Mitsubishi presents new Outlander PHEV

Mitsubishi has unveiled the new edition of its Outlander PHEV. The SUV will go on sale in Japan in December, followed by Australia and New Zealand in the first half of 2022 and North America in the second half of 2022. Sales in Europe are not planned.

++ This article has been updated. Kindly continue reading below. ++

Going forward, the SUV will come with a revised plug-in hybrid system, including enhanced all-wheel-drive system performance and an increased battery capacity of 20 kWh, which is said to allow 87 kilometres of pure electric range. The Outlander PHEV was originally launched in 2013 with a 12 kWh battery, but was later updated to 13.8 kWh. In addition to the energy storage, Mitsubishi has also enlarged the petrol tank in the new Outlander PHEV. Furthermore, by integrating the rear engine into the control unit, space has been gained for the installation of a third row of seats, so that in future the model will be on sale not only as a five-seater, as before, but also as a seven-seater.

Another highlight Mitsubishi mentions is that the all-wheel drive system has been equipped with a further developed version of the Super-All Wheel Control (S-AWC). This is the Japanese company’s all-wheel drive technology that offers integrated control of Active Stability Control (ASC), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and Active Yaw Control (AYC). The new model will also have seven driving modes and be capable of one-pedal driving.

Basically, both the power of the drive unit and the energy content of the battery are said to have been increased by about 40 per cent compared to its predecessor. The appearance of the SUV also brings innovations without departing too much from the familiar and proven design language.

In Japan, the refurbished PHEV will go on sale for 4,621,100 to 5,320,700 yen (34,866 to 40,144 euros) including VAT. Since the model’s introduction in 2013, around 290,000 units have been sold worldwide so far.

However, unlike its predecessor, the new Outlander PHEV will not be coming to Europe. This is due to Mitsubishi’s strategic plan presented in 2020, according to which no new models will be introduced on the European market for the time being, but existing models will continue to be sold.

As for other electric and plug-in hybrid models, Mitsubishi has recently launched the Eclipse Cross PHEV and is planning a fully electric model for the Chinese market in the 2021 financial year, which will be developed together with GAC. In the 2022 financial year, said new edition of the Outlander PHEV is to follow. Mitsubishi is also planning a concept of the purely electric Kei Car, an extremely compact car, together with Nissan for 2022.

Update 28 September 2022

The next generation Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is coming to the U.S., and will be on-sale in select markets starting in November, followed later by availability across the whole country. The seven-passenger 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV will carry a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) starting from $39,845.

Mitsubishi states that the 2023 Outlander PHEV offers 38 miles of all-electric range from the 350-volt, 20kWh lithium-ion battery pack mounted below the floor and between the wheels for a low centre of gravity. The rating is a 40% improvement in range over the previous model. Using the onboard DC fast-charger, the battery can be recharged to 80% capacity in approximately 38 minutes.

“The 2023 Outlander PHEV is the pinnacle of Mitsubishi Motors’ engineering,” said Mark Chaffin, President and CEO of Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. “With 38 miles of electric range and 420 miles of combined range, this vehicle offers the perfect blend of clean and quiet electric motoring with the ease of refueling and no range anxiety that only a gasoline engine can offer.”

insideevs.com, mitsubishi-motors.com, mitsubishicars.com (update)