Mitsubishi has announced it is to unveil an Outlander plug-in hybrid SUV at the Paris Motor Show in just a few weeks. It’s the first ever plug-in hybrid SUV, according to Mitsubishi.
The company is touting the new vehicle as “The best of three worlds”; that is, the company says it has the superior environmental performance of an electric vehicle, the range of a conventional internal combustion engine, and the on and off-road performance of an SUV. This will be the first time a production hybrid SUV is able to be taken off-road, not that very many owners of SUVs tend to do that, at all. The powertrain of the new SUV can apparently run in full EV mode, series hybrid mode, or parallel hybrid mode.
The Outlander PHEV uses Mitsubishi’s own plug-in hybrid system derived from other cars in its line-up. This includes the electric i-MEV. The Outlander will be about to use power generated from regenerative braking, as well as from a usual external power source. However, the driving range in electric-only mode is reportedly only around 30 miles. The combined driving range is reportedly at least 540 miles.
The hybrid SUV is slated to enter the Japanese market early next year, and there is no indication of pricing just yet, or if it will be released in other markets. No doubt Mitsubishi will be testing the waters in Japan, to see how well it sells.
Is a hybrid SUV something you’d consider buying, if you need a bigger car than standard hybrid and electric models?
Image: 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-in Hybrid
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