Photo: S. Baldauf / R. Kah
When it comes to mid-size crossover SUVs, the tough and capable Mitsubishi Outlander is a household name, even though it isn’t the most popular offering of the bunch. The third generation of the Jap entered production in 2012, meaning a facelift is due.
Together with the Concept GC-PHEV, what we saw at the Geneva Motor Show also previews what’s in store for the mid-cycle facelift of the Outlander and even more eye candy that'll be carried over by the next-gen ASX (Outlander Sport in the United States). So what’s the deal with the Concept XR-PHEV II anyway?
If it reminds you of the XR-PHEV design study showcased at the 2013 edition of the Tokyo Motor Show, you are absolutely spot on! We’re not nitpicking here, but Mitsubishi is doing the same thing as Honda did with the all-new NSX, albeit it took Honda eight freakin’ years and a plethora of concepts to morph the 2007 Acura ASCC design study into the 2016 Acura NSX.
With the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander confirmed to debut next month at the New York Auto Show, it is now time to ponder what design cues of the Concept XR-PHEV II will make it on the revised Outlander. Apart from the styling of the front fascia, every other aesthetic detail is just too wild for production.
Though we thoroughly liked how this Geneva-bound baby looks from up close, please don’t hold your breath for anything more than a nip & tuck job for the front, rear & inside the new Outlander. Regarding the plug-in hybrid variant of the mid-size SUV, some say that the XR-PHEV II’s powertrain will be the starting point for the new Outlander PHEV’s propulsion bits and bobs.
Engine and transmission details are not yet available, but we do know that the Concept XR-PHEV II is animated by a 12-kWh battery sending zap to an electric motor that drives the front wheels with 160 HP.
If it reminds you of the XR-PHEV design study showcased at the 2013 edition of the Tokyo Motor Show, you are absolutely spot on! We’re not nitpicking here, but Mitsubishi is doing the same thing as Honda did with the all-new NSX, albeit it took Honda eight freakin’ years and a plethora of concepts to morph the 2007 Acura ASCC design study into the 2016 Acura NSX.
With the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander confirmed to debut next month at the New York Auto Show, it is now time to ponder what design cues of the Concept XR-PHEV II will make it on the revised Outlander. Apart from the styling of the front fascia, every other aesthetic detail is just too wild for production.
Though we thoroughly liked how this Geneva-bound baby looks from up close, please don’t hold your breath for anything more than a nip & tuck job for the front, rear & inside the new Outlander. Regarding the plug-in hybrid variant of the mid-size SUV, some say that the XR-PHEV II’s powertrain will be the starting point for the new Outlander PHEV’s propulsion bits and bobs.
Engine and transmission details are not yet available, but we do know that the Concept XR-PHEV II is animated by a 12-kWh battery sending zap to an electric motor that drives the front wheels with 160 HP.
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