As a follow-up to the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander’s debut at Geneva earlier this year, the Japanese automaker will show the plug-in hybrid version of the upcoming crossover at the Paris Motor Show. Though the Outlander plug-in hybrid has been previewed before as the PX-MiEV and PX-MiEV II concepts, the debut in Paris will reveal the battery-assisted model in production trim.
Mitsubishi says the third-generation Outlander will be the first mainstream automobile designed from the outset with conventional internal combustion and hybrid drivetrains in mind. Two electric motors will power the Outlander PHEV — one in front and one in the rear — supplemented by a front-mounted gasoline engine that can act as a traction motor or generator. The Outlander PHEV will also feature permanent four-wheel drive, and can drive its wheels through three selectable modes. “Series” and “Parallel” modes rely on the gasoline engine to act as a generator or directly power the wheels, while “Pure” mode runs the vehicle completely on electric power.
Mitsubishi says the Outlander’s plug-in hybrid system achieves range and emissions performance close to that of the PX-MiEV II concept, which boasted a range of nearly 500 miles and a carbon emissions target of less than 50 g/km.
The Outlander PHEVwill go on sale in Europe sometime in 2013, while the standard Outlander will begin deliveries in Western and Eastern Europe this fall. The Outlander Plug-in’s exact specifications aren’t yet available, but further details will be announced closer to the vehicle’s debut in Paris this September.
Thanks to: Motor Trend
Post a Comment