Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Coming To US In December - Maybe

Following many, many years of waiting, it appears that Mitsubishi will finally be launching the plug-in hybrid version of the Outlander SUV in the US — with the release of the 2018 model year now slated for December.

This hot Japanese vehicle, which has seen top-of-the-market sales in Europe and Japan, has had planned releases in the US something like 30 times (okay, maybe that’s an exaggeration) and repeatedly been delayed, so I’m sure some of you will still wait to see the model in a US parking lot before cheering, but the timing is near enough now that we can probably be optimistic.

While the Mitsubishi Outlander plug-in hybrid (PHEV) would likely have sold very well in the US just a couple of years back, it’s an open question how well it will in the now fairly competitive US electric vehicle market.

The 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV will have a base price of $34,595 in the US, so it won’t be cheap, but that is still the most affordable price by far for a plug-in SUV.

As it stands, not too much can predicted as far as the EPA range rating and fuel consumption figures, especially since this model may be reworked a bit from what’s been selling in Europe and Japan over the past several years.

Green Car Congress provides more: “The two 60 kW full-time, high-output electric motors are separately mounted at the front and rear axles. The front electric motor is positioned transaxle-style on the left side of the engine; the front motor is a smaller, lighter and higher output enhanced version of the permanent magnet synchronous electric motor used in the Mitsubishi i-MiEV. The system features a front-mounted generator that converts mechanical power to electricity and continuously charges the drive battery, while a Power Drive Unit (PDU) helps to convert the electric power and send it to the front motor. The engine delivers 117 hp @ 4500 rpm, with 137 lb-ft (186 N·m) of torque. The front motor delivers 137 N·m of torque; the rear deliver 195 N·m. Combined system power output is 197 hp.”

Notably, despite being a plug-in hybrid rather than an all-electric vehicle (EV), the model will reportedly still come standard with DC Fast Charging capability — which will allow the model’s battery pack to be nearly fully recharged (80%) in under 25 minutes or so.

Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV For America Delayed Once Again

One hardly knows what to feel about Mitsubishi, but pity and disgust are two emotions that seem appropriate. It was the first manufacturer in the world to offer a plug-in hybrid SUV — the Outlander PHEV. Sales have been strong in many markets around the world, particularly in Europe.

The company has promised the car is coming to the US and Canadian markets ever since 2013, but it is not here yet. After five postponements, it was supposed to be launched here in the fall of this year. Now comes word from the company that the introduction has been pushed back — again — until the summer of 2017.

SUV’s are the hottest segment of the new car market in North America, followed closely by light trucks. As of this moment, almost no one has a plug-in SUV for American and Canadian drivers. Audi likes to thinks its A3 Sportback e-tron is one, but it is really more of a wagon. The BMW X5 plug-in is on sale now and doing well in the marketplace. Last month, it nearly outsold the i3, which goes to show how much demand there is for a plug-in SUV.

Alex Fedorak, public relations manager for Mitsubishi in the US  confirmed the latest delay yesterday. “Following a thorough evaluation process, we have determined that, in order to meet a level of competitiveness that will exceed customer expectations in the United States, the launch of the Outlander PHEV will be delayed until the summer of 2017.”

That weasel worded corporate speak may mean that the company is waiting for the upcoming next generation Outlander or it could mean that the company is circling the drain and the Outlander that never was will never be. Mitsubishi is staggering after it was revealed earlier this year that it has been fudging the fuel economy figures for some of its cars for more than 30 years. Sales are plummeting and along with company profits.

Where once the Outlander PHEV was the best selling plug-in vehicle in England and Europe, it has now slipped into third position. In Japan, sales have gone over a cliff. It used to sell 1,000 Outlander PHEV’s a month in the home market, but since the fuel economy cheating scandal broke the trend has been drastically downward. Mitsubishi reported 250 sold in April, 174 in May, and 253 in June.

Mitsubishi may be one of the most poorly managed car companies on earth. It is perennially cast as a “me too” company whose products only mimic the offerings from other companies. It finally had a unique product for the American market, one that would allow it to lead instead of follow, but has consistently shot itself in the foot when it comes to bringing it stateside.

