Mitsubishi Finally Debuts The 2017 Outlander PHEV At NY

After the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV’s US debut was pushed back several times, the plug-in hybrid SUV finally made its appearance at the New York Auto Show and it’s going on sale in fall 2016.

Looking identical to the facelifted European and Japanese 2016MY Outlander PHEV variants, Mitsubishi’s latest addition to the North American line-up features a 2.0-litre gas engine and two high-performance electric motors, driving the front and rear wheels, responsible for offering a permanent 4WD system that provides quick and optimized torque distribution.

The electric units are mounted separately at the front and rear axles, thus providing precise, responsive all-wheel-drive performance, while the company’s S-AWC (Super All Wheel Control) system ensures intuitive and linear handling – or so Mitsubishi says. The battery that supplies the juice for the motors is located is a high-capacity 12kWh lithium-ion pack. located under the floor.

The Outlander PHEV features three available driving modes, including the full electric EV mode, series power (electric power with generator operation), and parallel hybrid (engine power and electric motor assistance). The vehicle’s PHEV system automatically selects the most efficient mode depending of a series of factors, such as road conditions and traction. The system also comes with a regenerative braking mode, capturing electricity under braking.

“What makes the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV so special is that it offers the best of both worlds with a balance of electric efficiency and long-range practicality/ Mitsubishi put its engineering prowess and knowledge to work to create a vehicle that meets the demand of a growing number of consumers who need a car that is capable and environmentally friendly. The Outlander PHEV will offer a high electric range and combined miles per gallon (MPG),” said Don Swearingen, executive vice president, MMNA.

Although official figures have yet to be released, we know the car boasts a 20.2 km/L (4.95 l/100 km or 47.5 mpg US) consumption figure, measured in the Japanese JC08 drive mode, while its all-electric range is 60.8 km (37.7 miles).