Mitsubishi Motors has flicked the light switch on a new concept vehicle that hints at its next-generation large SUV.
Unveiled in advance of the Paris Motor Show, the Mitsubishi GT-PHEV Concept’s dimensions and design elements could find their way into the next Outlander, as the automaker seeks a larger stake in the utility vehicle market.
And yikes, what a face. But that isn’t the whole package.
Mitsubishi mentions the front fascia’s “forceful presence” — a generous description, to be sure — and touts the concept’s upmarket styling cues. When viewed from the sides and rear, the GT-PHEV is far easier on the eyes, with a sporty profile enhanced by muscular fender bulges and a high beltline.
The automaker plans to capitalize on the public’s love affair with utility vehicles by slotting a new compact crossover into its lineup, moving the Outlander Sport (RVR in Canada) down in size to compete with rivals in the subcompact class. The unnamed crossover should appear in late 2017. Meanwhile, the aging Outlander will eventually see a redesign, but not before the long-awaited Outlander PHEV finally appears on our shores next summer.
Besides putting a new face on the brand, the GT-PHEV concept previews the automaker’s next-generation plug-in hybrid system. The triple-motor drivetrain sports an upgraded battery pack, which assists the internal combustion engine through two electric motors.
Mitsubishi isn’t dishing the details on the system’s combined output just yet — expect more on that later this month — but the automaker will admit that the concept boasts 120 kilometers (75 miles) of all-electric range, and a 1,200 km (746 mile) combined cruising range. This more than doubles the Outlander PHEV’s 32.5 miles of electric range.
[Image: Mitsubishi Motors]
Pretty sure I could replicate this design by plugging a picture of an Evoque into a phone app that distorts faces.
congratulations, Mitsubishi. you’ve out-uglied the Toyota Mirai.
And they said it couldn’t be done!
I see more of a extremely angular Juke. Although back and sides look good, I think.
Put a Land Rover logo on it and it would be a Land Rover.
Todd AtlasF1,
I thought the same thing and is the face that much uglier than what Lexas did ?
It’s totally a variation of the Lexus front end.
I don’t see any Rover in the front, although the side profile certainly owes a lot to them.
Complete Evoque rip off.
“It look like an Evoque until an Evoque pull up.”
“as the automaker seeks a larger stake in the utility vehicle market.”
You had a decent stake in the utility vehicle market, and you p!ssed it away and let it go. You do not -deserve- a stake in the utility market in America today. We do not need another midsize CUV, and you won’t send over the Montero even though you sell it in Mexico already.
Now go to your room, you’re grounded.
Is it wrong that I’m actively rooting for the day when Mitsubishi finally realizes the party is over in the U.S. market and pulls chocks? I’m tired of seeing their ugly, uncompetitive junk pollute the automotive landscape.
They’re barely competitive with a used car or even a bus pass. If it wasn’t for subprime and/or woefully uniformed buyers, they’d have been gone a decade ago.
Could you be more put-upon about something that doesn’t affect you? Being offended because a vehicle lineup that you are not a fan of is offered to other buyers… Just don’t buy a Mitsubishi.
Enjoy whatever you drive and find something useful to be outraged over.
I suppose I could be more put-upon, but that require actual effort as opposed to making throwaway comments on an internet blog while I wait on my dinner to finish cooking.
God, this place takes itself way too seriously sometimes. Yeah, I’m really tossing and turning all night over this crap…
Still, it’s a terrible line of cars, sold through an embarrassingly cheap, sleazy dealer network and manufactured by a company with a decades-long reputation for fraud that makes VW look like a bunch of pikers. They deserve absolutely no support.
I don’t really “root” for it, because it will mean working people in the US lose their jobs. But I do think it’s time for them to A) step up their product and become competitive (which seems unlikely under Nissan rule) or B) go home.
The strange thing is, Mitsubishi probably could up their game and build more vehicles that people want to buy. Why they havent is beyond me.
I had the privilege of being in a brand new Outlander GT recently. It wasnt a terrible car, but it is at least 8 years behind the Ford Edge, not to mention the Cherokee and Pilot. The seats were not comfortable in any position, and the front seats did not go back far enough, making any driver 6′ or taller very uncomfortable. Very large knockout covers were evident in the dash and on the steering column. The sunroof looked like one of those small aftermarket units instead of a proper moonroof like on the Tucson.
If they fixed the smaller things (and had real consumers review the concepts and vehicles prior to production), they could get better.
I like it. It’s a logical progression from the current face.
*Dodges tomatoes*
I’m sure it’d be a real joy having to stare out that gun-slit of a windshield all day.
hmm… looks like a modern mashup between a Lexus spindle grille and a ’65 Bonneville.
When can the gun slit windows just go away?
Looks like the result of Range Rover Evoque, Nissan Juke and Lexus RX three-way.
No ones mentioned the massive blind spots+tiny-sliver of a side mirror combo that would make this thing impossible to drive safe.
It sorta reminds me of the Juke and Cherokee with the little lights up top pretty much on top of the hood and bigger lights flanking the grille/bumper. Except this ones worse, way worse.
*Safe/ly/. And to address your concern, one, it’s just a concept, and no concept with slivers of mirror has ever made it to production unchanged. Two, blind spots are made up for (I forgot the appropriate verb! So sad) with blind spot monitoring systems. This is neither a good nor a bad thing; it just’s the way it is with modern cars.
Ew, this is why I did all my required writing credits at a community college.
I understand, it’s definitely just a concept, and the even the production vehicle might have slightly better sight lines. I’m not going to excuse manufacturers though for making vehicles you can’t see well out of then trying to make it up with “blind-spot monitoring systems.” It’s not that I don’t trust technology or anything, but I’d still just rather be able to see. A lot of newer cars and CUVs I’ve driven are way too bunker like for my taste. Thankfully I’m more of a truck guy and they still come with nice, big windows and great mirrors.. for now.
People with 512 FICOs are embarassed enough. This is just cruel.
If they had just skipped those vertical lights!
Looks like the Family Truckster.
You think you hate it now, wait till you drive it!
Cripes that’s one of the ugliest things I’ve seen, and I remember when these were a common sight on American roads…
http://topclassiccarsforsale.com/uploads/photoalbum/1974-amc-matador-360-cid-3.JPG
Looks like it has skin cancer on its face. I wanna vomit!
“Face of the Future…”
Mitsubishi has a future (at least in the US)?
Yes, and it’s name is NISSAN!
I have generally taken the approach lately of, “I’ll see it in person before I make judgement.”
Two great examples of this is the Lexus IS/IF, which looks vastly better in person than in pictures, and the second is the Epsilon II Chevrolet Impala.
With that said, I just don’t see how this could possibly look better in person.
Looks like another headlight design that won’t work well at night.
How would it not work? On of the bug problems with current production lighting technology is that a small point of light high up on ever-taller front ends is terrible for balancing reach and cutoff, and it’s extremely bothersome for fellow drivers.
Lower lights, like on the Juke, Cherokee, and this, would be more useful if less harmonious-looking.
With the exception of the Grand Cherokeeish squinty lights, I like it. Of course, I drive a Leaf so my opinion doesn’t really count, but make it interesting, make it ugly, just not boring. I know, boring cars sell.
As the race progresses to have total window size equal to an iPhone screen…I just can’t.
Why doesn’t a savvy maker just cut to the chase? Eliminate all side and back glass and construct out of metal. If the outward appearance is too jarring, just paint on some gloryholes. Inside, mount some LED screens (where glass once resided) fed by cameras.
Done.
They just photographed it mid sneeze – I’m sure it looks better than that.