Nissan is looming as a possible savior for the company. If so, it’s likely the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV will never make it to America at all, at least not as a Mitsubishi. Its plug-in technology could be quietly slipped into a Nissan product instead. Don’t get your hopes up for the Outlander PHEV. If past history has any predictive power, it is never going to make it to customers in the US or Canada.

Source: Hybrid Cars

Ecotricity Whacks British Drivers With High EV Charging Fee

Ecotricity is the exclusive provider of EV charging equipment on England’s motorways. Recently, it decided the best way to balance the need for chargers along major highways with the cost of operating the system was to impose a flat fee for a 20 minute charge. Ecotricity uses only renewable energy to power its charging stations. The number it came up with is £5 — almost $7.00 before Brexit but more like $6.00 afterwards. British motorists are outraged.

The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is one of the best selling plug-in hybrid cars in the UK. 20 minutes on a charger will get the battery to about a 50% state of charge. That’s good for around 15 miles of all electric driving. The same distance would cost around $2.50 in gasoline.

In an email sent out to its users, Ecotricity said: “When we began in July 2011, there was a bit of a chicken and egg situation – people were reluctant to buy electric cars because there were no charging facilities being built, but nobody wanted to build those facilities while there were still so few cars on the road. That’s when we jumped in to help kickstart the electric car revolution in Britain. And that’s going pretty well. Today there are over 40 models to choose from and 64,000 plug-ins on the road. The Electric Highway itself comprises almost 300 electricity pumps – of the fast charging variety.”

The move makes it almost pointless to charge plug-in hybrid vehicles at motorway service stations now. It seems like a step in the wrong direction as more and more manufacturers are adding plug-in hybrid cars to their line-ups. Hyundai launched its new Ioniq hybrid this week — with a plug-in hybrid version set to follow next year. The change in pricing policy comes just as the UK Department for Transport reveal that 45% of drivers are put off buying an electric car due to concerns over charging.

Ecotricity added: “The combination of more cars on the road and faster charging means we’re now delivering two million miles of clean driving each month – all powered from the wind and sun. That’s a great result. It’s also a growing cost. And to keep pace with demand, we need to build more electricity pumps – at existing and new locations. So the time has come for us to charge – for charging. We’ve taken a lot of feedback from EV drivers in order to arrive at the right pricing model. We’ve decided that a simple flat fee of a fiver for a 20 minute fast charge strikes the right balance.”

The ‘pay-per-use’ EV charging system is being rolled out across the network starting on Monday July 11 and is expected to be completed by Friday August 5. EV drivers who wish to continue to use the Ecotricity stations will have to download the company’s mobile app, which will show available chargers and allow them to pay online.

One of the selling points for electric cars is supposed to be lower operating costs compared to gasoline and diesel. That equation still works for cars like the Nissan LEAF but not for the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. Perhaps the charging fee is fair. After all, it cost a lot of money to install and maintain 300 DC fast chargers. But the time allowed may be much too short for the fee assessed. No matter how you slice it, it still has gotten some people upset and is doing nothing to promote driving electric cars. Here’s one tweet from a disgruntled customer.

2017 Mitsubishi Outlander: delayed for U.S. again, specs may change

Americans who want an SUV combined with a plug-in hybrid powertrain have had a very long wait.

The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV—the plug-in hybrid version of the Outlander now on sale—has been promised for several years, and it’s already a sales success in Europe.

Despite being the world’s first plug-in hybrid SUV, it remains unavailable Stateside.

Now it’s quietly been delayed once again—with a target on-sale date of November, and some more significant changes for the U.S.-market version than originally planned.

At the New York Auto Show this week, Mitsubishi revealed a cosmetically correct prototype (termed a U.S. debut), previewing the 2017 Outlander PHEV—although U.S. market details for pricing, features, and trims are still being worked out.

According to company spokesman Alex Fedorak, U.S. spec for the vehicle hasn’t been locked in—and that includes the Outlander PHEV’s battery pack, which might change by the time the vehicle goes on sale.

2017 Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-In Hybrid

U.S.-spec PHEV could still get different battery pack

The pack will remain around the 12 kwh it’s currently rated, and it will still be supplied by LEJ, but Fedorak said that some details remain to be finalized.

