Mitsubishi brings a European PHEV powerhouse to the US market
The 2017 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is the top-selling plug-in hybrid in Europe, and now it's coming stateside.
Mitsubishi and Fiat Chrysler are on similar paths. Both are investing heavily in profitable, solid-selling crossovers and SUVs, putting sedans to the side to some degree. The next step in Mitsubishi's strategy involves increasing the number of available hybrids, and the Outlander PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle) is next on the docket.
The Outlander PHEV takes advantage of a 2.0-liter gas engine and two electric motors, all of which combine to boost fuel economy. It's packing full-time four-wheel drive, with one electric motor at each end. The 12-kWh battery is enough to provide stretches of electric-only driving, but Mitsubishi declined to give a specific range.
The car offers three drive modes, full electric, series hybrid and parallel hybrid. Series hybrid mode provides electric power while the gas engine acts as a generator to provide juice for the battery. Parallel hybrid lets the gas engine put its power to the road, with the electric motors providing assistance.
The tech doesn't stop with the hybrid drivetrain, either. The Outlander PHEV will offer a 360-degree-view camera system, blind-spot monitoring and forward collision warning with pedestrian detection. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity are also available.
While Mitsubishi has not yet mentioned pricing, it did say that the Outlander PHEV will arrive in US showrooms this coming fall.