Mitsubishi has unveiled its new “Small but
Beautiful” business plan which aims to cut costs while also improving
profitability. Under the new plan, the company will concentrate on core regions
and technologies. This means the automaker will be focus on the ASEAN region
where they are most competitive. Mitsubishi will also focus on hybrid, plug-in
hybrid and four-wheel drive vehicles.
Speaking of vehicles, the company is
planning a series of “cutting-edge models leveraging” technologies from
alliance members Renault and Nissan. This will include their semi-autonomous
driving technology and electric powertrains. The company also revealed they’re
studying a joint Kei-car with Nissan and it could spawn an electric variant.
While the business side of things is
pretty dull, besides the impending death of the
Pajero, the plan reveals details about the company’s future product
lineup. In particular, the company confirmed an Eclipse Cross plug-in hybrid
will be introduced in the 2020 financial year. FY2021 will see the introduction
of the new Outlander and an all-new EV for the Chinese market. The latter is
being jointly developed with GAC. In FY2022, Mitsubishi will introduce a new
Triton and Outlander PHEV. The plug-in hybrid will apparently have a further
refined powertrain.
Longer term, the company will introduce a
new Xpander / Xpander Hybrid and a redesigned Pajero Sport. The company will
also launch two all-new models which appear to be a small and large crossover
or SUV. Little is known about these upcoming models, but Mitsubishi suggested
some will be offered with a next-generation diesel engine.
Just last week, Mitsubishi Motors North
America revealed plans to launch an updated Outlander Sport this fall with more
standard equipment. An upgraded Outlander PHEV will follow this winter with a
“completely new powertrain.” The facelifted Mirage will arrive in America early
next year and it will debut around the same time as the facelifted Eclipse
Cross. The redesigned 2022 Outlander will also be unveiled early next year and
go on sale in United States during the second quarter of 2021.