That could mean changes to the battery’s cell chemistry or power characteristics, all aimed at drivability, and getting significant all-electric range in American driving conditions.

Fedorak said that the team behind the Outlander PHEV is “really focused on the driving characteristics of the car, and they wanted it to make sure that it feels like it belongs in this market.”

“It’s not the European spec" that the company will bring in, he said. "We’re tailoring it for the U.S. market, and that’s affecting range, MPGe, acceleration, and performance numbers, too.”

“20-ish” all-electric miles

Mitsubishi is targeting “20-ish” miles of pure-EV driving for the U.S. cycle. There are no plans to offer CHAdeMO quick charging for the U.S.

2017 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV

The 2017 Outlander PHEV will include a multi-mode system that allows you to operate in electric-only mode, to preserve the charge, or to allow the system to decide how to  apportion remaining charge and the power split.

The hybrid system uses a generator system in front, with separate electric-motor drive systems for the front and rear wheels—with no mechanical link to the rear wheels.

Doesn’t sacrifice SUV strengths

The Outlander PHEV promises to be different than most other plug-ins on the market, in that it has an outdoorsy side and a 4WD Lock setting, and will arrive to market capable of mild off-roading.

One interesting detail: Batteries and motor-system components are specially protected.

That means the Outlander PHEV, provided it has been switched to its "EV" mode, will allow limited driving in the kind of deep-water conditions usually reserved for the most hardy of off-road SUVs.

Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Will Finally Arrive In 2016

Mitsubishi’s CEO Osamu Masuko told Automotive News recently, “We are strong in SUVs and four wheel drives. And that is what we would like to focus on as core models in the U.S. market. We have changed direction. We are going to allocate more resources to the areas where we are strong in the U.S.” Sales in the US are up 25% over 2014, thanks largely to the company’s reputation for making rugged SUVs.

Concentrating on the company’s strengths makes perfectly good sense, but doesn’t explain why the company is 4 years late bringing its widely acclaimed Outlander PHEV to the US. The plug-in SUV enjoys strong sales in the UK and Europe, but Mitsubishi has fiddled and diddled for years, while it fussed over insignificant details like the shape of the grille or the design of the rear tail lights. It had the market for a plug-in SUV all to itself, but squandered its advantage to focus on silly things. But the wait if finally over, Masuko says. The award-winning Outlander PHEV will go on sale, in the US, in the middle of 2016- perhaps as early as May.

Building further on its reputation for building good four wheel drive vehicles, it will introduce an all new crossover in 2017 that is intended to fill the gap between the compact Outlander Sport and the mid-size Outlander. The new offering will feature coupe styling, as it is now all the rage to build SUVs that are as small as possible inside and out. That makes no sense, of course, but that’s what customers say they want.

Mitsubishi says it will introduce a redesigned Outlander in 2018 and a new Outlander Sport in 2019. All new crossover and the Outlander will offer customers a choice of conventional or plug-in hybrid powertrains. The new Outlander Sport will be all have an all electric option, the company says. The woeful i-MiEV electric sedan will continue on with no changes. It is presently selling at the dismal rate of only 10 cars a month.

Source: Automotive News.

Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Targets 6000 Sales

I’m sure that there are people reading this who have been waiting for the US release of the Outlander plug-in hybrid for literally years. If that’s you, and you haven’t simply bought a different car in the meantime, you may be disappointed to learn that the Japanese company may only offer 6,000 units of the hugely popular and award-winning 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV in the US- which means you’ll have to move quickly to get yours.

The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV (plug-in hybrid) is expected to hit the US market in May, and to be slowly rolled out as inventory arrives — with monthly sales therefore projected to lie at over 1,000 units per month (assuming relatively even sales through the year).

