Just a little over two months after Mitsubishi teased the new Outlander with the second iteration of its Concept PX-MiEV at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show, the Japanese company lifted the wraps off the production model that will make its world premiere at the forthcoming Geneva Motor Show in early March.
Even though we only get a single picture from Mitsubishi, it’s easy to see that the all-new Outlander is almost a carbon copy of the PX-MiEV II right down to the design of the alloy wheels.
This doesn’t mean that there aren’t differences over the study but that they are limited to details such as the conventional headlamp units, exterior mirrors and door handles while Mitsubishi also added a pair of fog lamps up front.
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.
PHOTO GALLERY
MITSUBISHI PX-MiEV CONCEPT
