier.
Advantage: Evo X
Risk of Lutz Crashing: Low

Section: Turn 3
Description: Sweeping right hander flat out in third gear. Don't track out all the way on the exit so you can brake in a straight line for turn 4.
Analysis: The Cadillac's power advantage will help here, but the Evo will benefit from a cleaner exit from turn 2.
Advantage: Equal
Risk of Lutz Crashing: Low

Section: Turn 4
Description: A deceptively tight right hander with plenty of grip thanks to slightly Itpositive camber.
Analysis: It's easy to get a lot of oversteer here, either through lifting to make it through the corner after failing to brake hard enough or getting on the power too hard on the exit. In fast, heavy cars like the CTS-V, you want to late apex and get on the power in a straight line to turn 5, without spinning it all away showing off. The Evo will be able to apex earlier and get its power down easier
Advantage: Evo X
Risk of Lutz Crashing: Moderate

Section: Turns 5 & 6
Description: The reverse esses, you can straighten this out pretty effectively so just power through and end up on driver's right for the entry to turn 6.
Analysis: Not much to say, just don't overcook it into 6.
Advantage: CTS-V
Risk of Lutz Crashing: Low

Section: Turn 7
Description: The Carrousel. Very wide, very long, 180-degree, uphill corner.
Analysis: A difficult turn to hit the right line in, you're supposed to stay out to the right till 2/3 of the way through, then tuck into the apex. You want to use as much power as possible from the apex out without straightening your wheel as it continues to curve to the left all the way up to turn 8.
Advantage: Equal
Risk of Lutz Crashing: Moderate

Section: Turns 8 & 9
Description: The Double Apex. It's actually more of a single late apex as you brake and turn late into 8 to hit a late apex on 9. Third gear.
Analysis: It's all about getting 9 right so you get a good exit onto the short straight leading up to 10. Not terribly challenging once you figure it out.
Advantage: Equal
Risk of Lutz Crashing: Low

Section: Turn 10
Description: The 90. A 90-degree right hander that leads on the very, very fast back straight, so exit speed is everything.
Analysis: Deceptively slow, it's easy to wait too late to brake then run wide, screwing up your exit. You don't want to do that. Slow in fast out. Slow in fast out. Sacrifice the entry speed for exit speed.
Advantage: Evo X
Risk of Lutz Crashing: Moderate

Section: Turn 11 and the Long Straight
Description: An incredibly fast straight with a light sweep to the right. Turn that corner into a much of a straight as possible. Most cars, including the V end up needing a shift right in that corner, which is a little risky at such high speeds, so make sure you're in a straight line when you do that.
Analysis: This is my biggest concern. The V is well north of 170 MPH back here and the Evo can't manage much more than 150. Taking the sweeper flat out with an upshift is a pucker moment and the opportunity does exist to get it very wrong if you aren't careful with your weight transfer while shifting the Cadillac.
Advantage: CTS-V
Risk of Lutz Crashing: Moderate

Section: Turns 12, 13 &14
Description: The End Of Straight Esses. The map doesn't do this corner justice as there's a fair bit of elevation change. Uphill braking area for 12 helps late braking and turn-in, but there's a peak on the apex of 13 and it's a very tight, 3rd gear corner. Lots of weight transfer across the vehicle's front-to-rear and side-to-side axis.
Analysis: This is where I have to make up the time I'll lose on the straight. Lutz is going to be travelling considerably faster so will have to brake earlier and harder. If he doesn't, he'll lose it in 13 or at least screw up there, which'll mean he ruins 14 and the exit into the short straight that follows.
Advantage: Evo X
Risk of Lutz Crashing: High

Section: Turn 15
Description: A right hand kink with a standard line, you can carry a lot of speed and then get on the power hard and early.
Analysis: You think it's faster than it is, but still, this is a power corner.
Advantage: CTS-V
Risk of Lutz Crashing: Moderate

Section: Turn 16
Description: The Left Kink. A left sweeper over a blind crest. This is the corner that will catch you out if you're going too fast.
Analysis: The blind crest fools people into treating this like a straight and carrying too much speed through. You need to lift slightly just before you crest the hill, but of course if you lift too late you spin. You need to be very smooth on the downhill then turn the entry into 17 into a straight, you'll need to brake a lot for the next corner.
Advantage: Evo X
Risk of Lutz Crashing: Very High

Section: Turn 17
Description: A very tight hairpin. Another slow in, fast out corner where you want to sacrifice entry speed to get the power down as early as possible. Use the full width of the track on the exit.
Analysis: The back straight isn't that long, but it's still a straight coming off a very slow corner, so you're basically setting yourself up for a drag race and there's just no getting around the CTS-V's power advantage.
Advantage: CTS-V
Risk of Lutz Crashing: Low

Section: Turn 18
Description: A weird corner that I've never gotten 100% perfect. It's another apparent double apex that works better as a late single.
Analysis: There's a bump on the second apex and you don't straighten out completely on the exit while still needing to be on the power hard. I'm hoping that bump and the general trickiness weigh things in my favor here.
Advantage: Equal
Risk of Lutz Crashing: Moderate