Given the repeated delays to date, though, perhaps a May launch date for the US version of the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV should be taken with a grain of salt. Automotive News provides more:

Mitsubishi expects to sell as many as 6,000 of the gasoline-electric crossovers in the U.S. in 2016, (Mitsubishi CEO Osamu) Masuko said. The new crossover/SUV and next year’s arrival of the Outlander PHEV are further proof that Mitsubishi has no plan to exit the US, despite the fact it will end vehicle production at its only North America assembly plant in November, Masuko said.
“The US is a big market, and of course we’re going to be continuing sales there,” Masuko said. In July, Mitsubishi said it will stop manufacturing vehicles at its Normal, Ill., factory as part of global realignment to concentrate production in Japan, Russia and Southeast Asia. Mitsubishi wants to sell the factory, but will shutter it if no buyer can be found. Masuko said the search for a buyer is still on. “We still don’t have a promising buyer yet, but we haven’t given up,” he said.

Interesting situation. I’d caution that maybe those still waiting for the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV may want to just go ahead and consider a different option.

Smaller Mitsubishi Outlander Sport PHEV In The Works As Well

Over in Europe car buyers looking for an efficient, full-size SUV have become quite taken with the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, a vehicle that is topping sales charts in a number of countries. Yet we still can’t buy one here in America for at least another year, though when it does finally arrive, it won’t be alone, as a smaller Mitsubishi Outlander Sport PHEV is also in the works.

So says AutoGuide, which caught up with Mitsubishi executives at the New York Auto Show. Mitsu’s reveal of the “upgraded” Outlander (the conventional version) was kind of ho-hum, though it did show an increase in interior quality that Americans have come to expect from their SUVs. Before that though, a refreshed Mitsubishi Mirage will show up on dealer lots, and the little fuel-sipper have proven remarkably popular with economy car buyers.

Yet it isn’t cars that Mitsubishi is betting its future on, but rather trucks, SUVs, and of course plug-in cars. When the Outlander PHEV and Outlander Sport PHEV finally arrive in America, they will the market for plug-in family haulers still wide open. In Europe this has made the Outlander PHEV one of the best-selling plug-in cars on the continent, and there are rumors of a plug-in hybrid pickup as well. Old standbys though, like the Lancer Evolution and Galant, won’t be coming back to the Mitsu lineup anytime soon though. The world has just moved on, but that’s probably to Mitsubishi’s benefit.

A compact plug-in SUV seems to be just the thing the world needs right now, and if Mitsubishi can beat its competitors to market, it might be able to carve out a sizable niche for itself to help keep the comeback momentum going.

Time Has Run Out For The Toyota RAV4 EV

Three years ago, Tesla Motors and Toyota struck a deal to produce 2,600 battery-powered RAV4 EVs. The last of those electric crossovers has arrived in California to fulfill the deal, reports InsideEVs and with Toyota committing to its hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, there are no plans to replace the RAV4 EV anytime soon.

That means that this could be your last chance to get a fresh and new Toyota RAV4 EV, possibly forever. Though not without their problems, the 103-mile rated driving range per charge and $50,000 MSRP (thoughincentives made it much cheaper) make it more versatile and affordable than many other EVs. As InsideEVs reports though, 2,130 of the 2,600 have already been sold or leased, and a few of the remaining models may already be earmarked by Toyota for other purposes. That leaves as little as 300 RAV4 EVs left to be had.

Will Toyota pull a GM move and crush the leased models it gets back? Perhaps, though unlike GM, Toyota did sell a few RAV4 EVs, though it does nothing to support buyers who live outside of California, the only place you could actually buy the electric crossover. Toyota and Tesla’s differing cultures also clashed over development of the RAV4 EV, which some speculate led to the split.

It’s a double shame because there doesn’t seem to be any cars on the horizon that will replace it. The Tesla Model X is an order of magnitude more expensive with an estimated starting price well into the $70,000 range, and the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV still relies on a gas engine for longer distances. Other than that though? Automakers have put almost no effort into the two segments (electric and crossovers) that are among the fastest growing in both the US and Europe.

The RAV4 EV had the potential to be so much more than Toyota let it be, and I think that’s the biggest shame of all.

The post Time Has Run Out For The Toyota RAV4 EV appeared first on Gas 2.

Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV S Concept Gets Sporty Edge

After years of development, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV has proven to be a hit in Europe, and the Japanese automaker is sporting things up with the Outlander PHEV S. Though this mild concept is all show and no go, it could be a hint towards what US customers should expect when the Outlander arrives on our shores sometime next year.

