2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport Es on 2040-cars

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2018 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Quick Spin Review | Why doesn't everyone make one of these?

The 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV took a remarkably long time to get to the United States. It went on sale in Europe in 2013, and was originally planned to come to America the year after, but didn't arrive until late in 2017. Mitsubishi was also fortunate that, in the time it took to finalize the American model, the entry-level competition remained primarily sedans and sedan-like hatchbacks, with the exception of the Niro PHEV, a crossover smaller than Outlander, and closer to a traditional hatchback. So the question is, was it worth the wait, and is it worth considering against other plug-in hybrids? A mostly frugal and very smooth powertrain The big appeal of the Outlander PHEV is of course its plug-in hybrid powertrain. It comprises a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder, and two electric motors, one up front, one in the rear. This powertrain can function in three different ways. There's full electric mode, series hybrid mode (the gas engine acts like a generator, and propulsion is handled solely by the electric motor), and parallel hybrid (a clutch engages the engine to the front motor for additional propulsion assist). The Outlander switches automatically between these operational schemes depending on drive mode settings. For example, with a full charge you can press a button to keep it in EV mode, at least as long as there's enough battery power. Two other buttons can allow you to save the battery charge for use later, such as in town after a highway drive, and a charge button to replenish the battery level while driving. Because of this powertrain layout, the Outlander PHEV drives much like an all-electric car most of the time. It's nearly silent except when the engine kicks on, or when accelerating or decelerating hard. In the case of the latter, you can pick up a faint, futuristic whir from the motors. It feels very smooth thanks to a lack of transmission shifts. The throttle is responsive since there's no CVT adjusting ratios or a torque converter making responses a little slushy. And of course there's the instant torque that all electric motors provide, which makes the Outlander spunky around town. You can even adjust the strength of the battery regeneration by putting it from "D" for drive into "B." Then you can set the strength via the steering wheel paddles. Also impressive is the fact that the powertrain is still quite smooth and quiet when the engine fires up.

Mitsubishi D:X Concept previews the next Delica off-road van

Besides the Montero/Pajero and the Lancer Evo, perhaps Mitsubishi's most famous model is the Delica. It's a minivan, but it also has serious off-road chops, and it has had them for decades. At the Japan Mobility Show, Mitsubishi showed the D:X Concept, which is a look a the future of the go-anywhere van. The look is almost that of a steroidal VW I.D. Buzz, but it works. It's chunky and aggressive, and of course it has huge tires. The single-box shape is a longstanding tradition of the Delica line for maximum interior space. Noteworthy are the laser headlights. The vertical sections can project lines ahead of the vehicle to help provide an idea of the vehicle width against the environment in tricky maneuvering at night. The interior features three rows of seats, and the seats can slide and swivel for a variety of configurations. Particularly interesting is the lack of a dashboard, as well as anything ahead of where the dash would be. Instead, a glass panel for the grille and a giant screen showing what's under and ahead of front of the vehicle take up the space. This allows for phenomenal forward visibility, especially useful off road. There is a small dash ahead of the driver and the steering wheel that blends into the door, and this is where instrumentation is displayed. Occupants also can enjoy a Yamaha-tuned sound system. Mitsubishi didn't go into much detail on the powertrain. It's a plug-in hybrid, and we wouldn't be surprised if it operates as a series hybrid like the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. And that of course means that the D:X still powers all four wheels, as a Delica should. Mitsubishi also didn't share any sort of production plans. But we expect that a new Delica is on the way that will at least look a lot like this concept, even if some features such as the dash-free interior might not make it. Sadly, we don't expect it to come to America, just like the current Delica. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Renault, Nissan, Mitsubishi announce 35 new EVs by 2030

Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi are going all-in on EVs. The trio announced plans to release 35 new electric models globally by 2030, ranging from Japan-only kei cars to commercial vehicles, and they sketched out plans to develop next-generation solid-state batteries. The three carmakers will leverage the benefits of economies of scale to keep development and production costs in check. Many of the Alliance's models already ride on a common platform; the Nissan Sentra shares its bones with the third-generation Renault Scenic. Looking ahead, the plan is to build 80% of the cars in the group's global portfolio on common architectures. Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi are massive companies with a wide lineup of models, so there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Instead, the strategy focuses on five basic modular platforms. CMF-AEV will be for so-called affordable electric cars. KEI-EV will be primarily for kei cars, LCV will underpin commercial vehicles, and CMF-EV was designed to underpin mainstream models including the Ariya. Finally, the CMF-BEV platform will underpin about 250,000 electric cars annually starting in 2024. These include the production version of the retro-styled 5 Prototype introduced in January 2021, at least one car assigned to the Alpine brand, and a replacement for the Micra (previewed above) that will be engineered and built by Renault. Most of these cars will be equipped with a lithium-ion battery pack; that's likely going to remain the best way to power an electric car in the coming years. However, Nissan has been tasked with developing solid-state battery technology that promises to greatly reduce charging times. A solid state battery is tentatively scheduled to enter production by the middle of 2028, though it's too early to tell which model(s) will inaugurate it. Digital services will play a significant role in the Alliance's future lineup as well. By 2026, Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi plan to connect 25 million cars to their cloud and over 10 million vehicles fitted with "autonomous driving systems" (a vague term that wasn't defined). All told, these investments will cost the group at least ˆ23 billion (around $26 billion at the current conversion rate) in the next five years. What does this mean for America?