The next step in Mitsubishi's PHEV is launched with upgrades and a new powerplant.

EV priority mode	New Cool Silver colour option
Electronic parking brake	Reduced CO2 Emissions
33-mile electric range	Prices start from £ 34,749 (excluding Plug-in Car Grant)
Improved regenerative braking

Quality, design and technological innovation, all with a very attractive price tag

The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is the UK’s best-selling Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle. At its introduction in 2014 it effectively created the ultra-low emission vehicle segment, notching up 10,000 sales in the UK within the first ten months and amassing a total sales figure of 26,600 by the end of 2016. 

The vehicle is derived from the third generation of the Mitsubishi Outlander (which pioneered the ‘cross-over’ vehicle design concept with the Mitsubishi Airtrek in 2001 and has sold 1.5 million units globally since launch) but was developed from the ground up to be driven by either an internal combustion engine or hybrid technology and as a result there are no compromises in terms of packaging, practicality or driving dynamics.

The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV offers the best pure EV range of any of its competitors, has the lowest emissions of any all-wheel drive vehicle (and remains amongst the lowest-emitting vehicle of its plug-in hybrid competitors) and is the only AWD vehicle to utilise electric power to drive both front and rear wheels for superior traction both on and off the road. 

It is also the only plug-in hybrid to offer rapid charging (up to 80% in approximately 25 minutes) and adjustable regenerative braking, which is controlled via the steering wheel paddles to further enhance the driving experience.

Extensively revised in 2016, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV vehicle continues to take the automotive world by storm and now the new Outlander PHEV has arrived, representing another evolution in technology, safety and dynamic performance. The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is in showrooms now with prices starting from £34,749 (excluding the £2,500 Plug-in Car Grant)

WHAT’S NEW?

EV PRIORITY MODE

For 2017 Mitsubishi introduces a new EV Priority Mode across all variants. The new EV switch is located below the 4WD button and once activated, it allows the driver to operate the vehicle in EV mode without the engine starting, provided there is sufficient charge in the batteries. An electronic parking brake is also new to the 2017 Outlander PHEV, as well as the brake auto hold button function which, when activated, holds the vehicle in traffic or on an include the same way a handbrake would, allowing the driver to release the footbrake.

TECHNICAL UPDATES

Across all variants, the 2017 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV powertrain and chassis has been revised, with new dampers and rear suspension bushes, making it a quieter and more refined to drive than ever. Rapid charging has also been improved, reducing its charging time to 80% from 30 minutes to approximately 25 minutes, and its pure electric range is increased to 33 miles, up from 32 miles. The 2017 Outlander PHEV also delivers more performance with improved acceleration in EV mode compared to its predecessor. CO₂ emissions have also been lowered by 1g/km to 41g/km, with an average weighted fuel consumption of 166 mpg – a 6.4% increase versus the previous version. Regenerative braking technology, which works to put lost energy back into the battery when slowing down and which can adjusted while driving using the steering wheel paddles, has also been upgraded for 2017 Outlander PHEV - the drive battery output has been improved by 10%.

Safety features have also been further developed and improved on the 2017 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. Forward Collision Mitigation technology, standard on the Mitsubishi Outlander 4hs and 5hs versions, now features Pedestrian Detection for added safety, while Blind Spot Warning and Rear Cross Traffic Alert have both been introduced on the 4h variant to assist the driver when reversing out of a space. For example, if traffic is coming from the right, the icon located on the right-hand mirror will light up, accompanied by an audio alert.

Another colour has been added to the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV colour palette in the form of Cool Silver. A shark-fin antenna is now incorporated in the roof line and there is a secure charge-point cover linked to the central locking. For a more refined exterior look, Outlander PHEV also features silver roof rails, as well as clean chrome accents on the sills.

Inside, the new Electronic Parking Brake and auto-hold button are located to the right of the 4WD and the new EV Priority Mode switches on the centre console. The console, and other key surfaces, have been finished with a black ash design and chrome accents and, as before, it is extremely well finished with soft-touch switches and ambient lighting flooding the floor area and centre console box. A four-spoke heated steering wheel, with a thick high-grip rim, fine leather trim and multiple control switches, completes the upmarket cabin feel.

