In early February, there were rumors circulating in Japan about a high-performance version of the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV (plug-in hybrid). The rumored release date for this version is in the third quarter of this year.
Looking into it a bit more, the information comes from Best Car, a reputable Japanese automotive magazine covering Toyota and… other mid-range brands. According to Best Car, the development unit for the high-performance Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is Ralliart – the sports division that was revived by Mitsubishi 2 years ago.
There have been no official statements about such a project as the above rumors suggest, so it’s not possible to verify the information from Best Car.
The Mitsubishi Vision Ralliart Concept, unveiled in 2022, is Mitsubishi/Ralliart’s vision of a future sports SUV, but so far no similar projects have been launched. Photo: Mitsubishi
If the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Ralliart project is real, it definitely won’t be just a design upgrade. Of course, this element of the car will be enhanced with features such as 22-inch sport alloy wheels, wide fenders, or new front/rear bumpers (references from the Vision Ralliart 2022 concept).
However, the most notable upgrades will revolve around the chassis and powertrain. A lower suspension system, new steering system tuning, and improved performance will be available on the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Ralliart.
The estimated power of the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Ralliart could be 286 horsepower, slightly higher than the standard hybrid’s 248 units.
While other SUV models on the market have high-performance versions to attract customers, the Mitsubishi Outlander has been “frozen” since its upgrade. Photo: Mitsubishi
The price of the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Ralliart is expected to be around 5.5 to 6 million yen, equivalent to 901.2 to 983.1 million dong.
In addition to the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Ralliart, the Ralliart division has also been rumored to be working on a high-performance Triton. This division has been very active since its revival in 2022 after a 12-year absence from the market. Shortly after returning at the end of 2022, one of their modified Triton models won the Asia Cross Country Rally.
