CarNewsCafe spotted the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEVs tested in Southern California.
Driving electric vehicles (EV) has a few advantages, one of which is to recharge at stations where fellow EV drivers actually talk to one another, unlike what happens at gasoline pumps. Another advantages is that you never know what you will find near the chargers.
Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV spotted!
We noticed a pale blue Mitsubishi Outlander and a few more next to it while charging an EV we are test driving for CarNewsCafe at the Mitsubishi headquarters in Southern California . We also noticed they had an extra badge. As we walked closer, we found it was the Mitsubishi Outlander plug-in hybrid (PHEV) currently, being tested. They look like the regular Mitsubishi Outlanders, but with a charge port, as you can see from the pictures.
These are the European Outlander PHEV, which, we assume will somewhat change to accommodate the U.S. population.
The brilliant Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV.
We’re particularly excited about the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV for a few reasons. First, it is the only four-wheel drive plug-in hybrid anywhere. Second, when Mitsubishi introduced the i MiEV II test platform at the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show, it showed a clear vision of what a plug-in hybrid should be. A plug-in hybrid is about freedom of driving choice. It was miles ahead of the competition, even though only a few were being introduced at the time.
Mitsubishi’s idea is that a PHEV should act as a series hybrid and a parallel hybrid for maximum efficiency when needed. The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV will let you choose when to drive in electric and in PHEV mode. It took it step further by switching from a series-PHEV to parallel on highway, where a series-PHEV makes sense at low-speed, but anything faster than 50 MPH, a parallel-PHEV is more efficient. The technical difference between the two is that a series PHEV is when the electric motor only powers the wheels and in parallel mode, the gasoline engine also powers the wheels with the electric motor.
Enjoy these shots. Our initial test drive of the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander was very promising. The company was able to deliver a crossover that handles very well, with plenty of oomph, without compromising your budget. The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV should be available next year, and as anything Mitsubishi, you can expect excellent engineering.