The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV S has a number of little changes that add up to a much brawnier-looking SUV. The front fascia and grille has both been swept back a bit to provide a more aggressive feel compared to the softer lines of the current Outlander, and sharper headlights look ready to cut through the night. The lower air dam also looks much better with this update, whereas the original Outlander’s front end just looked…soft. The back end has also been updated in a similar fashion, but sorry, no pics yet.

The interior was also graced with updated materials like black wood grain trimmed with silver accents, and a center console reminiscent of traditional Japanese lacquered boxes. The interior was said to be a point of concern for Mitsubishi, and is one possible reason why the Outlander PHEV isn’t for sale in the US yet. The S Concept comes with the same 2.0 liter turbo engine and 12 kWh lithium-ion battery-backed plug-in hybrid drivetrain, which has been what most of the talk has centered around.

Tests have shown that the Outlander PHEV really does achieve the same fuel economy Mitsubishi claims it does, and a plug-in hybrid SUV seems like a surefire hit in SUV-crazed America. Alas, these delays mean the Outlander PHEV will debut in America just as Tesla Model X sales are ramping up, and I’m afraid it could end up lost in the shuffle.

My concerns aside, Mitsubishi has shown us how a few small changes can make for a much better looking car. Now now I can talk about the good looks of the Outlander PHEV, as well as its cutting edge drivetrain.

Source: Mitsubishi

Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Van For UK

If you live in the UK, the government will give you up to $8,300 if you buy a plug-in hybrid vehicle for personal use. But if you buy a PHEV for business use, it will send as much $13,300 your way. And if you drive it exclusively for business purposes, it will rebate 20% of the sales tax you paid.

Governments set the rules and the rest of us play along, and to take advantage of the UK government’s generosity, Mitsubishi has decided to make its hot selling Outlander PHEV into a commercial vehicle. How? Strip out the rear seats, replace the rear windows with sheet metal and fit the rear with a heavy duty load bed. Voila, it’s a van!

Mitsubishi calls its repurposed van the Outlander PHEV 4Work. The fact that it gets great gas mileage, has tremendous range, and comes with an advance all-wheel drive system makes buying one a no-brainer for British business owners.

Turning passenger cars into commercial vehicles is a time honored tradition around the world. Here in the US, Chrysler has converted lots of Caravans into beasts of burden for the post office and other folks who need to haul stuff around for business purposes. It’s possible the Outlander PHEV 4Work will be available in the US as soon as 2016 as well, though the regular passenger model has yet to launch.

Source: Motoring Research

Mitsubishi Outlander Hybrid Sells 33,000 Units

Mitsubishi has delayed the US launch of its Outlander Hybrid several times already- but that’s not because the award-winning technology behind the PHEV isn’t ready. Instead, it’s because Mitsubishi’s PHEV is selling out in every market it’s being sold in – and Mitsubishi Outlander Hybrid sales just surpassed 33,000 units!

At the moment, Mitsubishi is building Outlander Hybrids as fast as it can – and it looks like North America will have to wait for the all-new, completely-different2016 Outlander before we get a taste of Mitsubishi’s forward-looking PHEVs.

Until then, we have Mitsubishi’s official press release and a chart telling us something Gas 2 readers already know: the plug-in cars are winning!

Cars and CO2 law spurs automotive innovation as electric vehicle sales double in 2013 – Brussels – for immediate release

Sales of electric vehicles (EVs) have doubled annually in Europe since they were first marketed in 2010, the electrification section of T&E’s cars and CO2 report reveals. In 2013, provisional sales data from the European Environment Agency show that nearly 50,000 plug-in vehicles were sold, representing around 0.4% of all car sales in the EU.

The top three selling EV models in 2013 were all new entrants to the market (Renault Zoe, Mitsubishi Outlander and Volvo V60 Plug-in). In contrast, sales of the best-selling models in 2012 (Opel Ampera and Peugeot Citroen iOn / C-zero ) both fell significantly.

“Electric vehicles can play an important role in the shift to more sustainable mobility, and their increasing sales are being driven by carmakers’ need to innovate to meet EU CO2 regulations,” said Greg Archer of Transport & Environment.