Section: Turn 19
Description: The Backwards S. A fairly standard right hander with an entry that curves to the left. You need to compromise this corner so you can be all the way to driver's right for the entry to 20.
Analysis: Banking makes this corner a breeze, but it's all about setting yourself up for 20, not carrying speed here.
Advantage: Equal
Risk of Lutz Crashing: Low

Section: Turn 20 and the pitt straight.
Description: A tight left hander that sets you up for the back straight. Stay out late, hit the apex and nail the throttle.
Analysis: The Evo will be able to get on the power earlier, the CTS-V has more power. It's advantage in speed on the straight will be less than you might think, especially since it'll have to brake so hard for turn 1.
Advantage: Equal
Risk of Lutz Crashing: Low

Pyeongwah Motors offers the Hwiparam (Fiat Siena), Ppeokkugi (Fiat Doblo), Premio (Dandong Shuguang), Junma (Ssangyong Chairman), and Hwiparam II (Brilliance Junjie). Thanks to Reliant Scimitar-driving Judge Torchinsky, we've got the Pyeongway Motors sales brochure:

The Gawker Server Hamsters won't let me show you all 450 cars and trucks (actually more than 480 by now) at once- they go into an angry rodent frenzy that just isn't pretty when I try- but we'll get to all of them this way. Next up… maybe the trucks? The Detroit compacts? Who can say? For now, enjoy the Datsuns, Toyotas, Hondas, Mazdas, and Mitsubishis. I've included some Ford and Chrysler captive imports, such as the Plymouth Fire Arrow and the Ford Courier, since they're 100% Japanese designed and built.

1966 Datsun	1969 Datsun	1970 Datsun	1970 Datsun
1971 Datsun	1971 Datsun	1971 Datsun	1971 Toyota
1972 Datsun	1973 Datsun	1973 Datsun	1973 Ford
1974 Datsun	1975 Datsun	1975 Toyota	1976 Honda
1977 Honda	1977 Toyota	1977 Toyota	1978 Datsun
1978 Dodge	1978 Dodge	1979 Datsun	1979 Honda
1980 Plymouth	1980 Datsun	1980 Datsun	1980 Honda
1980 Plymouth	1981 Toyota	1981 Datsun	1981 Datsun
1981 Mazda	1982 Honda	1982 Datsun	1982 Mazda
1982 Toyota	1983 Honda	1983 Toyota	1983 Nissan
1983 Toyota	1984 Toyota	1984 Toyota	1984 Toyota
1984 Toyota	1984 Toyota	1985 Toyota	1985 Mazda
1985 Toyota	1985 Toyota	1985 Toyota	1986 Toyota
1986 Toyota	1986 Toyota	1986 Honda	1987 Honda
1987 Toyota	1987 Mitsubishi	1987 Subaru	1988 Mitsubishi
1989 Subaru

Making 520HP at the wheels on a dyno is no joke for a turbocharged four-cylinder, especially from a car that never got much respect during its life, but this Colt manages it at a crushing 44 PSI of boost. That built engine wasn't hooked up to a particularly fortified transmission though, so this impressive failure was pretty much inevitable. Very nicely done sirs. (Hat tip to Sean!)

Available in displacements ranging from a gas-sipping 1.6 liters to a torquey 2.4 liters, the most famous of all the 4G6 Sirius engines was the 1,997cc turbocharged 4G63T of rally-dominating Lancer Evolution and Galant VR-4 fame. Variations of the Sirius have been installed in dozens of different Mitsubishi, Chrysler, Hyundai, and Chery vehicles, from the Chariot to the Sonata, and the 4G69 Sirius lives on today in the Eclipse, Outlander, and Galant. That's nearly 30 years, which gives the Sirius an automatic acceptance into the Jalopnik Workhorse Engine Hall-O-Fame™. Thanks to EvoCS for recommending the 4G6!
[Wikipedia; image source: Tampa Racing]

The New York Times piece also lists the nation of origin for each vehicle's engine and transmission, and the overall effect is to provide tirade ammunition for both ends of the political spectrum. For example, if you know that unions (and the hand-wringin', gun-confiscatin', Kyoto-treaty-signin' parlor-pink liberals who enable them) have systematically destroyed everything that was once good and true about this country, you'll be able to point to the proof, right there for all to see! Likewise, if you have no doubt that the same oligarchs who rammed Taft-Hartley down our throats are out to crush the last vestiges of American labor dignity (their hands still red with the blood of Sacco and Vanzetti!), you'll see the truth on this map!

[New York Times, thanks to Franzouse for the tip]

We needn't have worried. We went through most of the day's BS Inspections, and by late afternoon we'd started to think that maybe the Cajun Jihadis weren't even going to show up. Then we noticed a commotion at the other end of the paddock: wailing music cranking from PA speakers mounted on the roof of a desert-camo Mitsubishi and a bunch of AK47-wielding, burlap-sack-wearing, fake-bearded lunatics performing some sort of choreographed dance routine... and headed our way. "It must be Cajun Jihad!" we rejoiced!



