Mitsubishi hints at more electrified CUVs

September 03, 2018 01:00 AM

2018 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross

Mitsubishi received a jolt of energy with the arrivals of the Outlander PHEV and Eclipse Cross as it looks to build on its five-year run of U.S. sales gains. It will have plenty of support going forward as a member of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance, which will lead to new platforms and technologies to bolster its lineup. Expect to see new electrified products, possibly crossovers, in the coming years.

Mirage: The fuel-friendly subcompact hatchback, which gets 43 mpg on the highway, was freshened in 2017. The brand said a new 7-inch touch-screen display audio unit with Bluetooth functionality, rearview camera and steering-wheel audio controls upped the performance and value of the Mirage's ES entry-level trim. A re-engineered version could arrive by 2020.

Mirage G4: The Mirage's sibling sedan, added in the 2017 model year, came back with improvements to match its hatchback counterpart. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also available options. A re-engineering could happen by 2020.

Outlander Sport: The 2018 model debuted in 2017 with a quieter ride and updated look, including a new Touring package that features a panoramic sunroof along with safety tech such as forward collision mitigation and lane departure warning. The subcompact crossover competes pricewise with vehicles such as the Chevrolet Trax, Honda HR-V, Mazda CX-3, Hyundai Kona and Nissan Kicks in a segment jammed with new and updated products. A redesign could emerge for the 2021 model year.

Eclipse Cross: The new compact crossover has gotten an aggressive ad push since going on sale in March. Available sweeteners include a 1.5-liter direct-injection four-cylinder turbo engine, panoramic sunroof, full-color head-up display, heated rear seats and Mitsubishi Connect, the brand's new connected vehicle services program.

2018 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV

Outlander: The freshened 2018 midsize crossover arrived in late 2017 with exterior and interior enhancements. It houses a 2.4-liter, 16-valve inline-four engine with the ES, SE and SEL trims.

The GT variant gets a 3.0-liter, 24-valve V-6 engine that produces 224 hp. Forward collision mitigation with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning and automatic high beam headlights are available on the SEL and GT trims. A redesign may happen for the 2020 model year.

Outlander PHEV: The plug-in crossover went on sale in December as the only plug-in hybrid with DC fast-charging capability. It's powered by a 2.0-liter gasoline engine and two electric motors.

Plug-in/electric crossovers: The Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance said it plans to launch 12 full-electric models by 2022 using "common electric vehicle platforms and components for multiple segments." Mitsubishi has hinted that new plug-in hybrid and full-electric crossover models could happen. The alliance forecasts that 70 percent of its EV volume will be based on shared platforms by 2022. A new family of EV motors and batteries will be introduced around 2020 and shared within the alliance.