U.S. customers will be finally able to get their hands on the plug-in hybrid version of the Mitsubishi Outlander
Debuting at the New York Auto Show as a 2017 model, the Outlander PHEV sports the same exterior design and technology as the refreshed Outlander PHEV models sold in Europe and Japan. The plug-in hybrid SUV pairs a 2.0-liter gasoline engine with a twin electric motor 4WD system and a 12 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. The two electric motors are mounted separately on the front and rear axles.
The 2017 Outlander PHEV has three drive modes: EV (full electric mode), series hybrid (electric power with generator operation), and parallel hybrid (engine power and electric motor assistance). The plug-in hybrid system automatically selects the most efficient drive mode according to road conditions and other factors. The PHEV system also features a regenerative braking mode that captures electricity under braking.
Mitsubishi didn't reveal output and fuel economy figures for the NA-spec 2017 Outlander PHEV yet, but they should be similar with those from Europe and Japan. In European specification, the Outlander PHEV's gasoline engine produces 121 PS (119 hp) while each electric motor produces 82 PS (81 hp). Average fuel consumption according to Japan's JC08 cycle is 4.95 l/100 km (equivalent to 47.5 mpg US). Driving range in EV mode is 60.8 km (37.7 miles), according to the same measurements.
The plug-in hybrid SUV will offer a range of advanced safety and convenience features including Multi-Around View Camera Monitor, Forward Collision Mitigation with pedestrian detection capability, Blind Spot Monitoring with Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), and available smartphone integrations including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The 2017 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV goes on sale in fall 2016 in the United States. U.S. prices and specifications will be announced closer to launch.