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It has been just over a year since Nissan and Mitsu started sales for their joint developed Sakura and eK-X EV, but combined they have surpassed 50,000 cars sold!
Auto makers seem to be moving towards larger SUV type vehicles, but here's to hoping they make it overseas in the future!
Having taken the eK-X EV for a test drive, I was pleasantly surprised by how roomy it felt, especially for a K-car.
The interior also felt much more upscale compared to the i-MiEV.
Source (Japanese):
https://car-l.co.jp/2023/05/31/79994/
miggols99, thank you for this. Google Translate didn't provide much information, but I found this Wiki which covers both the Nissan Sakura and the Mitsubishi eK-X EV -
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_Sakura
Hey, it's a foot shorter and 4" narrower than our North American i-MiEV (recognizing that the North American i-MiEV is a bloated version of what was available in the rest of the world).
With a 20kWh battery, it's still below the perceived range needs of the clueless majority; however, just like our i-MiEVs, it can serve most people's daily workhorse needs. I am seriously bummed out that there are no i-MiEV-sized electric vehicles for sale in the US , as even the electric Mini is 7" longer and 8" wider than our i-MiEVs. With front-wheel drive, I wonder if this Nissan/Mitsu still retains the fantastic turning radius of our i-MiEV?
JoeS said:
I wonder if this Nissan/Mitsu still retains the fantastic turning radius of our i-MiEV?
Apparently the turning radius comes in at 4.8m for both so fairly comparable to the 4.5m? of the i-MiEV.
eK X EV Dimensions
https://faq-mitsubishi--motors-co-jp.translate.goog/faq/show/4980?category_id=638&site_domain=default&_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=ja&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp
Here's a Fully Charged video about the Sakura. Unfortunately, he gives Mitsubishi no credit for what I thought was a joint partnership development effort.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKoiqQtz3gU
A very worthy successor to our i-MiEV triplet family, IMO, although they didn't show if the seats fold down fully flat like the i-MiEV. I find that I am really bothered by this particular shortcoming in both my Teslas MS85 and especially the
Hyundai Kona Electric.
JoeS said:
Here's a Fully Charged video about the Sakura
I saw this too. It is rather unfortunate that he doesn't even mention the eK-X EV in the video.
Also, it looks like the seats don't fold flat.
I have to say I do prefer the i-MiEV in that regard.
If they do bring the Sakura/eK-X EV outside of Japan, I expect they will have to make a few changes to the design so it complies to safety regulations and so on.
