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Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV sales reach 33,000 worldwide

It can be difficult to see from the US, where the Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-in Hybrid is not yet available, but the all-wheel drive SUV is a big hit in Europe and Japan. In fact, we learned at the Plug In 2014 Conference in San Jose, CA this week that Mitsubishi has sold over 33,000 copies of the PHEV around the world. The breakdown is that Mitsubishi has delivered 15,000 units in Japan and 18,000 in Europe. Fuminori Kojima, Mitsubishi Motors North America's senior manager of incentives, told AutoblogGreen that the country with the highest sales rate in Europe is Holland, with about 6,000 units sold that thanks in part to generous incentives for plug-in hybrids there. The Euro-spec version on hand in San Jose has three regen levels (the normal D mode, plus B1 and B2). We got to take a spin around the block, but the battery was mostly depleted (it was a popular attraction in the Ride & Drive) and so we were driving on gas. In the gallery from Plug In 2014, you'll note that the Outlander PHEV requires at least 95 octane (RON) unleaded fuel, which is 91 octane (AKI) premium fuel in the US. We don't know what the US version will need, but we've heard it will be "completely different." The Outlander has a 12-kWh battery and should have an EV range of around 30 miles. Whether or not it will have a CHAdeMO fast-charging port in the US is still undecided, as is the question of whether it will have a 3.3 or 6.6 kW onboard charger. The timeline Kojima gave for the Outlander's US arrival was October or November of 2015, since the SUV still needs to be tested and homologated for the US, Kojima said, but the real problem is that Mitsubishi can't build enough. "The battery production capacity is limited," he said. "So that's why, [the] first [focus is the] domestic market and Europe showed more demand." As as an example, he mentioned not only the incentives but also said that the charging infrastructure is more built up in Europe. "We'd like to have it [in the US ] as soon as possible, of course," he said. According to numbers from the European group Transport And Environment (see press release and sales chart below), overall plug-in vehicle sales have been doubling each year since the new breed was introduced in 2010. Last year, almost 50,000 plug-in vehicles were sold in the EU, with the Renault Zoe EV, Outlander PHEV and Volvo V60 Plug-in at the top of the pack.

Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV now for real due in 'late summer, early fall'

Any day now, American plug-in vehicle shoppers will be able to actually buy a plug-in hybrid SUV. Europeans and Japanese buyers have had this option for many years, since the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV went on sale in those markets in 2013. There have been plenty of diversions in the route that is bringing the big PHEV to our shores, but it's looking like, "late summer, early fall," is when thing will for real happen. 10-20 percent of total Outlander sales would be "a very good number." That's the message from Don Swearingen, executive vice president of Mitsubishi Motors North America (MMNA), who we spoke to at the New York Auto Show where the PHEV made its debut appearance. Swearingen said that the dealers are as ready as the customers. "As we talked to our dealer council, they are all very interested in this product," he said. "[Range anxiety was] eliminated with this vehicle, and because of that, I think we are going to have some pretty good response." Swearingen didn't put a specific number to that claim, but said that 10-20 percent of total Outlander sales (which currently sit at around 2,000 a month) would be "a very good number." Previously, Mitsubishi representatives said they expected to sell 4,000 PHEV units in the first year. As we've documented over the years, there were a number of reasons for why the US didn't get the first batch of Outlander PHEVs. One of the big ones was that the PHEV was selling like gangbusters elsewhere. It's the best-selling PHEV in all of Europe, for example, and was the fourth-best-selling plug-in vehicle anywhere in February 2016. And Mitsubishi just couldn't make enough of them. Swearingen said the main bottleneck for this was the battery pack supplier Lithium Energy Japan, which didn't have the capacity to make more than it did. So, instead of leaving three markets without enough supply, Mitsubishi decided to leave one in the lurch and focus on the other two. Plus, since the Outlander PHEV will be based on the 2017 gas-powered Outlander, it will come with numerous safety enhancements as well as the 100+ improvements that the 2016 Outlander got compared to the 2015. In other words, all the pieces are all coming together. The Outlander PHEV is "the best of both worlds." - Francine Harsini At least, that's what Francine Harsini, MMNA's senior director of marketing, said. The final important part are the customers, and Harsini said that Mitsubishi will be a big national marketing push. The general theme?

2016 Mitsubishi Outlander priced from $23,845

Mitsubishi is on a slight upswing in the US recently after its first, though small, profit in the country in seven years. The company is now reportedly looking to boost its product lineup, and one of the first big changes in a while comes with the launch of the refreshed, 2016 Outlander. Even with significant upgrades for the three-row crossover, the price is actually $200 lower than last year to start at $23,845 (including $850 destination on all models). The most obvious tweak for the 2016 refresh is the Outlander's attractive, all-new front fascia. The crossover now wears a grille that mixes gloss black and chrome slats, and the whole design is outlined in curving chrome that leads down to accentuate the foglights. At the rear, the upgrades aren't quite as drastic, but the addition of LED taillights lends a more modern look. However, the changes are more than skin deep, and Mitsubishi also claims over 100 engineering and design modifications for the vehicle. The engines carry over from last year, and most models get a 2.4-liter four-cylinder with 166 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque. It's hooked up to a revised CVT that Mitsubishi claims offers better acceleration and torque delivery. Buyers can choose between either front- or all-wheel drive. The other option is the top-spec GT trim that comes with a 3.0-liter V6 making 224 hp and 215 lb-ft, a six-speed automatic, and all-wheel drive. MITSUBISHI MOTORS ANNOUNCES REDUCED PRICING FOR NEW 2016 OUTLANDER June 02, 2015 — CYPRESS, Calif. Starting MSRP of only $22,995; a $200 reduction in price from the previous model year The 2016 Outlander features Mitsubishi's new dynamic design language and over 100 engineering and design improvements Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) today announced pricing for the U.S. version of the new 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander seven-passenger crossover. With a starting MSRP of only $22,995, the 2016 Outlander has a $200 lower starting MSRP than the previous model year, which is notable when considering the amount of design and engineering improvements incorporated into the vehicle. "The 2016 Outlander has a dynamic new design and a long list of engineering upgrades—it literally looks, drives and feels like an entirely new vehicle," said MMNA Executive Vice President, Don Swearingen.