Mitsubishi drops details on plug-in hybrid Outlander
02-15-15, 06:44 PM
#21
Delayed U.S. Launch For Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Now Set For April 2016
Any mention of the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV needed to be followed by, "It's still coming," by company officials. Now there's a new launch date, but this one seems pretty likely.
Mitsubishi's U.S. PR Manager Alex Fedorak told Autoblog this week at the Chicago Auto Show that he's confident the Outlander PHEV will be at the company's U.S. dealers in April 2016. It's a long way from the Outlander plug-in's fall 2012 launch at the Paris Motor Show, and the original targets of sometime in 2014 that followed.
After solving battery quality and supply problems, though, Mitsubishi is now focusing on giving U.S. dealers a facelifted Outlander PHEV that'll probably look something like Outlander PHEV Concept S shown last year in Paris. That concept's front and rear ends were clearly influenced by the Mitsubishi GC-PHEV Concept just shown again Thursday at the Chicago Auto Show.
Even when it comes, Fedorak said the Outlander PHEV is expected to make up a very small portion of Outlander sales. Unless that's a hint it'll be priced far, far higher than an equivalent Outlander, that could be a cautious projection on Mitsubishi's part given the Outlander will pretty much only be competing with the front-drive Ford C-Max Energi and the much larger and expensive Volvo XC90 T8.
Those of you interested in a five-seat plug-in SUV should mark your calendars, though. Maybe even in ink this time.
Mitsubishi's U.S. PR Manager Alex Fedorak told Autoblog this week at the Chicago Auto Show that he's confident the Outlander PHEV will be at the company's U.S. dealers in April 2016. It's a long way from the Outlander plug-in's fall 2012 launch at the Paris Motor Show, and the original targets of sometime in 2014 that followed.
After solving battery quality and supply problems, though, Mitsubishi is now focusing on giving U.S. dealers a facelifted Outlander PHEV that'll probably look something like Outlander PHEV Concept S shown last year in Paris. That concept's front and rear ends were clearly influenced by the Mitsubishi GC-PHEV Concept just shown again Thursday at the Chicago Auto Show.
Even when it comes, Fedorak said the Outlander PHEV is expected to make up a very small portion of Outlander sales. Unless that's a hint it'll be priced far, far higher than an equivalent Outlander, that could be a cautious projection on Mitsubishi's part given the Outlander will pretty much only be competing with the front-drive Ford C-Max Energi and the much larger and expensive Volvo XC90 T8.
Those of you interested in a five-seat plug-in SUV should mark your calendars, though. Maybe even in ink this time.
02-15-15, 08:50 PM
#22
Lexus Fanatic
A hint (but not really a strong copy) of the Lexus spindle-grille.
I'm not necessarily predicting an imminent Mitsubishi fold. But, for a number of reasons (and simply not having enough American dealerships being one of them), I'll be surprised if Mitsubishi is still in the American market after a couple of more years. They seem to be taking almost the same general path that Isuzu and Suzuki did, except that, unlike them, Mitsubishi still generally sells its own designs (what is left of them) in the American market, and not rebadged versions of vehicles from other manufacturers.
I'm not necessarily predicting an imminent Mitsubishi fold. But, for a number of reasons (and simply not having enough American dealerships being one of them), I'll be surprised if Mitsubishi is still in the American market after a couple of more years. They seem to be taking almost the same general path that Isuzu and Suzuki did, except that, unlike them, Mitsubishi still generally sells its own designs (what is left of them) in the American market, and not rebadged versions of vehicles from other manufacturers.
Last edited by mmarshall; 02-16-15 at 05:47 AM.
02-16-15, 04:07 AM
#25
Pole Position
There are few things here: First of all its not being delayed until 2016 but rather the current generation PHEV is being skipped for US market all together. Once it goes on sale it will be an Outlander with facelifted face and rear but with also updated PHEV drivetrain. My speculation is either better acceleration or boosted EV range, or a bit of both, although setup should remain the same which means no individual in-wheel motors yet unfortunately, at least not on the Outlander.
Popularity of this car rides solely on affordable pricing. They are selling it like hotcakes and Im sure even Mitsu is taken by surprise. Even in 2016 this SUV in US will not have a direct competitor on the market if priced around $40,000. Volvo T8 is double the money for the same features current Outlander PHEV offers, Tesla S is a six figure vehicle, i3/i7 dont offer four doors and are ridicolusy priced, C-max much like Leaf are not comparable in size and much of the announced german PHEV from VW, Audi, MB are not even going to match what current Outlander offers if they ever reach the market.
Other two things: interior pictured above will most likely be included in the top trim while exterior will not look like the Outlander concept pictured above, it will toned down drastically unfortunately.
In the end its really sad that Mitsu dropped the ***** so hard on EV and hybrid segment. Over a decade ago they had cutting edge EV technology by themselves. Fifteen years ago they had a technology that could do 350 miles on a single charge. Ten years ago they developed in-wheel motor, performance oriented though, and yet we see no application. They could have been affordable Tesla by now but corporate corruption took its toll. On a positive note even ten years after they still lead PHEV segment by offering a normal sized SUV with the highest PHEV range for the diesel price. Too bad they cant make enough of them.
Popularity of this car rides solely on affordable pricing. They are selling it like hotcakes and Im sure even Mitsu is taken by surprise. Even in 2016 this SUV in US will not have a direct competitor on the market if priced around $40,000. Volvo T8 is double the money for the same features current Outlander PHEV offers, Tesla S is a six figure vehicle, i3/i7 dont offer four doors and are ridicolusy priced, C-max much like Leaf are not comparable in size and much of the announced german PHEV from VW, Audi, MB are not even going to match what current Outlander offers if they ever reach the market.
Other two things: interior pictured above will most likely be included in the top trim while exterior will not look like the Outlander concept pictured above, it will toned down drastically unfortunately.
In the end its really sad that Mitsu dropped the ***** so hard on EV and hybrid segment. Over a decade ago they had cutting edge EV technology by themselves. Fifteen years ago they had a technology that could do 350 miles on a single charge. Ten years ago they developed in-wheel motor, performance oriented though, and yet we see no application. They could have been affordable Tesla by now but corporate corruption took its toll. On a positive note even ten years after they still lead PHEV segment by offering a normal sized SUV with the highest PHEV range for the diesel price. Too bad they cant make enough of them.
02-16-15, 02:57 PM
#27
Lexus Fanatic
Agreed.....probably the best Mitsubishi interior I've seen in years, at least since the Diamante. We'll see, though, if one nice-looking interior can still help save Mitsubishi's somewhat precarious position in the American market.
On the other hand, though, look at what the then-new MKC has done for also-precarious Lincoln just since last summer.........
On the other hand, though, look at what the then-new MKC has done for also-precarious Lincoln just since last summer.........
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