THE DRIVE

Its low centre of gravity and excellent weight distribution make for exceptional driving dynamics, further enhanced with suspension updates for 2017. The Outlander PHEV offers an ultra-smooth driving experience, with a 2.0-litre petrol engine and a seamless transition between three driving modes (EV, series hybrid, parallel hybrid), which combine to deliver optimum performance regardless of driving conditions.

4WD

The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is unique in offering adaptive four-wheel drive with twin electric motors driving the wheels. The front and rear axles are each equipped with their own high-output motor to deliver acceleration even more powerful than a 3.0-litre petrol engine, while maintaining an incredibly responsive 4WD performance.

PERFORMANCE

• 0-62mph in 11 seconds
• Delivers up to 244lb/ft of torque
• It has 1,500kg towing capacity – ideal for a medium-weight caravan
• CO₂ from 41g/km
• Official Combined Cycle Fuel Economy Figure of 166mpg

THE THREE DRIVE MODES AVAILABLE ON THE 2017 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER PHEV:

EV DRIVE MODE

EV Drive Mode is an all-electric function in which the front and rear motors drive the vehicle using only electricity from the drive battery. With zero on-road petrol consumption and zero CO₂ emissions the driver can enjoy a quiet and very eco-friendly performance for up to 33 miles, subject to weather conditions, driving style and the usage of the car’s electrical and climate control systems.

SERIES HYBRID MODE

In Series Hybrid Mode the petrol engine operates as a generator supplying electricity to the electric motors. The system switches to this mode when the remaining charge in the battery falls below a predetermined level and when more power is required, such as accelerating to pass a vehicle or climbing a steep gradient.

PARALLEL HYBRID MODE

The system switches to Parallel Hybrid Mode when the vehicle reaches high speeds. In this mode, the high-efficiency petrol engine provides most of the motive power, which is then assisted by the electric motors as required; such as when more powerful performance is needed to accelerate or climb a slope.

MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER PHEV 3h – From £34,749

Externally, the new Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV 3h is fitted with 18-inch alloy wheels and LED DRLs with headlamp washers as standard and in terms of comfort and convenience it features a long list of standard equipment including a touchscreen Display Audio system with DAB and Bluetooth, Rear View Camera, an Electronic Parking Brake with Brake Auto Hold and the new EV Switch. 

Steering wheel paddles, for adjusting the level of regenerative braking, are also standard, as is dual-zone climate control; automatic lights and wipers; cruise control and speed limiter; rear view mirror with auto dimming and electrically retractable door mirrors.

MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER PHEV 4h – From £39,399

The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV 4h builds on the high specification of the 3h with the addition of LED front fog lamps, Blind Spot Warning and Rear Cross Traffic Alert. 

A 360 degree camera function (displayed on the infotainment system display) which can be activate via a steering-wheel button is also standard, while the 4h version also features leather upholstery with heated front seats and electric driver’s side adjustment; Mitsubishi’s MMCS touchscreen infotainment system with satellite navigation; a power operated tailgate and a heated steering wheel.

MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER PHEV 5h – From £43,899

The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV 5h adds a touch of luxury with a new premium Nappa leather interior available in a choice of three colours: Claret Red, Porcelain Beige or Gunmetal Grey and heated seats in the rear as well as the front. 

The main headlamps feature LED main beam lighting while blue LED mood lighting (including puddle lamps) creates a soothing interior ambience. 

Twin rear USB charging ports, Outlander bonnet badge, a rear spoiler and a premium Alpine audio system have also been added.

The Mitsubishi Outlander 4hs and 5hs versions add a full suite of active safety systems including Auto High Beam, adaptive cruise control, forward collision mitigation with pedestrian  detection, unintended acceleration mitigation, front and rear parking sensors and lane departure warning.

