Photo: Mitsubishi
In the world of rally raids, the Dakar Rally is up there at the very top. Somewhere lower on the rallying food chain is the Baja Portalegre 500. Just because it’s not as famous as the Dakar doesn’t mean the Baja Portalegre isn’t challenging enough for both man and machine, as a racing version of the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV will prove from October 22 to 24.
This year will mark the 29th edition of the Baja Portalegre 500 competition. Officially dubbed a cross-country rally, the event will take place in the Portalegre municipality in the eastern part of Portugal. Japanese company Mitsubishi has chosen the Baja to put its latest EV and 4WD technologies to the test by preparing a race-ready Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV.
To secure a top three finish in a competition that’s part of the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Rallies is a big thing for the peeps from Mitsubishi. To be utterly frank, a single WRC title won in 1998 with the Lancer Evolution won’t suffice for much longer. The Japanese manufacturer’s Baja Portalegre entry makes even more sense if you consider that the Mitsubishi Lancer EVO model is going to be phased out later this year.
There are rumors according to which the EVO badge will be borrowed by hybrid crossover SUVs in the nearest future, so go figure what Mitsubishi is trying to prove with this Outlander PHEV. Based on the production Outlander PHEV facelift that was spotted in Japan a few days ago, the mud-loving racecar uses the production model’s battery pack. Modifications to the electric juice container include modifications to the structure for greater output and capacity, tailored for racing applications.
In addition to the battery, engineers tinkered with the software that governs the PHEV’s electric motors, generator unit, and internal combustion engine. The Mitsubishi works team will be managed by Hiroshi Masuoka, the guy that will also be in the hot seat once the lights turn green and the Baja Portalegre 500 starts. Who? Hiroshi Masuoka, just a guy who won the Dakar Rally two years in a row. Driving 500 kilometers (310 miles) at hell-bent for leathers speed will be a walk in the park for this jolly fellow.
To secure a top three finish in a competition that’s part of the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Rallies is a big thing for the peeps from Mitsubishi. To be utterly frank, a single WRC title won in 1998 with the Lancer Evolution won’t suffice for much longer. The Japanese manufacturer’s Baja Portalegre entry makes even more sense if you consider that the Mitsubishi Lancer EVO model is going to be phased out later this year.
There are rumors according to which the EVO badge will be borrowed by hybrid crossover SUVs in the nearest future, so go figure what Mitsubishi is trying to prove with this Outlander PHEV. Based on the production Outlander PHEV facelift that was spotted in Japan a few days ago, the mud-loving racecar uses the production model’s battery pack. Modifications to the electric juice container include modifications to the structure for greater output and capacity, tailored for racing applications.
In addition to the battery, engineers tinkered with the software that governs the PHEV’s electric motors, generator unit, and internal combustion engine. The Mitsubishi works team will be managed by Hiroshi Masuoka, the guy that will also be in the hot seat once the lights turn green and the Baja Portalegre 500 starts. Who? Hiroshi Masuoka, just a guy who won the Dakar Rally two years in a row. Driving 500 kilometers (310 miles) at hell-bent for leathers speed will be a walk in the park for this jolly fellow.
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