It's so incredibly wrong, on so many levels, yet how could we not love the Cajun Jihadis? From the lobstercrawfish-with-rifle stencils on their burlap sacks to the cartwheels, these guys made perhaps the best initial impression that any LeMons team has ever made upon first appearance at the tech inspection. Even when their not-so-safe roll cage failed the inspection and they were sentenced to an all-nighter of metal cutting-and-pasting, they didn't issue whine one (unlike some other teams we won't name). In fact, they went back into their assault-rifle dance routine as they headed to their pit space to get to work. We're definitely looking forward to seeing how the Jihad does on the track tomorrow morning!

Perhaps his greatest move in the genre was when he went medieval on a Corvette in a helicopter equipped with two miniguns. It is also the clip I post here with a significant amount of trepidation, hoping that y’all will not feel compelled to subject your crazy Euro car boy to similar treatment. Do note that I like Corvettes a great deal. Still—it’s hilarious television.

As Season 13 of Top Gear is being filmed, a set of photos have made it to the Lancer Register message board, showing soldiers, a large sand-colored military vehicle, a helicopter, and a white Evo which progresses between pictures from intact to severely damaged. The connection between these elements is not, at the moment, readily apparent.

Until further details emerge, may I suggest Top Gear’s take on a Range Rover vs. a Challenger tank or a Lotus Exige vs. an Apache helicopter gunship?

Photo Credit: Lancer Register

The production i-MiEV looks a whole lot like the ones that've been running through fleet testing and the press gambit for a while, so the styling isn't much of a shocker, the price is a bit on the steep side for a fairly compact ride though. However, it is the first to market with a new electric vehicle available to the general public. Well, first in a relative sense, since electrics were around in the early parts of the 20th century, and again in the 90's, and in the Tesla... well okay, it's the first relatively cheap modern EV.

It's powered by a 64 HP electric motor with 132 lb-ft running off a 16 kWh lithium ion battery. With a total vehicle weight of 2,425 lbs, that puts the range at about 100 miles, depending on how heavy your foot is. Pretty good for a passenger EV, still, it'll be a while before we plunk down that kind of dough for a limited-range jellybean.

You really need to read all of this hilarious (and we think maybe sincere) press release to capture the full comedic value.

Mitsubishi offers free goat
22 May 2009
In a drive to help the rural community stave off the recession, Mitsubishi Motors is supporting primary productivity by offering a free goat with every new Triton sold before August.

"We firmly believe that New Zealand's recovery is in the hands of the rural sector and they're the people who are buying our utes," said MMNZ general manager of sales and marketing Peter Wilkins. "Goats, like our Tritons, are hardy, versatile units, which will integrate directly into existing farm operations".

"Goats improve farm productivity by providing an environmentally friendly defence against noxious weeds and they're a lot cheaper than toxic sprays".

"Goats also provide export commodities that can help improve our balance of payments. They grow a fine micron fleece, much like the renowned Merino, which can be used to produce high-quality garments. Goat's milk provides a nutritious alternative for the growing number of lactose intolerant people and while goat meat is seldom featured in Western restaurants, developing countries consume vast quantities," said Mr Wilkins.

"And, most importantly, there is no such thing as Goat Flu – so no threat to tourism. It's hard to see a downside," he added.

"At MMNZ, we are aware that three years of drought has severely depleted sheep and beef populations, so what better time to ‘float the goat'?" said Mr Wilkins. "We'll supply a free goat with every Triton sold before August and do our bit to loosen the grip of the recession".

"On the off chance that the purchaser already has enough goats or feels that goat herding is better left to those in drier climes, we'll supply a ‘no goat package' consisting of a five-year/100,000km extended warranty, five free WOF inspections, 5,000km road user charges, five years of roadside assistance and $500 of genuine or approved Triton accessories," Mr Wilkins said.

(Hat Tip to Nick!)

[Mitsibushi]

In addition to more power, the FQ400 adds a wider track, lower and firmer Eibach springs and Bilstein shock absorbers as well as all the comfort and convenience-oriented options from the Mitsubishi Evolution X MR. The go faster bits are all well and good, we just wish there was a Mitsubishi model other than the go-fast Lancers that was worth caring about.
Press release below:

You know you're not like The Others, yes? Do your relatives discuss you using sentences beginning with "Let's face it…" and stop talking when you enter the room? Of course they do, and you don't want to disappoint in your selection of project car! That's why an easy project- say, a rusted-out Studebaker Commander- isn't for you; skip on past the boring stuff, because you've got to go French or go electric!

Citroën didn't sell many CXs in North America, so the successor to the DS is quite a rare sight on these shores. When you go with a CX, you get many of the nerve-shatteringly complex technologically advanced features of the mighty SM, including the speed-variable power steering and- this should go without saying- the super-smooth suspension hydropneumatique. You also got build quality backed by those masters of administration and harmonious labor negotiations, the French and Italian governments; what more could a car owner ask for? Well, a potential CX owner knows all that stuff, but he or she also knows that these cars don't come cheap… but Bearddevil has found us a deal for the ages: this "77-78" Citroën CX Pallas 2400, priced at- holy shit!- just 500 bucks! Normally, we'd suggest making a 24 Hours Of LeMons car here, but that would be too easy. No, you need to restore this beauty, and you'll need to start by heading over to France to pick up some glass (three windows missing) and all some of the interior components (seller describes the once-luxurious interior as "way crispy"). Does it run? It should run, since it has only been sitting for centuries "years and years." People win the lottery, right? It will never oughta fire right up!

