The next-generation Mitsubishi Outlander will draw heavy styling influence from last year's striking Engleberg Tourer concept – but we won't see it in UK dealerships.
As shown in an official preview video (below) released by the brand ahead of its 16 February unveiling, the Toyota RAV4 rival will sport Mitsubishi's new chrome-heavy Dynamic Shield front end with slim LED headlights and sizeable air intakes, plus a wraparound-effect front windscreen.
Behind the A-pillars, the SUV looks to have evolved more subtly over today's car, with visible differences limited to chrome door handles, a more pronounced swage line and reshaped brake lights.
Experience the latest in Super All-Wheel Control with the superb driving performance of the all-new 2022 Outlander. Sign-up for updates and be the first to see it on 2.16.21. #MitsubishiOutlander https://t.co/6L1IOwYf2X pic.twitter.com/zkfGTrzQc8
— Mitsubishi Motors USA (@mitsucars) January 25, 2021
Visually linking the production car to the Engleberg Tourer concept suggests that Mitsubishi will incorporate some of the latter's innovative powertrain technology. The show car used a 2.4-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine, twin electric motors and a 20kWh battery for four-wheel-drive and an electric-only range of 44 miles.
With a full fuel tank and a fully charged battery, Mitsubishi said the Tourer - a suffix that hints at its potential focus on long-distance refinement - was capable of travelling 435 miles in a single go. Mitsubishi has confirmed the Outlander will use an upgraded four-wheel-drive system inspired by Dakar racers and rally cars.
The new Outlander will be launched in February 2021 in the US, Canada and Puerto Rico, but Mitsubishi has frozen all imports to Europe as part of a wider cost-cutting strategy in which it will refocus its efforts on the more profitable South East Asia market.
In its current form, the Outlander PHEV is one of Europe's best-selling plug-in hybrids and consistently tops the plug-in SUV sales charts in the UK, where Mitsubishi has sold 3167 cars since January.
READ MORE
Join the debate
Add your comment
Not trying hard enough?, bit like a Discovery?, there's been so many SUV's that isn't anything really moving the game on, throwing the Gauntlet down and challenging the top SUV on the road, I said ,on the road.
Did miss the remote control pre-warming though, scraping windscreens is so last century.
Will miss Mitsubishi in Europe,I still think that it's a mistake quitting,they've made some excellent cars
In the past 20 years? Besides the Evo?
They wouldn't be able to keep up. The Outlander itself was already dropping in the PHEV sales rankings, and that's before the likes of the RAV4 and Tiguan even made it on sale. Not to mention the Nissan X-trail, which will basically be the same car underneath the skin.
It's always sad to see a manufacturer go, but they really don't need to have a presence in Europe anymore.