TOKYO: Mitsubishi recently launched its Outlander range, including the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), at its Tokyo headquarters with London Mayor Boris Johnson.
Johnson was the guest of honour during the launch and is keen to see more plug-in vehicles used within London’s city limits.
“We greatly appreciate the significant progress the Mayor’s initiatives in London have made to encourage the uptake of ultra-low emission vehicles,” said Mitsubishi Motors Corporation chairman and CEO Osamu Masuko.
The Japanese carmaker’s third generation Outlander PHEV currently accounts for half of all plug-in vehicle sales within the UK since its introduction in 2014.
For this reason, Mitsubishi – who is also the pioneer of the cross-over vehicle design in 2001 with over 1.28mil units sold since, views the UK as as one of the most strategically significant markets in the world for its ultra-low emission vehicle (ULEV) technologies.
The Outlander, which also includes a diesel version, is the company’s first execution of its new SUV design direction ‘Dynamic Shield’ since it was first revealed as a concept at the Paris Motor Show last year.
The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is a five-seat, four-wheel-drive SUV with ULEV that delivers a uniquely smooth driving experience, with seamless and continuous transition between hybrid and pure electric modes, to minimise emissions whether driving in the city or on the motorway.
Most significantly, with a combined hybrid range of more than 540 miles, it eliminates ‘range anxiety’ even though it can accomodate up to 32 miles on pure-electric mode.
“The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, along with forward-looking and consistent Government policy on incentives, is creating a market for plug-ins that will ultimately set the UK apart in global terms by delivering the right balance of low-emission driving, value for money, economy and practicality. This new model is another bold step in that direction,” said Mitsubishi Motors UK managing director Lance Bradley.
The UK government’s plug-in car grant enables Mitsubishi to offer the Outlander PHEV at the same price as the equivalent vehicle with a diesel engine and this has proven to be a significant motivation for buyers wanting to experience the new technology.
Keyword: Mitsubishi's Outlander PHEV gets London mayor's thumbs-up