That dinosaur juice is running out, folks! If you go with a fossil-fuel-burner for your Hell Project, you're liable to find that internal-combustion vehicles cost about $900/mile to operate by the time you get it running (of course, at that point you'll be 94 years old and getting around in a jetpack walker, so it won't really matter). Best to be on the safe side and go electric! You'll want to use Plasma Boy's White Zombie Datsun as your role model here, so what you need is a small, light, rear-drive machine with room for plenty of batteries… such as this electric 1971 Dodge Colt (thanks to Belvedere Adrian for the tip). This little Mitsubishi was converted to electric drive by "the old man that built it," no doubt during the Arab oil embargo, or maybe the Iranian Revolution. Yes, it has been sitting for a while, but that's what gives it that super-cheap $500 price tag. Well, that plus the fact that it's a total basket case held together with crumbling Bondo little bit rough… but don't focus on that when you should be imagining those super-rad electric burnouts you'll be doing once it's running. It "ran at one time," according to the seller, who believes that a simple transistor swap might make everything hunky-dory, and that 86-volt motor should have no problem withstanding the 880 volts you'll be juicing it with!

I'm providing each car's best lap time (which should confirm once again that having a fast car isn't the most important thing for a LeMons team), as well as the number of BS Inspection penalty laps (if any), plus awards earned by the team. You racers in need of all my original, full-resolution shots of your car in action should email me and I'll get them to you. When you're done here, be sure to check out LeMons Supreme Court Justice Lieberman's coverage over on Speed:Sport:Life.

Thanks to Nick Pon and Ashley Freed for many of these photos. Here they are in finishing order, the Top Lemons Of The 24 Hours Of LeMons South Spring 2009:

SF '07	Arse Freeze '07	SF '08
Detroit '08	New England '08	South '08
Texas '08	Arse Freeze '08	Texas '09

The Outlander GT Prototype is a preview of the production version slated to replace the aging Outlander, and aside from the newish nose, the crossover gets upgrades to the powertrain too. The 3.0 liter V6 gets a 10 HP bump to 230 HP and the automatic transmission gets new programming which allows it to shift into neutral at a stop light, saving fuel at idle. The aluminum roof gets a polished finished for the show car, but don't expect to see anything like it on a production version.

Thanks to Myke Toman, Nick Pon, Zerin Dube and Speed:Sport:Life, Anna C of Bikini Racer, the Norwegian Slaabs, Saabs Gone Wild, Prison Break Racing, Team Beermer, LeMons Supreme Court Justice Lieberman, Jackson Williams, and others for their fine photographs.

Clockwise from top: Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Fiat (slanted logo in use between 1968 and 2000), Audi (on bottom), Toyota, Mitsubishi, Subaru.

Photo Credit: Eva Mercz

Let this video serve as a lesson to anyone — don't drive mad. Sure, you missed a shift or an apex. Whatever. You get pissed and you'll end up crashing. Like this unfortunate GT-R driver who ended up getting spanked by a Mitsubishi Evo IX MR.

That's right, discerning (and well-heeled) Japanese car shoppers could buy an AMG-ified Mitsubishi Debonair. Of course, we love the Debonair on general principle- the name alone is enough to win our hearts!- so front-wheel-driveness of the Royal AMG doesn't scare us away, nor does the untouched-by-AMG 200-horse V6. Of course, what we really want is a Hyundai Grandeur dressed up with the AMG gear from its Debonair sibling! Sadly, the AMG modifications were limited to dress-up stuff, but pay no mind to that minor detail. Japanese Nostalgic Car has a good writeup on the AMG Debonair, as does 7Tune, and you can head to Japan for some more after that.

Photo Credit: Automobile Magazine

The iMiEV Sport Air's aluminum frame allows weight to be limited to just 2,072 pounds. The motor gets a bump from the base-model iMiEV's 47 kW to 60 kW, helping acceleration and range, climbing from 100 miles to 120 miles.

Although for us, the story is the appearance — Mitsubishi's matched an exterior that isn't sure whether it's coming or going with an interior that seems to be at home in any techno club. It almost as though the styling studio decided to go crazy with the imaginary interior gadgetry and blue neon accents, so much so that it looks like a sci-fi wet dream. Okay, Mitsubishi, we get it, you're quirky little electric car that looks the same coming as it does going is futuristic, sheesh. Beat us over the head with it why don't ya?

The move to a French partnership is something of a surprise, as Mitsu has been very protective of its EV technology till this point. It will mean a badge-engineered version of the upcoming car for sale through either Citroen of Peugeot, maybe even both. It could also mean the propellerhead-brand needs additional cash to finish up the development work, but that's purely speculative. Expect to see an updated and mass-produced version Mitsubishi's iMiEV unveiled sometime next fall with 2010 market availability.

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation and PSA Peugeot Citroen: one step further towards electric vehicles for Europe.