OUTLANDER PHEV KEY BENEFITS

• 33-miles in pure EV mode
• ‘Save’ button allows the driver to save charge
• ‘Charge’ button allows the driver to charge the car using the petrol engine
• EV Priority mode lets the driver maximise EV miles
• Benefit in Kind tax for company car drivers is just 7%
• CO₂ emissions  just 41g/km weighted average
• Exempt of London congestion charges
• Commercial variants available

The Outlander PHEV range is also backed by a five year, 62,500-mile warranty. For an additional £500, customers can purchase the Mitsubishi Service Plan, which covers scheduled maintenance for the first three years.

Audi delivers third Iteration of the acclaimed Audi Prologue Design Concept at Shanghai.

Third iteration of the acclaimed Audi Prologue design concept with rugged allroad theme and hybrid drive is unveiled in China

• Third member of the Audi prologue family for all types of roads
• Innovative display and operating concept for digital interaction
• Powerful and efficient with plug-in hybrid technology
• 734 PS of system power with 33-mile electric range

High-end technology and unrestricted everyday practicality, plus alluring elegance: The Audi prologue allroad is making its world premiere at Auto Shanghai. The five-door show car with its raised body and tougher stance provides a new emphasis in the conceptual 

Audi prologue family. Its operating concept enables digital interaction between driver and passengers; the plug-in hybrid drive impresses with 734 PS, yet low consumption.

Like all allroad models from Audi, the Audi prologue allroad makes no compromises. 15 years ago, a new class of automobile debuted with the Audi allroad quattro: a car combining the comfort and dynamics of the luxury class with maximum variability and masterful off-road capability. 

Audi is now presenting a study in China that reflects a fresh interpretation of the typical allroad themes, providing a clear glimpse into the brand’s design future. 

The design of the Audi allroad prologue accentuates the elegance and uniqueness of the allroad concept.

Powerful and elegant: the side view

Viewed from the side, the 5.13 metre Audi prologue allroad displays the new, dynamic interpretation of the Audi allroad philosophy. A long front-end, a roofline that quickly begins to drop again and extremely flat D-pillars give it an athletic profile and emphasise the elegance and dynamics of the allroad concept in a fresh way.

The prominent bumpers and the widely flared wheel wells, which house 22‑inch wheels with a five-arm design, make the all-around talents of the Audi prologue allroad abundantly clear at the very first glance. The proportions emphasise the front and rear wheel equally.

The show car, finished in Dehua White, is a stage for progressive elegance in every detail. The window capping strips include sensor surfaces for the door locks; the covers for the charging port and fuel tank are also electric. Aluminium accents are present on the roof rails, the mirror housings, the area around the windows and both the front and rear of the car. 

An extension offset in grey runs along the wheel wheels and the entire bottom edge of the raised body. It expresses the power and robustness of the car and makes it seem even wider.

Progressive: the front end

A flat and wide Singleframe grille dominates the front. It is flushly integrated into the body. With their cohesive appearance, its brushed aluminium crossbars create a new variant of the Audi e-tron look. 

The show car’s wedge-shaped headlights feature Matrix laser technology, an innovation that further extends the Audi lead in lighting technology. The light is broken down into countless tiny pixels, and the possibilities for distributing this light are virtually boundless. LED light guides sketch a new e-tron light signature at the upper and outer edges of the air inlets, which are bisected by the bumper blade.

Dynamic: the rear

The rear of the Audi prologue allroad is strongly drawn-in laterally and as with a yacht is tilted in the direction of travel, giving the show car a dynamic appearance even when standing still. A narrow strip of lights connects the LED rear lights. Their housings are made of 3D glass producing three-dimensional, sculpted effects. 

The rear apron includes flat, horizontally split openings on both sides that graphically integrate the exhaust system into the rear-end design. This detail symbolises the drive concept of the Audi prologue allroad – the efficient interplay of combustion engine and electric motor.

Spacious and airy: the interior

With its elegant and highly variable interior, the Audi prologue allroad is the perfect car for everyday driving and recreation. Driver and passengers experience the spacious interior of the show car as a luxurious lounge. Graceful lines and slender geometric bodies convey the impression of expanse, serenity and lightness. 

