Plug-in Outlander now on the cards
Mitsubishi showed off its allnew Outlander in February, but didn’t talk about the popular plug-in hybrid version. Now, the Japanese manufacturer has given us our first glimpse of the new PHEV.
The new Outlander will launch here before the end of the year, with pricing starting at $41,990 for the LS two-wheel drive, rising to $54,990 for the VRX allwheel drive, and Mitsubishi New Zealand expected the PHEV to be following soon after.
Mitsubishi still isn’t discussing specifications of the plug-in, only saying it will have more power and a larger battery.
The outgoing model used a 2.4-litre, four-cylinder petrol making 94kW/
199Nm with twin electric motors making
60kW and 70kW each. It’s the same powertrain as in the Eclipse PHEV too.
The company did confirm it will offer three-row seating with the PHEV powertrain for the first time, thanks to revised packaging.
And, for those looking for some extra performance, rumour has it Mitsubishi will bring back the Evolution badge with a high-performance version of the Outlander PHEV.
It’s an unconfirmed report thus far, but Best Car says a ‘‘symbolic’’ version of the Outlander Evolution was supposed to appear at the 2021 Tokyo Motor Show, but it has been pushed out to June next year.
Such a vehicle would likely employ more than two motors, which would fit into previous rumours of a four-motor plug-in hybrid powertrain being worked on in the skunkworks of Mitsubishi and its newly reborn Ralliart division.
Factor in a stronger combustion engine, and it should be quite a potent machine – despite the questionable use of the Evolution badge.
Meanwhile, the new Outlander has moved to the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance’s CMF-C/D platform, also shared with the X-Trail.
The only engine option at launch will be a 2.5-litre naturally-aspirated fourcylinder petrol engine, developing 135kW of power and 245Nm of torque. It’s connected to a CVT, driving the front or all four wheels.