Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV named 'Technology Car of the Year' in Japan

MANILA: Mitsubishi Motors Corporation announced that its Outlander plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) won the "Technology Car of the Year" plum in the 2021-2022 Car of the Year Japan awards.

The PHEV crossover SUV was awarded for its technologies for eco-friendliness and safety. 

In selecting the Outlander PHEV model, the awards jury evaluated the revamped PHEV system that increased the output of the front and rear motors. Meanwhile, the extended total driving range was made possible by increasing the battery and fuel tank capacity.

The Outlander PHEV model was also recognized for its evolved Super-All Wheel Control (S-AWC) integrated vehicle dynamics control system, which is based on the twin-motor 4WD that allows nimble handling. 

Based on the product concept of "I-Fu-Do-Do" or authentic and majestic in Japanese, the all-new Outlander has been given significant upgrades from body and chassis to powertrain.

To help the Outlander PHEV tackle various terrain and adopt to driving styles, it has also been fitted with five drive modes: Normal, Gravel, Snow, Power, and Eco.

Normal is optimized for normal driving on paved roads. Gravel mode provides more traction on unpaved or wet paved roads, while Snow mode delivers stable vehicle behavior on snowy and other slippery roads.

The Power mode is designed to provide powerful acceleration, while Eco mode prioritizes economic and environmentally friendly driving.

After the launch in 2013, the previous generation Outlander PHEV was rolled out in global markets including Japan, Europe, Oceania, North America and ASEAN, and has been a leader in the PHEV category with more than 290,000 total units sold.

Photos from Mitsubishi

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