The Outlander is Mitsubishi’s saving grace and the company is preparing to launch a facelifted plug-in hybrid variant. It will go on sale in Japan this fall with a host of updates. Starting outside, the crossover wears a “more refined and sophisticated face.” Marketing hyperbole aside, the teaser suggests we can expect relatively minor changes as the model closely resembles its predecessor. That being said, the crossover will have a revised color palette that includes a new Moonstone Gray Metallic option. Buyers will also find new wheels including 20-inchers with a two-tone design.
Moving inside, we can expect “greatly
improved” interior quality. The company was coy on specifics, but confirmed the
Outlander will be offered with ventilated semi-aniline leather seats. They’ll
be joined by a new 12.3-inch infotainment system, which replaces the previous
8- and 9-inch displays.
Mitsubishi has also teamed up with Yamaha
to create a premium audio system. It sports stylish speaker grilles with
prominent badging as well as “four realistic sound” settings. The changes are
more than skin deep as the crossover will be equipped with a new battery that
“significantly extends the EV driving range.” Mitsubishi also hinted at a
higher output, which will deliver “powerful and smooth acceleration.” We can
also expect a revised suspension and a retuned steering system. The automaker
also promised ride comfort that feels “one class above the rest.”
Full details will be released in the
coming weeks, but the current model has a 2.4-liter engine, two electric
motors, and a 20 kWh battery pack. This gives the plug-in hybrid a combined
output of 248 hp and an electric-only range of 61
km.