Tokyo, March 2, 2009 - Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) and PSA Peugeot Citroen announced today that both companies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding regarding collaboration on electric vehicles based on a vehicle currently under development by MMC in Japan.

In June 2008, both companies started a feasibility study of the development, manufacture and use of an electric powertrain for small urban vehicles.

The companies have now reached an understanding that will allow PSA to partner with MMC for the development of an electric vehicle for Europe based on MMC's i MiEV*1, to be manufactured by MMC and sold under Peugeot brand, in parallel to Mitsubishi's own European i MiEV.

This new step would be mutually beneficial since the collaboration of MMC and PSA Peugeot Citroen will ease and accelerate the introduction of their electric vehicles in the European market.

The two companies are now in negotiations on a cooperative agreement, targeting market launch at the end of 2010 or the very beginning of 2011.

For PSA Peugeot Citroen this agreement will enable the Group to maintain its leadership in environmentally friendly cars.
With an extensive knowledge of electric vehicles, PSA Peugeot Citroen is the largest global manufacturer of electric vehicles to date, with more than 10,000 units sold. PSA Peugeot Citroen will bring to this project its expertise in the field of electric powertrains.

For MMC, this project is consistent with its worldwide electric vehicle strategy. Currently involved in testing and promotional activities in Japan, New Zealand, the United States and across Europe, the i MiEV will be launched in Japan during the summer of 2009. In parallel to the 2010 European launch of the i MiEV, MMC is examining several markets including the U.S. for the rollout of the electric vehicle.

We want to believe, but this story of being magically assaulted by an unidentified source sounds questionable to us. According to the woman:

The entire left side of my car appears to be scorched but no paint was removed.

I was driving 40-45 miles per hour heading north toward I-94 East towards Chicago on Lake Cook Road. While I was in the middle lane, I felt a nudge on the left of my car which made my car shift to the right. I did not swerve out of the lane and gained control back quickly.

I slowed down and as I got my bearings, I realized that my left side mirror was knocked off and so I turned right onto Revere Drive and put on my hazard lights.

I got out of the car and saw that I had several dents on the side of my car. There were two that were deeper and larger than the others; one was located in front of the rear wheel and the other was in the center of the driver door.

I called 911 to file a police report and the officer said that I was side swiped by another car but, there were not any cars around me before or after the hit and also there were no paint scratches from other cars on my car.

We happen to know this area quite well as we used to drive up towards this part of Northern Illinois to stretch the legs out on our review cars. The damage is curious as you would expect more scratching from car-on-car action. Plus, you'd expect the person to remember. We put our knowledge to work and have two theories.

The first involves the woman traveling, as she says, eastward toward 94 on Lake Cook Road. Most of the road has high visibility, low traffic in night. This would make it easier to see someone coming. The only part of the drive where it would be harder to notice another driver would be here, near Portwine Road and the Potawatomi Woods Preserve. Were a car to go to far here it could strike a car traveling eastbound, knock into it, and it would appear to the inattentive driver as if no one was around.

The second theory involves the peculiar timing of the event. It occurred at 11:20 PM on November 4, 2008 — the day Barack Obama was elected president. This was right after CNN announced his victory. Our guess, given that this is a more Republican area of Chicago, this woman is a Republican or Libertarian. She's at a party, drinking more and more as the night goes on and she realizes the Republicans are getting stomped. Ohio falls. Florida falls. The announcement is made and she gets in the car. Drunk. Mad. The spectacle of African Americans being re-enfranchised still dances in her head and she accidentally plunges the car sidewise into the ditch, thus creating the damage. As a cover she drives home, calls the cops, concocts a crazy story and voila. There it is.

[Image Copyright NUFORC via Motive]

Wimbles knows how to work a camera, took the time to ID all the vehicles he shot, and even cropped/resized them to the gallery-friendly 1280-pixel width we like best. This is the very best way to send in DOTSBE photos. I'll let Wimbles describe what he's found:

I'm relatively new to Jalopnik but I've always been interested in your Down on the Street series. I'm a college student going to school in San Francisco and I see a lot of cool old cars parked on the streets when I'm in town. Lately I've been photographing more and more of them in DOTS style and I figured I'd give it a shot trying to submit some for DOTSBE.

For starters, here's a 1973 Ford Torino sedan. This is probably the first one I've ever actually noticed on the street and caught my eye because I'm used to seeing the arguably better-looking Gran Torinos. Fancy seeing a plain blue, beat-up standard '73 Torino in a place as progressive as San Francisco! It was seen parked on Telegraph Hill.

I'm not sure about the year of the Dodge A-100 Tradesman, but it looks to be approximately a 1968 model judging by the style of badging and the reflectors on the doors. I could be wrong. Until I saw this one, I wasn't aware that the Tradesman name was used prior to the B-Series vans of the '70s. It appears to be in generally good condition for its age, though it has some worrisome rust on the passenger side doors. It was seen parked on Telegraph Hill near COIT Tower.
This van has been seen on DOTSBE before, but it was part of a series of street parking profile shots by Martin Taylor.

