Mitsubishi is exending the range of its popular Outlander plug-in hybrid as part of a compleete overhaul unveiled in an official Online World Premiere on Thursday.
The new Outlander PHEV, which will begin deliveries in Japan this year and Australia in the first half of 2022 boasts a larger capacity 20kW drive battery that raises the all-electric range to 87-kilometres (WLTC), even when operating functions such as the air conditioner. It also gets a bigger petrol tank.
A new power drive unit for the front motor is equipped with a booster function which raises the supply of voltage to the front motor while also improving electricity consumption by raising the efficiency of the generator.
Combining the rear motor with the control unit also allowed Mitsubishi to create enough floor space to install a third row of seats for two of the three Outlander models.
The new Outlander has a Super-All Wheel Control (S-AWC) integrated vehicle dynamics control system that is based on a twin-motor 4WD system, with one drive motor in front and another in the rear.
“With low CO2 emissions and environmental impact in terms of life-cycle assessment, the all-new Outlander PHEV model can be considered the best solution for carbon neutrality today,” said Takao Kato, president and chief executive officer of Mitsubishi Motors.
“With our electrification technology that delivers an exhilarating, eco-friendly ride, plus all-wheel control technology for safety and peace of mind in any kind of weather and road conditions, we are confident this new Outlander can make driving even more enjoyable and fulfilling.”
The new Outlander is priced in Japan from 4,621,100 yen to 5,320,700 yen, which includes Japan’s 10% consumption tax, and which converts into Australia to range from around $54,000 to $62,000 – though, presumably, on-road costs and any potential subsidies will push these numbers around somewhat.
Interestingly, it looks as though Mitsubishi has droppted the 2.0-litre petrol and 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engines from the new Outlander line-up. A sign of the times.
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.