The company’s current AWD system will be used to create the SUV.
While the next-generation Mitsubishi Outlander won’t be available in PHEV form until the second half next year, the automaker is eager for more information about the electrified SUV. We are pleased to report that the new PHEV system from the brand will be used by the seven seater to provide “safe, comfortable, and enjoyable driving in all weather conditions.”
The outgoing OutlanderPHEV had one motor to power the rear wheels. The 2023 Outlander plug in hybrid will have two motors. One for each axle. Mitsubishi has not yet revealed the power of these motors, so it will be interesting to see what they produce.
The internal combustion engine is another missing piece of the equation. The previous generation of electrified Outlanders had a 2.4-liter gasoline engine with 126 horsepower (94 Kilowatts) & 148 pound-feet (219 Newton-meters). The 2.0-liter engine was used in the earlier SUV PHEV versions. However, the facelift introduced a more powerful four-cylinder that produces 221 hp (165 kW) combined.
Mitsubishi claims that a modified version of its Super-All Wheel Control system (S-AWC), will be used to distribute power more evenly between the front- and rear wheels for the new model. The plug-in hybrid model will have a braking control system that applies brake power to the rear wheels, as opposed to conventional models with an internal combustion engine.
The driving conditions will determine which of seven driving modes the powertrain can operate. There are three modes: Normal, Gravel and Snow. A new Power mode unlocks the hybrid system to its full potential. On the other hand, the Eco mode prioritizes “economic and environmentally-friendly driving.”