Continuing the Mopar series is a 1965 Plymouth Barracuda. I see this car parked and driving every so often and have had two opportunities to photograph it (evident from the markedly different weather in the various pictures). It is equipped with the 273CI Commando V8. It was photographed in the Financial District. Interestingly enough, I have seen another Barracuda (brown, '67-69) parked on this same street in the past and have gotten a couple of snapshots of it, but nothing DOTS-worthy.

Next up for this run is a 1979 Plymouth Sapporo which lives just north of Alamo Square. I have seen this car driving once. I actually stumbled upon its home by sheer coincidence while returning from a long walk to the Panhandle in a fruitless attempt to grab some DOTS photos of the Porsche 356 and Volkswagen Transporter Syncro 4WD extended cab utility body pickup I had briefly snapped on a previous date.

Lastly, we have a very interesting find. A 2002-05 JDM Daihatsu Move Custom, probably fresh off the boat in America as it has no plates. But they wasted no time in decking this little kei car out inside with everything kawai they could find. It has a sticker on the rear hatch from Uemuru Motor, which is apparently an auto wholesaler in Callao, Peru.

In a move that absolutely no one expected (read: sarcasm), Mitsubishi will give U.S. customers the opportunity to purchase their versatile 5-door Lancer Sportback sometime in 2009. The Sportback adds the extra utility in the form of a wagon-like rear end with a one-touch auto-folding 60/40 split rear seat. In order to squeeze even more space out of the rear cavern, Mitsubishi has cleverly included a rear cargo floor that can be lowered by up to three inches allowing for a maximum 52.7 cubic ft. of cargo space. For you outdoorsey types, Mitsubishi has designed the roof rack to accommodate a plug-in Thule sport rack to tie down your skis, snowboard or even a body rolled up in a rug. Imagine the possibilities.

Powertrain options will come from the standard Lancer and Lancer Ralliart range, meaning you get a 2.4-liter 168 HP, 167 ft-lb with either a five-speed manual or six-speed CVT automatic transmission in the Sportback GTS or if you opt for the Sportback Ralliart, you get a 2.0-liter MIVEC turbocharged engine with a whopping 237 HP and 253 ft-lb of torque. The Sportback Ralliart gets the quick-shifting six-speed Twin Clutch-Sportronic Shift Transmission (TC-SST) shared with the Lancer Evolution, as well as some nifty magnesium paddle shifters.

Pricing is expected to be announced soon. We'll keep you up to date.

Mitsubishi Press Release:

Mitsubishi Motors Brings Versatile New Five-Door Sportback To Award-Winning U.S. Lancer Lineup

CYPRESS, Calif., January 30, 2009 —

Mitsubishi Motors North America today confirmed that the versatile all-new five-door Lancer Sportback will arrive in U.S. dealerships this summer for the 2010 model year. The Sportback will meld high performance and progressive design with an extra dose of utility to feed the most active lifestyles. The newest member of the multiple award-winning Lancer family is part of Mitsubishi's refocused efforts to introduce new models designed to meet evolving consumer demands. MSRP will be announced nearer to its summer on-sale date.

"American consumers are increasingly asking for fun, attractive, yet practical cars that complement their active and individual lifestyles," said Dan Kuhnert, executive vice president of sales and marketing for Mitsubishi Motors North America. "The Lancer Sportback answers those calls with a heady mix of performance, aggressive styling and the bonus of greatly increased utility, and will be available in two versions - the economical GTS and high-performance Ralliart. The five-door platform has considerable upside potential in the domestic market."

Mitsubishi designers created a dynamic new shape for the Sportback that is instantly recognizable as a Lancer from the front, with its signature "jet fighter" grille, while being completely fresh from the C-pillar rearward. The key element is a sleekly sloping rear door with integrated "roof wing" that creates a visually distinctive shape while making the Lancer significantly more versatile. The door extends down to the rear bumper to make loading cumbersome objects like surfboards, camping gear and bicycles as easy as possible.

The Sportback's overall length is just slightly longer than the Lancer four-door sedan, yet it gains substantial cargo-carrying flexibility-especially when the 60:40-split rear seats are folded flat. One-touch auto-folding rear seats make the newfound space almost effortless to configure. To add still more volume, the rear cargo-area floor of the GTS version can be cleverly lowered three inches, yielding 52.7 cubic ft. maximum cargo space. The roof will also conveniently accommodate a plug-in Thule® Sport Rack for additional flexibility.

The Sportback's basic architecture, technical features and most optional equipment is shared with the Lancer sedan, a winner of several awards, including:

* J.D. Power and Associates' 2008 Navigation Usage and Satisfaction Study, naming the touch-screen interface system an industry-leader and the first non-premium brand to ever capture the award
* NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
* IIHS Top Safety Pick
* CNET Editors' Choice (Lancer Evolution)
* MSN Top-10 New Cars

Sportback GTS models feature Mitsubishi's efficient 2.4-liter engine with 168 horsepower and 167 pound-feet of torque, mated to either a five-speed manual or six-speed CVT automatic transmission.

