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Last year saw something of a revolution in the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance, as it was announced that the Japanese were not introducing any newer models in Europe, leaving the brand with the three diamonds in a difficult situation in the Old Continent.
At that time, it was decided that each brand of the Alliance should be dedicated to the markets in which it had the best acceptance. So, things would be like this:
Nissan: China, North America, and Japan
Renault: Europe, Russia, South America, and North Africa
Mitsubishi: ASEAN (Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, and the Philippines) and Australia
But in the end, the sun rises again for Mitsubishi after a statement issued in which the company admitted that not only does it not leave Europe, but it is also going to stay. And for this, it will manufacture “models” (they do not confirm how many) to take advantage of synergies.
For this reason, Mitsubishi has announced that it has agreed to acquire new vehicles from Renault starting in 2023 and will sell them under its emblem. Therefore, these models will have platforms "made in Renault", but they will be tuned with the DNA of the Japanese brand to differentiate them.
A New Era For Mitsubishi
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For Mitsubishi, the new Outlander was presented back in February of this year, but without revealing a plug-in hybrid version (PHEV). This is because the previous generation’s plug-in hybrid version will continue to exist for a while, peacefully coexisting with the revamped version of the Japanese SUV, equipped with traditional powertrains. But we already know more news about it. The plan is to put it up for sale in Japan first and then bring it to the United States.
Considering that Mitsubishi finally decided that it will not withdraw from the European market, the Japanese brand will market two new models with a Renault platform for 2023.
“Mitsubishi Motors has completed its lineup with Renault-brand vehicles, European bestsellers that already meet the regulatory requirements, in certain important markets in Europe,” reads the statement issued by the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance.
Mitsubishi also announced this year the return of the Ralliart brand, its high-performance division, to offer a wide variety of models. The Outlander would feature a Ralliart accessory line and, predictably, a special edition Ralliart launching next year.
While that happens, we already have two images showing us the Outlander PHEV’s charging port and the specific badge on the tailgate and front fender, in some first teasers of what the future Outlander PHEV will look like.
Based on the I-Fu-Do-Do product concept, which means authentic and majestic in Japanese, the new Outlander has become a dependable SUV with significantly improved style, road performance, and quality feel. The goal is to meet the needs of customers who want to expand their horizons and take on challenges of all kinds, ” said Takao Kato, CEO of MMC.
The New Generation Outlander
The brand defines the new Outlander PHEV as “a comfortable sanctuary for the whole family.” Inside, we will find elements such as a 12.3-inch screen with full connectivity, a 12.3-inch HUD, BOSE sound system, three-zone climate control, or a wireless charger.
Mitsubishi has released no specific technical specs, though it has said the 2023 Outlander PHEV will have more power and a larger battery pack, which sounds great at first. It also promises more range and three rows of seating.
To refresh memory, the current model was updated with a 2.4-liter petrol engine that replaces the old 2.0-liter powerplant and produces a maximum of 224 hp in total. The specifications of the next version are yet to be known.