The continuous centre console and the front seats appear to float. The instrument panel features a strictly horizontal orientation. Its upper level is part of the wraparound – the arc encircling the cabin and the luggage compartment. A perforated trim panel covers the broad air vent; it retracts as soon as the air-conditioning is set higher.

Glimpse into the future: the instrument panel

The interior architecture of the Audi prologue allroad merges with a groundbreaking new display and operating concept. Across its full width, the front of the instrument panel is designed to be a display surface which integrates three touch displays. 

Aluminium frames surround the driver displays to the right and left of the steering wheel. The front passenger can configure infotainment options using a widescreen display fully integrated into the instrument panel. He or she can swipe to send these to the right driver display or to the Audi virtual cockpit future behind the steering wheel.

The centre console tunnel houses an additional driver display for climate control system, infotainment and text input. Featuring innovative OLED technology with an extremely thin, flexible film, it displays brilliant, high-contrast images. When inactive, the display is in a flat retracted position; as soon as the car is started, it moves up at an angle. 

The brand with the four rings is also breaking new ground with the Audi virtual cockpit future, which lies in the driver’s field of view. High-resolution displays and three semi-transparent mirrors generate a virtual visual stage with three levels. Thanks to this staggered approach, information is structured better and is easier to grasp.

Innovation in the rear

Rear passengers in the Audi prologue allroad sit in individual seats. They use an additional OLED display on the centre console to adjust the seats, the climate control system and the infotainment for their area or to exchange data with the driver. When the audio system is switched on, a sound spoiler moves out of the rear wheelhouse panelings, homogeneously distributing music in the interior in top quality. Two Audi tablets, which can be mounted in the backs of the front seats, also use OLED technology. They are extremely thin and slightly curved.

The show car offers its driver and passengers superior comfort before the car even begins to move. The “butler” – an innovative, intelligent software program – identifies the passengers as they get in based on their smartphones and adjusts the seats and climate control system according to their preferences. The system also makes suggestions for music and route planning according to the owner’s preferences. The Easy Slot system in the centre console connects the phones with the onboard infotainment system and charges them inductively.

Novel: the materials and colours

The upper section of the instrument panel is finished in Lifestyle Blue, while the lower zone, the seats and the carpeting are Sard Brown. Bezels of open-pored, dark fine-grain ash veneer adorn the wraparound, the doors and the centre tunnel console. Aluminium elements set powerful accents.

Natural-looking Unicum leather is in large sections of the instrument panel, on the centre console tunnel and on the seats. Artfully designed perforations in the seat centre lines are evocative of the Singleframe grille bars. A generous band of Alcantara runs from the door inserts over the arm rests to the luggage compartment.

Powerful efficiency

Powerful on the road, superior in light terrain, always efficient: the technology in the Audi prologue allroad offers the ultimate in automotive freedom.

The 4.0 TFSI engine – a V8 with twin turbochargers – and the electric motor integrated into the eight-speed tiptronic produce 734 PS of system power and 900 Nm (663.8 lb-ft) of system torque. The quattro all-wheel drive system utilises the power of the Audi prologue allroad perfectly in every situation.

The show car rockets from 0 to 62mph in 3.5 seconds, yet is capable of achieving up to 117mpg according to the NEDC standard for plug-in hybrids, which corresponds to 56 grams CO₂ per km. The lithium-ion battery mounted in the rear of the car has a capacity of 14.1 kWh for a purely electric range of 33 miles. With its AWC (Audi wireless charging) technology which the brand is developing for series production, the Audi prologue allroad can also be charged inductively.

The body of the Audi prologue allroad is 77 mm higher than that of the Audi prologue Avant. The chassis is state-of-the-art. The front and wheel axles are lightweight, five-link constructions. The 20-inch brake discs are made of weight-saving carbon-fibre ceramic. 

The adaptive air suspension sport – an air suspension system with controlled damping – offers a wide range between extremely comfortable cruising and tight handling. The dynamic all-wheel steering combines a variable-ratio, dynamic steering unit with an additional steering unit for the rear wheels to harmoniously resolve the conflict between dynamic driving and stability.