The report highlights the importance of establishing new car emissions standards for 2025 and 2030 to ensure investment in low-carbon vehicles technologies is maintained. It warns that proposals by German carmakers to include transport in the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) would lead to higher transport emissions, more oil imports and less innovation in low carbon vehicle technologies because the ETS wouldn’t require emissions reductions in the transport sector.

“Including transport in the Emissions Trading Scheme would put a brake on low carbon vehicle innovation. Emissions standards complemented by targets for ultralow carbon efficient cars will ensure the current rapid pace of innovation is maintained,” Archer concluded.

The report shows sales of electric cars in Europe represent around a quarter of global sales. Sales in California are the highest in the world driven by a mandatory but tradeable requirement on carmakers to supply small numbers of these vehicles. T&E advocate a similar policy for the EU rather than encouraging EV sales through the flawed system of ‘supercredits’ that simply reduce the need for carmakers to improve the efficiency of conventional vehicles.

Cars are responsible for 15% of Europe’s total CO2 emissions and are the single largest source of emissions in the transport sector. The EU’s first obligatory rules on carbon emissions require car manufacturers to limit their average car to a maximum of 130 grams of CO2 per km by 2015, and 95g by 2021.

Source: Mitsubishi, via Autoblog.

Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Entering 1,300 Mile Asia Rally

A rally team will drive the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV in the Asia Cross Country Rally across over 1,300 miles of harsh mountain and jungle terrain.

The cross-country rally starts in the resort city of Pattaya in Thailand, and ends in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh, going through dangerous jungles and past ancient wonders like Angkor Wat. To handle the rough terrtain, engineers are going to give the Outlander PHEV a front-to-back makeover. Mitsubishi turned to Two and Four Motor Sports rally team to make the necessary modifications.

A competition suspension will give the Outlander more wheel travel to get over difficult obstacles, with reinforced mountings raising the ride height. The S-All Wheel Control (S-AWC) system is being recalibrated for extreme off-roading and better traction in adverse conditions. Add to that an underbody skid plate, snorkel, some lightweight body components, and roll cage, and you’ve got a hybrid SUV to handle a seriously harsh race. Drives have six days to go complete 1,367 miles, or 2,200 kilometers over mountains and through swamps.

Mitsubishi has not been shy about throwing its hybrid and electric vehicles into serious motorsports competitions like this rally or the Pikes Peak hill climb. It’s a great way to showcase how exciting and fun these cars can be, and it builds credibility with the enthusiast crowd as well. The Asia Cross Country Rally sets out on July 1st.

Will the Outlander hybrid make it all the way and win some extra bragging rights?

Source: Gas 2.

Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Proves Its MPG

Mitsubishi claims its Outlander plug-in hybrid has a driving range of 824 kilometers, or about 512 miles. But we all know such claims can fall short in real world driving, which is why Härkingen, the Swiss importer for Mitsubishi, decided to verify the factory’s numbers.

Felix Egolf – a pioneer in the field of ultra-efficient driving over long distances – was hired to drive the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV from company headquarters to Basel and then through the Vosges mountains to Metz. From there, Egolf went through Luxembourg, Belgium and the Netherlands before ending his journey at the offices of the Dutch Mitsubishi importer in Amstelveen. In total, the route used highways about 40% of the time, but the rest of the journey was on back roads and in mountainous terrain.

At Amstelveen, the Mitsubishi Outlander had covered 729 kilometers and had 90 kilometers of range remaining. So Egolf then drove the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV to a photo shoot in Amsterdam and then on to Utrecht. When he filled the tank, the Outlander has covered 830 kilometers in mixed driving, 6 more than the factory claims possible under ideal conditions.

For once, factory numbers were achieved in real world conditions and Härkingen can assure its customers they can expect their fuel economy to closely match the factory estimate. Mitsubishi has made an effort to deliver better MPG ratings in light of several high profile fuel economy downgrades in the past year.

Congratulations Mitsubishi on selling a car that does exactly what you said it would.

Source: Gas 2.

Mitsubishi XR-PHEV Evolution Debuts In Gran Turismo - VIDEO

The relationship between videogames and automakers has never been closer. The Mitsubishi XR-PHEV Evolution is the latest digital concept car to debut in Gran Turismo 6, and could hint at the proposed hybrid successor to the aging Lancer Evolution.

