Mitsubishi to debut plug-in hybrid Outlander at Paris Motor Show

Mitsubishi Motors will debut its PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle) Outlander at the 2012 Paris Motor Show. It uses a powertrain that has been developed and derived from Mitsubishi’s lineup of all-electric models. The PHEV Outlander combines the quietness and efficiency of an electric motor with the performance of a 4WD SUV. Being a hybrid we also get the utility value of a conventional engine under the hood.

Employing electrical power stored in the drive battery by charging either at home, a charging station or when the system recovers energy when decelerating; the Outlander PHEV targets combined fuel efficiency in excess of 61 kmpl.

The SUV will have 3 modes; EV drive, series hybrid and parallel hybrid. The mode will be selected by the powertrain depending on the amount of charge left in the battery. In terms of four wheel drive, it has been outfitted with a twin motor system comprising independent electric motors to drive the front and rear wheels. Mitsubishi will launch the hybrid Outlander first in the Japanese market in early 2013 after which the European and American launches will follow.