Mitsubishi GC-PHEV Concept



The Mitsubishi Concept GC-PHEV ("Grand Cruiser") is a futuristic next-generation full-size crossover that combines the capability and energy efficiency of a dynamic plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) powertrain in a muscular-looking yet highly refined vehicle.



The exterior design of the Concept GC-PHEV is marked by the carefully placed angular creases in the sheetmetal that when combined with the overall imposing dimensions and muscular silhouette of this vehicle, express a sense of performance, capability and safety.

Up front, the sleek, narrow headlights perched atop the daytime running lamps have been positioned as high as possible for maximum effectiveness and visibility. The front grille cascades from the hood down to the lower section of the front fascia. Active variable louvers have been placed within the grill to enhance engine cooling when the engine management system deems it necessary.

At the rear of the vehicle, the large tailgate marries aesthetically appealing crisp and contemporary lines with outstanding functionality, providing exceptional rearward visibility to the driver. The exterior aesthetic of the Concept GC-PHEV embodies a spirit of adventure and rugged capability and hints at the exciting design language for future Mitsubishi production vehicles.


Inside you'll find a sophisticated and modern cabin that has been designed to offer an exceptional degree of comfort for all its occupants. It also has an array of innovative next-generation safety and convenience technologies including Mitsubishi's signature augmented reality technology AR Windshield and touchscreen-based Tactical Table connected car information system.

All four of the Concept GC-PHEV's occupants get their own ergonomically-designed bucket seat and everyone in the vehicle has access to an exciting new Mitsubishi technology - the Tactical Table.

A new vehicle technology incorporated in the Concept GC-PHEV is the Tactical Table. Located in the center of the cabin between the four seating positions, the touch-screen Tactical Table is an innovative new information system that makes connected car technology an interactive experience available to everyone inside the vehicle. The Tactical Table provides an advanced means of two-way communication between the vehicle's occupants, whether assimilating information for a road trip or having fun through its advanced infotainment features. When the driver or one of the passengers places their smartphone atop the Tactical Table they can create, collect, exchange and/or share information with others using the Concept GC-PHEV's onboard communication system.


The MiEV PHEV drivetrain powering the Concept GC-PHEV consists of a gasoline-powered supercharged 3.0-liter V-6 engine paired with a lightweight, compact and high-output electric motor that together produce a maximum of 335 horsepower and a main drive lithium-ion battery pack with storage capacity of 12 kWh (which is located behind the rear axle and beneath the rear cargo area floor). This energetic yet extremely efficient powertrain combination makes for exciting acceleration with plenty of torque while offering excellent fuel and energy efficiency - the best of both worlds.

Another welcome feature of the Concept GC-PHEV's advanced plug-in electric vehicle drivetrain is that the system's high-capacity main drive lithium-ion battery pack can act as a mobile power source. The 100 volt AC onboard electrical outlet is capable of delivering an external power supply of up to 1500 watts of electrical energy, ideal for acting as an emergency power source for home appliances in the event of a power outage. Using the energy stored within a fully charged lithium-ion battery pack alone, the Concept GC-PHEV can supply the equivalent of a day's worth of electrical power consumption to the average household. With a fully charged battery pack and a full tank of gas to recharge the battery when necessary, this advanced PHEV drivetrain can provide nearly two weeks (13 days) of emergency power to the average household.


When driving, the PHEV system automatically switches operation between pure EV mode (all-electric) and hybrid mode (engine and electric motor) depending upon driving conditions, remaining energy within the lithium-ion main drive battery pack, and other factors. In EV mode, the transmission allows the engine's output efficiency to be maximized at all vehicle speeds. When driving in hybrid mode, the 8-speed automatic transmission extracts power from the engine while the high-output electric motor kicks in to provide additional power, if required.


A pioneer and recognized global leader in the area of PHEV-based all-wheel drive systems, Mitsubishi has designed an extremely capable Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC) system for the Concept GC-PHEV to provide the highest degree of safety, tractability and off-road performance. The S-AWC system not only includes electronically-controlled front and center limited-slip differentials but also benefits from a proprietary Electronic-powered Active Yaw Control (E-AYC) system that more precisely controls left/right torque vectoring of the wheels by using a differential motor. The implementation of a differential motor not only improves response but makes for a much more energy efficient system when compared to a conventional hydraulically-operated yaw control system. This helps the E-AYC system to more efficiently recover energy when the vehicle is decelerating - generating more "free" energy to feed into the lithium-ion main drive battery pack.