Mitsubishi Motors statement on the postponement of the 2012 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC)

Due to the wildfires in the Colorado Springs area of Colorado and concerns for safety, officials with the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb event have understandably postponed the 90th running of this famous motorsports event for the end of summer, with a replacement date to be announced in the next two weeks.

"We have been informed by the U.S. Forest Service that conditions are so extreme, along with the inability to forecast the future of the fire, and with access to Pikes Peak in jeopardy that the agency can't permit the event to go as scheduled, "said Tom Osborne, Chairman of the Board of the PPIHC and President & CEO of the Colorado Springs Sports Corporation.

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) expresses its sincerest sympathy and best wishes to the citizens of Colorado that have been affected by the devastating wildfires. Priority lies in the attention, support, and commitment of city resources and its residents during this time.

Mitsubishi Motors is set to participate for the first time in the Pikes Peak event this year with a two-car assault – an essentially stock 2012 Mitsubishi i-MiEV production vehicle to be driven by SCORE International off-road series race-winner Beccy Gordon and a highly advanced prototype race car driven by two-time Paris-Dakar Rally winner Hiroshi Masuoka dubbed the "i-MiEV Evolution." Both vehicles are powered by the identical electric motors and lithium-ion batteries found in the 2012 Mitsubishi i-MiEV production car.

About Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc., (MMNA) is responsible for all manufacturing, sales, marketing, research and development operations for Mitsubishi Motors in the United States. MMNA sells coupes, sedans and sport utility vehicles through a network of approximately 400 dealers. In November of 2011, MMNA launched the battery-powered electric vehicle Mitsubishi i-MiEV as part of a corporate mission to offer consumers more environmentally responsible modes of transportation. This battery-powered electric vehicle technology addresses the need for vehicles that produce zero tailpipe emissions and support a growing agenda for sustainability. For more information, contact the Mitsubishi Motors News Bureau at (888) 560-6672 or visit media.mitsubishicars.com.