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Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV van variant coming to Europe

Mitsubishi's Outlander Plug-in Hybrid SUV will be hitting our shores this fall. Across the Pond, however, it's heading into more no-nonsense territory. That's because the Japanese automaker is making a commercial van variant of the plug-in hybrid for the UK. Mitsubishi will start selling a model called the Outlander PHEV GX3h 4Work in the UK, Motoring Research says. Like the SUV, the model will pair a 2.0-liter gas engine with an electric motor and will have an all-electric range of 32 miles. The difference is that the back seats will be taken out and the glass will be blacked out. Hardcore, we say. The model will be priced at 36,905 British pounds (about $61,000), though buyers are eligible for a government grant worth 7,381 pounds ($12,200). Mitsubishi plans to start selling the Outlander PHEV stateside in Fall 2015. The company said earlier this summer that the US version will be substantially different from the current version, with updates for everything from exterior and interior styling to powertrain efficiency improvements. The model had some battery-melting issues last year in Japan, though Mitsubishi ramped up its production once those problems were solved. Mitsubishi representatives didn't immediately respond to a request for comment about the commercial-van variant from AutoblogGreen, but we expect to be hearing more about it soon.

Refreshed Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross spied, loses Aztek-style rear hatch

Despite being the brand's freshest model, the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is already getting a styling update. The subcompact crossover prototype shown above has a mildly updated nose, and a significantly revised rear hatchback to give it a more conventional look. The rear of the car is the biggest change, so we'll start from there. The current Eclipse Cross has a controversial hatch with slanted main window and a smaller upright window lower down. Detractors liken it to the Pontiac Aztek. This updated model removes it altogether, in favor of one large slanted window. This also helps the back of the Eclipse Cross look a little less tall and blunt. The taillights are redesigned, too, to accommodate the new hatch. They don't span the full width of the hatch, and they might not extend up the rear pillars anymore either.. At the front, changes are more subtle. The headlights that extend off the grille look thinner, and may now simply be running lights, while the larger lights underneath may be the main headlights. The grille also looks more squared off in the lower section, similar to the grilles on the new L200 pickup and Mi-Tech concept. This prototype looks close to production-ready, and since it's just a mid-cycle refresh, we're expecting it to be revealed for the 2021 model year. It will likely continue to come with a turbocharged 1.5-liter inline-4 engine, a CVT and either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Related Video:    

James May was hospitalized after Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution crash

British auto journalist and TV host James May was reportedly whisked to the hospital after a crash during filming of The Grand Tour. The presenter was said to have been driving a yellow Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII at 75 mph when he crashed into a tunnel wall.  Fortunately, The Sun reports that May, 59, broke a rib during the crash and required x-rays and a brain scan before being released from the hospital in mostly good health. This was not always the case with the former BBC Top Gear hosts. Famously, Richard Hammond received severe injuries from a 2006 crash at 280 mph in a drag racer. Hammond was also involved in a fiery crash of a Rimac One in 2017, but walked away mostly uninjured.  The details of the crash are a bit vague, but apparently it involved a challenge where May was supposed to drive the Evo down a long tunnel at a naval base in Norway. The Sun describes the stunt as taking place in the pitch black passage, with lights only illuminating as the car drove by. With mere seconds to react, May was unable to brake in time from 75 mph and slammed the Evo into a wall. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. The segment apparently involved May, Hammond, and Jeremy Clarkson taking AWD sedans to the Arctic Circle. Two other cars have been posted to social media by Clarkson himself and by fans, as discovered by Motor 1. Those cars are a Subaru Impreza WRX STI and an Audi RS4. After the Evo's destruction, the Subaru and Audi continued on without it. The cars were driving in Norway six months ago, but May's hospitalization is only now coming to light.  Thankfully Captain Slow, as May is nicknamed, is alright. As for the state of the increasingly endangered Evo, however, we'll just have to wait until the next season of Grand Tour airs.