Actually, its an “evolution” of the XR-PHEV crossover concept that debuted last fall at the Tokyo Auto Show, but radically redesigned for racing in the world of Gran Turismo 6. A three-cylinder 1.1 liter engine feeds a plug-in hybrid all-wheel drive system, similar to the plug-in hybrid Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV.

The XR-PHEV Evolution is sort of a digital stopgap, what with all the rumors of the Lancer Evolution’s impending demise. While there has been talk of the next Lancer Evo embracing a hybrid drivetrain (and this video only adds fuel to the fire), Mitsubishi’s poor fortunes in North America mean that it should probably focus on building and marketing a mainstream hit, like the new Mitsubishi Mirage.

Concepts like the XR-PHEV Evolution are nice to look at, but until business improves, it’s likely to remain as a digital reminder of what Mitsubishi could do. Fair warning; the video is in Japanese, so you have to turn on the subtitles if you want any idea of what’s going on.

Source: Gas 2.

Mitsubishi GR-HEV Concept Inspiring Production Model

Now this concept from Mitsubishi is cool. Let's hope it makes it to production.

Mitsubishi is looking to get back into the compact truck market with a sleek and efficient new design based off of the GR-HEV concept. Though it might not have the same radical look of drivetrain, but it could shake-up a truck market long dominated by big American trucks.

Only recently has GM recommitted to the idea of a smaller truck, and one with a diesel engine at that, though Ford and Chrysler have left that dwindling market for other automakers to fight over. This could be Mitsubishi’s chance to muscle its way into an underserved market, at a time when trucks of all sizes are upping the MPG ante.

Details so far are scarce, and all we know is that the new L200, or Triton as its known in markets the world over, will debut this fall with a number of styling cues from the GR-HEV concept. That concept had a 2.5 liter diesel engine connected to a plug-in hybrid drvetrain that delivered a combined mileage of some 36 MPG. That’s 8 MPG better than the closest competitor, the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel.

While the production model isn’t likely to offer a hybrid drivetrain at launch, I can’t help but imagine the drivetrain of the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV shoehorned into a mid-size pickup. The only issue, at least as far as us Americans go, is whether or not we’ll ever see it. Importing a truck to the U.S. is a non-starter thanks to a 25% import tariff on trucks, which means it’d have to be built in North America. Unfortunately, Mitsubishi builds its trucks in Thailand, where it exports the L200 to 140 global markets…but not here.

Don’t hold your breath for this one, at least if you live in the U.S.

Source: Paultan

Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV review

You’ll need a good memory indeed to recall a TV ad for a Mitsubishi. The Japanese firm’s UK distributor spent £6 million on advertising in 2012; in 2013 it was £8m. Neither budget was big enough to fund a TV ad campaign.

This year, though, the marketing spend is £20m, and Mitsubishi's ads will be back on TV. Suddenly, it has something to shout about: the Outlander PHEV plug-in hybrid SUV.

Matt
Prior

Road test editor

The Outlander PHEV owes much to the iMiEV hatchback

There were two generations of Outlander prior to this one, neither of which received anything more exotic than internal combustion engines. The PHEV’s origins can instead be traced to the iMiEV, the five-door electric hatchback based on Mitsubishi’s ‘i’ kei car.

That car, on sale from 2009, was the culmination of more than a decade’s work as the firm’s research into alternative propulsion moved through the 2005 Colt and Lancer concepts to the CT and EZ MiEV models shown in 2006.

Given how badly most ‘plug-in’ vehicles have been missing their sales targets of late, you might think that introducing another sounds like a gamble. Mitsubishi, like every car maker who has introduced a battery car of the current crop, would reply that its plug-in is different – the one to break through.

But Mitsubishi argues with more compelling reasoning than we’re used to. The Outlander PHEV comes with a price relative to the diesel-engined mid-sized 4x4 standard and, says Mitsubishi, without a compromise elsewhere, while returning a claimed 148mpg.

Super-frugal or not, it could save you thousands in company car tax every year. As such, it might be a car you can’t afford not to take an interest in.

Source: Autocar