2015 Baha Portalegre 500

2015
Baha Portalegre 500

2015 Baha Portalegre 500

MITSUBISHI MOTORS took part in the Baja Portalegre 500 held in Portalegre, a municipality in eastern Portugal. Utilizing the expertise gained from completing the three previous Asian cross-country rallies as well as the Australian Safari on the Australian continent, the MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) tackled the European event head on. The Portuguese Automobile Federation sanctioned cross-country rally was based in Portalegre, the ancient capital of the Alentejo Region, near the border with Spain. The route consisted of a 500 km high-speed course, mainly on relatively flat dirt roads in rural areas, as well as hilly areas. It was the ninth round of the International Automobile Federation-sanctioned Cross-Country Rally World Cup, and was known for attracting each year top competitors who intended to participate in the Dakar Rally, which is regarded as the world's toughest event.
MITSUBISHI MOTORS appointed Hiroshi Masuoka, who won two consecutive Dakar Rallies in 2002 and 2003, as team principal and driver. The team included engineers dispatched from MMC's Development Division. The OUTLANDER PHEV rally car was based on production model, which incorporates MITSUBISHI MOTORS’s extensive electric vehicle expertise. The main components of the PHEV system were mass-produced parts, but the control system was altered to increase the output of the front and rear motors, raising the engine speed. In addition, the power output of the motor and generator was increased, as was the battery capacity.
Changing the control unit allowed the twin motor 4WD/S-AWC system to feature enhanced traction performance.
With the demanding road conditions that were anticipated, the ground clearance was increased, as well as the suspension travel, and large diameter rally specific tires were fitted.

The first day began with a special and traditional stage of this rally. Overall, the OUTLANDER PHEV was off to a good start, taking second place in the National class in the first special stage held on a gravel track which was largely dry but damp in places. In the second special stage, the crew posted the third fastest time in the National class due to unidentified problems, and finished the first day in third place. On the second day, a blown fuse in the power generation system ground the car to a halt 58 km from the start of the third special stage, forcing the crew to retire for the rest of the leg. After repairs were carried out, they set the fastest time in the rain on the fourth special stage to take second in the National class. The problems they had encountered on the second day affected their final result, causing them to lose positions in the overall standings. However, it was an ideal opportunity to demonstrate the outstanding performance of the MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER PHEV in Europe.
The Baja Portalegre 500 marked the first time that the MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER PHEV competed in a 200 km and almost 3-hour long sprint-type race, and it performed better than expected. The speed was comparable to that of a conventional rally car with a large engine displacement, which in the end demonstrated the high potential of the OUTLANDER PHEV.
The Baja Portalegre 500 marked the first time that the MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER PHEV competed in a 200 km and almost 3-hour long sprint-type race, and it performed better than expected. The speed was comparable to that of a conventional rally car with a large engine displacement, which in the end demonstrated the high potential of the OUTLANDER PHEV.

Spec

MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER PHEV RallyCar(2015Model)

Overall length 4695 mm
Overall width 2000 mm
Overall height 1810 mm
Motors Type S61(Front)/ Y61(Rear)
Rated Output 25kW×2
Maximum Power Up×2
Maximum Torque Power Up(Front,Rear)
Drive battery Type Lithium-ion
Total Voltage Voltage Up
Total Electric Energy Capacity Up
Suspension Front MacPherson strut
Rear Double Wishbone
Tires 235/85R16