The company will offer at least three different crossover models to accommodate customers in the most popular size categories. The refreshed 2016 Outlander and recently-unveiled Outlander Sport are already headed to showrooms, while the quirky i-MiEV will be dropped from the lineup.
“We are strong in SUVs and four-wheel drives,” Mitsubishi chief Osamu Masuko recently told Automotive News. “And that is what we would like to focus on as core models in the US market.”
Coinciding with the i-MiEV’s departure, the company will switch to plug-in hybrid adaptations of its traditional crossovers. The shift will be ushered in by a new coupe-like crossover to slot between the Outlander and Outlander Sport. The XR-PHEV II concept (pictured) promises to demonstrate the design direction for North America, potentially previewing the as-yet-unnamed model.
The sleek crossover will be followed by the next-generation Outlander, due in 2018, while the Outlander Sport is scheduled to be redesigned for 2019. Both models are expected to be quickly offered in plug-in form. Earlier reports suggest the full-size Montero could return to the US market, previewed as the GC-PHEV.
At the other end of the spectrum, Mitsubishi is expected to pull the Lancer from US showrooms and leave the Mirage as its only low-slung nameplate. The company has hinted that the Evo name will live on, albeit as a high-performance crossover rather than a car.
Image by Ronan Glon.
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