Mitsubishi Fast Charges The Outlander PHEV.
Mitsubishi Motors’ new Outlander PHEV has arrived in Australia with a revised design, new technology, increased refinement and additional fast charging flexibility.
In a comprehensive update to the best-selling EV in the Australian market, the new Outlander PHEV has adopted the styling changes from the Model Year 2017 Outlander range while introducing new technology and increased convenience.
The Outlander PHEV 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.
Available in two specification grades, LS and Exceed, both come with new features such as; Mitsubishi’s Smartphone Link Display Audio with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto2 integration, and Digital Radio (DAB+), electric folding and heated exterior mirrors, LED headlamps with auto levelling and an electronically controlled park brake with Auto Hold function and a DC fast charging socket.
New safety features available as standard on Exceed include, Adaptive Cruise Control, Forward Collision Mitigation with human detection, Multi Around Monitor, Auto High Beam, Lane Departure Warning, Blind Spot Monitor, Lane Change Assist, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and an Ultrasonic Mis-acceleration Mitigation System.
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.
The electronic parking brake’s auto hold button function which, when activated, holds the vehicle in traffic or on an incline the same way a handbrake would, allows the driver to release the footbrake.
Its stylish and functional interior includes a redesigned steering wheel, new accent trim, improved seating comfort with premium finishes and materials to give the cabin a more sophisticated feel.
The new Outlander PHEV delivers a smooth, more responsive on-road performance with improvements to noise levels, ride, handling and throttle response.
Ride quality and comfort have been enhanced with increased structural rigidity in the body, revised suspension design, new Electric Power Steering calibration and reduced noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) throughout the vehicle.
The new Outlander PHEV retains its predecessor’s outstanding safety and environmental performance through the use of cutting-edge four-wheel drive, passive safety technology as well as fuel-efficient engine technology.
Pure EV range extends up to a maximum of 54km, while overall fuel economy has been reduced to 1.7-litre per 100km based on the ADR 81/02 fuel economy cycle.
Mitsubishi Motors Australia Executive Director of Marketing Tony Principe said the new Outlander PHEV builds on the model success in this market.
“The Outlander PHEV is now more stylish, refined and has increased practicality with the addition of a DC fast charge socket capable of recharging the battery to 80% capacity in around 25 minutes,” said Mr Principe.
“Of course, if owners can’t find a recharging station, they don’t have to change their plans as the Outlander PHEV is not limited by the availability of recharging infrastructure.”
Exterior
‘Dynamic Shield’ front design including dark chrome and silver plated grille, silver skid plate, LED headlamps, Day time Running Lamps (DRL) and fog lamps with chrome bezel complete the front design of the new Outlander PHEV.
The sharper rear styling features a new design bumper and silver skid plate. The shark fin antenna, chrome tailgate garnish with LED rear combination lamps and rear fog lamp to complement the front design.
Outlander’s new exterior design is unified overall through the use of wheel arch mouldings, silver roof rails and chrome door sill garnish. New look 18-inch black and polished alloy wheel design complete the modern exterior.
Interior
The new Outlander PHEV gets a fresh design update to the interior space incorporating stylish yet functional features.
The interior is embellished with soft touch features and premium grade materials at every contact point. A new design four spoke steering wheel features gloss black bezel and new accent trim has been applied to the doors, dash and centre console. New material headlining, subtle stitching highlights on the instrument panel and a soft centre armrest enhance the sophisticated feel of the cabin.
Seating comfort has been greatly enhanced with improved lateral support and an increase in side bolster stiffness. The LS seats feature black Sports cloth trim with leather look bolsters, while the Exceed’s new style leather facings complement the new interior look.
Performance
The new Outlander PHEV boasts improved handling dynamics and greatly reduced noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) along with increased body and structural rigidity for a super quiet and composed ride.
NVH improvements have been developed in part from the application of extensive sound insulation and isolation damping materials throughout the vehicle. Engine noise, cabin boom, road and wind noise are all reduced due to noise-isolating windscreen glass, improved weather stripping, new tyres, damper tuning and modified suspension mounts.
Its low centre of gravity and excellent weight distribution make for exceptional driving dynamics, further enhanced with suspension updates. 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.
Outlander PHEV’s dynamic performance continues to be refined with a number of suspension changes to enhance overall ride comfort and stability. New shock valves advance linearity and body control, while new rear toe link bushes provide improved lateral rigidity. Lower friction front struts and larger rear shock absorbers with new damping contribute to improved steering linearity, while rear shocks have been tweaked to boost stability and ride comfort.
The 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 powerful acceleration when needed, while maintaining an incredibly responsive 4WD performance.
The Outlander PHEV maintains its five-star ANCAP safety rating thanks to its combination of active and passive safety features.
The Reinforced Impact Safety Evolution (RISE) body structure is further bolstered with a suite of active safety features.
Like all models in the Mitsubishi range, the Outlander PHEV is backed by a 5 year/100,000km warranty.
Product overview:
Layout:
At the front: Electric motor + inverter (60 kW – 137 Nm), Electric generator 2.0 litre MIVEC DOHC petrol engine (89 kW – 190 Nm). Power Drive Unit In the middle, under the floor: 12 kWh, 80 cells, 300 V Lithium-Ion air-cooled battery pack plus 45 l fuel tank. At the rear: Electric motor + inverter (60 kW – 195 Nm) and Rear Motor Control Unit.
Multiple charging choice :
Automatic “on-the-go” charging, in – Series Hybrid and Parallel Hybrid Modes
Standard on-board dual plug-in charger for : Normal charging (approx 6.5 hours for 100% charge – 230V – 10 A or 3h30 with 16 A). Quick charging (approx 25 min for 80% charge )
Battery Charge Mode:Driver-activated (switch on centre console), Autonomous self-charging through ICE
Can also be activated when the vehicle is stationary and can recover 80% charge in approx 40 min.
Regenerative Braking (cannot be controlled when Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) is active.
Activated either when lifting off accelerator pedal or when braking
Degree of regeneration controlled by driver : « B » position on shifter with two selectable levels
Six incremental steps through steering wheel-mounted paddles
Additional EV features :« Battery Save Mode » :Driver-selected meant to switch automatically to « Series Hybrid Mode » or « Parallel Hybrid Mode » to save on electricity, allowing to later enter CO2-restricted city centers or quiet residential areas, or simply to enjoy nature in full silence.
Remote monitoring through dedicated WiFi smartphone app, « Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS) to warn pedestrians. Electric hot water-powered heater. Illuminated twin charge port (regular and quick) recess behind lid – with charging indicator (on/off lamp) and energy level gauge show charging status and level. 5 m standard charging cable with heat insulation, GND OPEN detector features and safety gauge. PHEV system designed to support long-term Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) smart grid protocol and EV Priority switch – to prevent the PHEV system to switch to hybrid mode and therefore retain the full electric driving on demand.
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