Special editions are rarely special and that’s clear with the unveiling of the Mitsubishi Outlander and Outlander PHEV 40th Anniversary Editions. We’ll get to the crossovers in a moment but, as the name suggests, the models are designed to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Mitsubishi Motors North America. However, the company turned 40 in 2021, so claims they “recently celebrated its 40th anniversary” are a stretch to say the least.
Furthermore, the automaker noted
Mitsubishi vehicles had actually been sold in the United States prior to 1981,
but they sported Dodge and Plymouth badging thanks to a partnership with
Chrysler. However, Mitsubishi Motor
Sales of America was born in 1981 and started selling vehicles from an initial
network that consisted of 70 dealers.
Putting that history lesson aside, the
Outlander 40th Anniversary Edition is based on the SEL Premium trim and
features unique badging as well as a Black Diamond exterior with a contrasting
Bronze roof. Other special touches
include an illuminated grille and scuff plates. The Outlander 40th Anniversary
Edition costs US$ 39,995 and also comes equipped with semi-aniline leather seats
with front and rear heating. Buyers will
also find a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 10.8-inch head-up display,
and a 9-inch infotainment system with GPS navigation. Other highlights include a heated steering
wheel, a 10-speaker Bose premium audio system, and a panoramic sunroof.
Power is provided by a 2.5-liter
four-cylinder engine that develops 181 hp and 245
Nm of torque. It’s paired to a
continuously variable transmission and a standard all-wheel drive system. The
Outlander PHEV 40th Anniversary Edition is virtually identical, but it starts
at US$ 49,995 and has a plug-in hybrid powertrain that consists of a 2.4-liter
four-cylinder engine, a 20 kWh battery pack, and two electric motors. This setup enables the model to travel 61 km on electricity alone and have a combined output of 248 hp and 450 Nm of torque.
