Mitsubishi Motors’ Outlander plug-in hybrid (PHEV) SUV will make its global debut at the 2012 Paris Motor Show (aka Mondial de L’ Automobile 2012) later this month alongside the EU-specification version of the Thai-built Mirage global compact car.
The Outlander PHEV uses MMC’s self-developed plug-in hybrid EV system derived from its all-electric model line.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
MMC claims the Outlander PHEV is the world’s first plug-in hybrid SUV and offers the best of three worlds: the environmental performance of an electric vehicle (EV), the cruising range of a conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle and the on- and off-road performance of an SUV. Sales start first in Japan early next year.
The PHEV is a variant of the redesigned Outlander launched in Russia (where MMC builds them in a JV plant with PSA) in July and launching in other European markets from this month.
Targeting the mid-size category and above, which require extended cruising range, the Outlander PHEV’s PHEV system combines EV technologies proven on MMC’s i-MiEV launched in 2009 with current ICE environmental technologies, including ‘MIVEC’ variable valve timing. Employing electrical power stored in the drive battery by charging either at home, a charging station or when the system recovers energy when decelerating, the PHEV is targeting combined fuel efficiency in excess of 61km/litre, greatly superior to that of vehicles powered by a conventional engine, and a cruising range in excess of 880km which is on par with a conventional ICE-powered car.
After Japan, it will be introduced in Europe, North America, and other markets.
Depending on driving conditions and remaining battery charge, the PHEV powertrain automatically selects the optimum drive mode for comfortable driving while providing superior fuel efficiency.
EV Drive mode is an all-electric mode in which the front and rear motors drive the vehicle using only electricity from the drive battery.
In Series Hybrid mode the petrol engine operates as a generator supplying electricity to the electric motors. The system switches to this mode when the remaining charge in the battery falls below a predetermined level and when more powerful performance is required, such as accelerating to pass a vehicle or climbing a steep gradient such as a slope.
In Parallel Hybrid mode the petrol engine provides most of the motive power, assisted by the electric motors as required. The system switches to this mode for higher-speed driving when the petrol engine operates at peak efficiency.
The high-capacity 12 kWh lithium-ion drive battery gives an EV drive mode cruising range of over 55km, sufficient for all-electric operation in most everyday situations, according to the automaker.
The driver can also manually switch to Battery Charge mode in which the petrol engine acts as a generator and charges the drive battery whether the vehicle is stationary or on the move. This mode gives the driver the flexibility to use the petrol engine as a generator at any time they want; for example if the driver wants to use EV drive mode at a specific time, he or she can make sure the drive battery has enough energy for that time.
The Outlander PHEV uses a twin motor 4WD system comprising independent electric motors to drive the front and rear wheels. In addition to decreased friction loss twin motor 4WD delivers better response and finer control than conventional mechanical systems. It accomplishes this without a propeller shaft or other mechanical components seen in conventional mechanical systems. The twin motor 4WD system is integrated with Mitsubishi’s proven S-AWC (Super All Wheel Control) integrated vehicle dynamics control system to deliver high levels of stability and all-terrain performance.
In addition, the front and rear electric motors generate maximum torque immediately, an inherent characteristic of electric motors, giving acceleration comparable to that of a vehicle powered by a large displacement high-output ICE and allowing the Outlander PHEV to deliver claimed “superior levels of environmental and driving performance”.
Mirage/global compact car
The European version of the new, Thai-built Mirage/global compact car, already on sale in Japan and ASEAN countries, delivers CO2 emissions as low as 92g/km with the one-litre three-cylinder MIVEC engine with five-speed manual transmission.
The European uses environmental performance-increasing methods including weight reduction (845kg, 3710mm long, 1665mm wide), aerodynamic drag reduction (Cd of 0.27), the use of the new three-cylinder MIVEC engine and the adoption of Mitsubishi’s own Auto Stop & Go (AS&G) idling stop system.
Other Paris show models will include the updated 2013 ASX compact crossover (called Outlander Sport in some markets) and a display model of the i-MiEV Evolution electric racecar which took part in the 2012 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb held in the US in August.
