Mitsubishi Concept XR PHEV II

Will there be a next Mitsubishi Evo? According to Mitsubishi president Tetsuro Aikawa, the Japanese automaker has plans to create an all-new high performance vehicle. However, the exec also hints that the Evo successor will deliver a very radical departure from its current form. 

“In the future, we would like to launch such a vehicle with Evo characteristics. In Japanese, when you pronounce ‘Oh’ [in Evo], it means ‘king,’" explained Aikawa to Autocar. "So we would like to launch this type of car, featuring EV and PHEV technology, which is the ultimate of its kind. ‘EV’ for electric vehicle, ‘O’ for king - Evo.”

According to reports, the upcoming Mitsubishi EVO will be based on the next-generation ASX crossover and, as the EV in EVO suggests, will feature a high-performance version of Mitsubishi's PHEV power unit. The next-gen Mitsubishi ASV was previewed at the Geneva Motor Show as the XR-PHEV II concept. The concept also featured a plug-in hybrid gas-electric unit that is expected to produce 160 bhp. No doubt, the powerplant will produce significantly larger numbers for the EVO.

“It has to be light and fast - something performance-oriented. That’s what we want,” explained Aikawa. The next generation EVO will also adopt several lessons that Mitsubishi has learned from its years of competition at the Pikes Peak Hill Climb including the recent Mitsubishi i-MiEV racing car.  

Stay tuned as we learn more. 

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All-New Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-in Hybrid

Mitsubishi says that the new Outlander's will feature the "same uncluttered quality look" inside the cabin with higher grade materials that include padded surfaces, soft-touch finish, silver accents and gloss black appliqués along with a new multifunctional steering wheel and "easy-to-read instrument displays".

The Outlander will also gain a power tailgate and sport full third row seating and a flat floor cargo area.

Under the hood, the new Outlander will launch in Europe towards the end of summer with a choice of two four-cylinder engines, including a revised 2.0-liter MIVEC petrol or 2.2-liter MIVEC Clean Diesel, in both FWD and four-wheel drive variants. Depending on the market and the engine, an Auto Stop & Go system as well as an all-new 6-speed automatic transmission will also be available.

In early 2013, Mitsubishi will add a new plug-in hybrid powertrain combining a 2.0-liter four-cylinder petrol engine with a pair of electric motors, one on each axle. According to the company, the Outlander plug-in hybrid will allow for a driving range and very low CO2 emissions similar to that of the PX-MiEV II concept at over 800 km (~500 miles) and a target of below 50 g/km, respectively.

The new Outlander will first go on sale in Russia early this summer followed by Europe in late summer, Japan, Oceania, China and North America.

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