The Mitsuoka MC-1 is a microcar produced by the Japanese company Mitsuoka. It has a top speed of 50 km/h (31 mph) and a 6 hp (4 kW) engine. It lacks many items a normal car would have, (i.e. radio, airbags and GPS).[2] When the MC-1 first went on sale, it had a base price of 385,000 yen. By 2005, the price had become 488,250 yen. For the 2005 model year, the engine was shrunk by 1 cc to a 49 cc engine.[4]

Mitsuoka MC-1
Overview
ManufacturerMitsuoka
Also calledMitsuoka MC-1 EV
Model years1998-2007[1]
Body and chassis
ClassMicrocar
LayoutMid-engine
RelatedMC-1 EV
Powertrain
Engine50 cc 1 cylinder[2]
TransmissionCVT
Dimensions
Length1,755 mm (69.1 in)
Width1,080 mm (42.5 in)
Height1,470 mm (57.9 in)
Curb weight160 kg (352.7 lb)[3]<
170 kg (374.8 lb)(T Variant)[4]
Chronology
SuccessorMitsuoka K-2

Variants

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MC-1 Rear
MC-1 T
There was also a larger T variant that is 10 kg (22 lb) heavier than the standard MC-1. There is a delivery box mount and a luggage bed. The mechanicals were the same as the MC-1.[4][5]
MC-1 EV
The EV version powered by a DC electric motor which produces 0.59 kilowatts (0.8 hp) of power. There are three different motors each with a different wattage: 72V, 48V, and 12V motors.[5]

Design

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Mitsuoka wanted to make the MC-1 easy to take care of. There is even an owner's manual on Mitsuoka's website.[1] The interior is simple, a large speedometer with some sensors, gear shifting stick, steering wheel and a seat. The body is mostly plastic. The 'doors' are fabric. For 2004, the MC-1 was slightly redesigned by adding a slit under the headlights.[3]

Safety

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The MC-1 is extremely unsafe as most of the car is plastic and fabric. It has no airbags, but it does have a 3-point seatbelt.[3][5]

Marketing

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It was marketed under the slogan, 'Microcar for your life.'[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "マイクロカーシリーズ". Mitsuoka. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Mitsuoka MC-1 1998". Amayama. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  3. ^ a b c Alexander Zhilin (7 October 2008). "Mitsuoka MC-1. Автомобиль для эгоиста (Russian)". Ambox. Archived from the original on 28 August 2010. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  4. ^ a b c "MITSUOKA MC1". GooNetExchange. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  5. ^ a b c "ミツオカ MC-1 2005年6月(平成17年6月) 発売モデル". Retrieved 23 June 2014.