Mitsubishi's electric e

Mitsubishi’s new crossover concept doesn’t want to drive for you. It wants to make you a better driver.

Most automakers are building up AI systems to run their future self-driving cars. But Mitsubishi recently unveiled its slightly different tack at the Tokyo Motor Show.

Mitsubishi's new e-Evolution concept is an all-electric crossover vehicle that promises a stiff dose of AI power. The vehicle doesn't look too far off from another of the Motor Show's all-electric hits, the Nissan IMx concept — but Mitsubishi isn't embracing full-on autonomy like Nissan.

The concept is powered by three electric motors, which draw power from a battery under the vehicle's floor. Mitsubishi didn't provide horsepower estimates or battery range projections, though, so the design behind the four-wheel drive SUV isn't exactly fully realized.

Mitsubishi's boldest idea for the e-Evolution is plugging an AI assistant directly into the vehicle's interface, like something out of camp classic Knight Rider. The automaker describes the system as a tool that can make the human driver more effective by using sensors "to instantly read changes in road and traffic conditions, as well as the driver's intent."

It doesn't sound anything like the autonomous systems currently being developed by carmakers and tech companies around the world — Mitsubishi talks up a "special coaching function" that gives the AI system power to "transfer knowledge to the driver" somehow, so the company is definitely imagining a system that won't take the driver out of the equation.

There aren't any details available about exactly howMitsubishi proposes to achieve the AI mind-meld, though — so this concept is largely just that: an idea. We'll take the Knight Riderexperience sooner than later if we can though, please.