Mitsubishi promises trio of plug-in hybrid SUVs for US market

The company is expected to pare its car lineup down to just the Mirage, instead focusing on crossovers.

Mitsubishi has reaffirmed its commitment to focus on crossovers in the US market, promising to launch several plug-in hybrids in the next few years.

The company will offer at least three different crossover models to accommodate customers in the most popular size categories. The refreshed 2016 Outlander and recently-unveiled Outlander Sport are already headed to showrooms, while the quirky i-MiEV will be dropped from the lineup.

"We are strong in SUVs and four-wheel drives," Mitsubishi chief Osamu Masuko recently told Automotive News. "And that is what we would like to focus on as core models in the US market."

Coinciding with the i-MiEV's departure, the company will switch to plug-in hybrid adaptations of its traditional crossovers. The shift will be ushered in by a new coupe-like crossover to slot between the Outlander and Outlander Sport. The XR-PHEV II concept (pictured) promises to demonstrate the design direction for North America, potentially previewing the as-yet-unnamed model.

The sleek crossover will be followed by the next-generation Outlander, due in 2018, while the Outlander Sport is scheduled to be redesigned for 2019. Both models are expected to be quickly offered in plug-in form. Earlier reports suggest the full-size Montero could return to the US market, previewed as the GC-PHEV.

At the other end of the spectrum, Mitsubishi is expected to pull the Lancer from US showrooms and leave the Mirage as its only low-slung nameplate. The company has hinted that the Evo name will live on, albeit as a high-performance crossover rather than a car.

Image by Ronan Glon.