The Sportback Ralliart is powered by a 2.0-liter MIVEC turbocharged engine that pumps out 237 horsepower and 253 lb.-ft. of torque. All-Wheel Control (AWC) with Active Center Differential (ACD) is standard, as is the quick-shifting six-speed Twin Clutch-Sportronic® Shift Transmission (TC-SST) that it shares with the Lancer Evolution. Both the CVT and Twin-Clutch transmissions include magnesium-alloy paddle shifters.

Premium interior features like those found on the Lancer sedans are also part of the Sportback's resume. Key components in the Ralliart version include a standard 140-watt CD/MP3 audio system with six speakers or an available 710-watt Rockford-Fosgate Premium Sound System, in-dash CD changer with MP3 capability, plus Sirius Satellite Radio. A hard disc-drive navigation system with Mitsubishi's exclusive Diamond Lane Guidance to provide route guidance is optional, as are Recaro sport seats that provide optimal support for the driver and front passenger.

The Lancer Sportback also formed the basis for Mitsubishi's 2009 Dakar Rally effort earlier this year. The Dakar is the most grueling rally race in the world and Mitsubishi vehicles have won the event 12 times since their first attempt in 1983.

As an important test bed for future technology, the Racing Lancers used at the Dakar reflected Mitsubishi's ongoing efforts to minimize the automobile's environmental footprint with such features as clean diesel power, bio-fuel capability and plant-based "green plastic" body components.

About Mitsubishi Motors North America:
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc., (MMNA) is responsible for all manufacturing, finance, sales, marketing, research and development operations for Mitsubishi Motors in the United States. MMNA sells coupes, convertibles, sedans, sport utility vehicles, and light trucks through a network of approximately 480 dealers. For more information, contact the Mitsubishi Motors News Bureau at (888) 560-6672 or visit

[via Mitsubishi]

The Mitsubishi i-MiEV Sport Air Concept is designed to make the idea of EV's, and particularly affordable EV's, a bit more palatable. It takes a styling page from the Mitsubishi i MiEV Electric Concept but brings things a bit closer to reality and works to communicate Mitsubishi's rather stealthy but substantial battery development program. It also pushes the idea of, get this, fun, given the inherent torquiness of electric motors. This might be the first time a normal EV gets pitched to normal people with stuff like performance instead of getting wrapped in a leafy green PR pitch of environmental responsibility, which bores us to death.

TOKYO, Japan - January 26, 2009: Mitsubishi Motors Corporation is to give the i MiEV SPORT AIR concept model its global debut at the 79th Geneva International Motor Show which runs from March 3 through March 15 at the Geneva Palexpo exhibition and conference complex (opening to the general public on March 5).

The i MiEV SPORT AIR explores the future possibilities for zero-emission vehicles, placing a greater bias on exhilarating driving pleasure. The concept model exemplifies the balance between environmental and dynamic performance implied in the tagline Drive@earth, and highlights the benefits of the Mitsubishi electric vehicle drivetrain:

• Powerful, instant torque from a beefed-up electric motor
• Stable driving and handling and a low center of gravity, due to the in-floor lithium-ion battery
• Zero on-road CO2 emissions

Together, these features along with the car's "clear cutaway" top allow the driver to enjoy the exhilaration of fresh-air motoring while also highlighting its eco-friendly qualities.

The TV spot is centered around a comedic misinterpretation of the phrase "Dad, where do I come from." See, Dad thinks sonny-boy has asked him about the birds and bees, and thus busts out "the big talk" on the ride home. On the way, we're beaten over the head with innuendo-tastic images like a guy manning a jackhammer, dad imitating masturbation, a water fountain, and exploding fireworks. As the father-son duo pull into the driveway, sonny says something that we've interpreted as either "that's on cool Dad, cause Jimmy Johnson only comes from Scotland" or "Cuz Jimmy Jones and Arnie comes from Scotland." Whatever the case, we get the joke they were aiming at, but what kid this age doesn't know where they were born?

The combined power of a tired joke and mealy-mouthed kid delivering the punchline have us shaking our heads in disappointment. Jimmy Johnson only comes from Scotland indeed. The worst part? This press release accompanying the ad.

MITSUBISHI’S NEW ‘BIRDS AND BEES’ TV AND CINEMA AD CAN ONLY BE SHOWN AFTER 9 PM

Mitsubishi’s latest TV ad only to be shown after 9 o’clock watershed
Light-hearted innuendo could be inappropriate for younger viewers
Never Too Shy To Turn Heads

Mitsubishi has never been shy of turning heads. Drive down any street and its distinctive products – like the new L200, Lancer Evolution X or the next generation Colt super mini – are sure to attract admiring glances from pedestrians or other road users. Even its vehicle names have caused a stir, such as the yes-it-does-mean-what-you-think ‘FQ’ badges to be found on the ‘very fast’ Lancer Evolution range.

Well, now its new TV advertising campaign due to be launched on Monday 9th February 2009 is set to attract attention as Clearcast, the company responsible for the pre-transmission examination and clearance of television advertisements, has not approved it to be shown on TV before the 9 o’clock watershed.

Where Did I Come From?

The campaign features a conversation between a young boy and his Dad as they take a drive in the stylish new Lancer. The boy simply asks “Where did I come from?”, which instantly sends his father into that place of fear and trepidation… how to explain the ‘birds and the bees’ to your child for the first time.

