Mitsubishi is to enter its i-MiEV Prototype in the 2012 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in July but said its participation in the legendary event, held annually in Colorado, US, does not signal a return to competitive motor sport.

The car being entered is a prototype based on MMC’s all-electric i-MiEV and will be piloted by race driver Hiroshi Masuoka, a back-to-back Dakar Rally winner in 2002 and 2003.

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The i-MiEV Prototype will use the same EV components as the current production model and Mitsubishi will use the data obtained in the event to improve the durability and reliability of its future  EVs and plug-in hybrids.

Engineers from the carmaker and some of its EV suppliers will also be sent to the event which takes participants to the 4,300m summit of Pikes Peak in Colorado with entrants covering an elevation difference of almost 1,500m.

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