The rest of the advert focuses on the father’s description to his son from outside the car, but as they journey home progresses, each explanation inside the car is mirrored by events outside.

Lance Bradley, Mitsubishi’s Director of Sales and Marketing said that, “Clearcast thought that the light-hearted innuendo throughout the ad could be seen as inappropriate – especially for younger viewers. We are happy to have the TV ad shown after the 9 o’clock watershed and will also be making the ad available through our website at www.mitsubishi-cars.co.uk/features/tv.asp too.”

Now we're going with something a bit more recent, with quite a few additional miles on the clock. Still, 22,900 miles on a 13-year-old car isn't excessive, and this '95 3000GT convertible looks to be in very nice condition. The seller's claim that it's a super-rare car because "Only eighty-three 1995's had black paint with ivory leather interior" isn't particularly persuasive, but this is a chance to get a solid original example of a not-so-common Japanese sports car. $29,595 for it? What do you say?
[Auto Trader, thanks to Jose for the tip]

The Road Crime Unit of the South Yorkshire Police will use the Evolution X radio cars, along side a fleet of Evolution VIII and IX police cars, to trap speeders. In addition to the speed, the style and the scary image it presented in your rear-view mirror, the cars come equipped with the new Automated Number Plate Recognition system. The Evos will "hunt" in packs of three in order to provide a deterrent for anyone in the mood to end up on the BBC News.

SOUTH YORKSHIRE POLICE HUNT IN PACKS WITH THEIR LANCER EVOLUTION TRILOGY

* Lancer Evolution X to be used in the Road Crime Unit
* Inspector praises Evolution’s strong visual impact, performance and safety credentials
* All-new Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system adds extra value to crime stoppers

Evo X Has Excellent Pursuit Capabilities
The new Police specification Evolution X has arrived with South Yorkshire Police to the great delight of its drivers, and the chagrin of local villains. The new car will be used alongside the ever present Evolution VIII and IX in the Road Crime Unit where proactive road policing is the mission and officers will be driving the new car in cases involving drug dealers and car thieves. “The Evo X was the car of choice because of its excellent pursuit capabilities and the fact that so much time and effort has been put into maximising performance whilst minimising the risk of accidents” Inspector Slack explained.

The Hunted Will Give Up
The new member of the team will be used on the same missions and at the same time as its previous-generation siblings, creating such a strong visual impact that the vehicle being pursued will often simply give up the chase and pull over, knowing they won’t be able to out-run the RCU. What is more, the Police Evolutions ‘hunt’ in packs of three, which, Inspector Slack explained is often enough of a deterrent that high-speed chases are avoided.

Evo X Has The Latest Software and Hardware
Not only will the new Evolution X be one of the most capable performing cars, it will also be fitted with the latest Police hardware and software combinations. The onboard Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system allows officers to check who the vehicle is registered to and if there is anything remotely suspicious about the vehicle.

[Source: Mitsubishi]

First, they've selected the perfect vehicle. The Mitsubishi Delica is a prime vehicle for such a trip. It's a 4x4 powered by a, we assume, converted 2.5-liter turbodiesel. It sleeps two quasi-comfortably. It looks awesome. As we proved with the algae-powered Vanagon camper, vans are ideal for this kind of work.

Additionally, North America makes a much better place to cruise than Europe. All of those empty miles of open road makes for lots of space to eat asphalt. The proposed route takes them through the Northwest and up through much of Canada before crisscrossing the heartland of the United States and, eventually, making their way through Texas and down into Mexico. Once they make it to Texas we're expecting that they can get enough fuel at the first Whataburger to make it all the way back to Canada. Information on their journey below.

Our Goal

We are working to raise individual awareness of our planet’s current environmental situation and how YOU as an individual control its future.

Face it; the majority of the western civilization population has one role in society: consumer. You (among billions of others) are the driving force for governments and corporations. You "vote" them into power through elections and by purchasing products that determine the market. We are reaching a critical point in time when you as an individual must decide if you are a part of the solution or against it.

Daily, the average consumer is bombarded by environmental issues in the media. One buzz word, "global warming," is repeated countless times, over and over, along with the pressure for you to do something about it. The solution to global warming is then conveniently presented to you in the form of a product. The solution to global warming is not in a product, not within your governments hands, nor is it a developing technology. The solution to global warming and all other connected environmental issues depend on your behaviour. We hope to capture your attention. In turn you will save money, act towards a solution for a healthier planet, and live a healthier mental and physical existence.

How will we possibly reach so many people? A massive public display. We plan on breaking the current world record for "Longest Journey by Car on Alternative Fuel." Waste Vegetable Oil (WVO) will power our vehicle across Canada, the US, and possibly Mexico. We will be visiting sustainable initiatives along the way and will then deliver what we know and learn on sustainability through public discussion, lectures in schools, radio and television media broadcasting, newspaper and magazine publications, websites, podcasts, internet broadcasting, video documentary, and possibly a TV series. We are preparing to drive more than forty-five thousand kilometres by car on alternative fuel using WVO to surpass the current world record of 38,137 kilometres.

(Thanks to James for the tip!)

[Source: Driven To Sustain]