Next-gen Outlander teased by Mitsubishi

JUST days after a supposed leak outed the next-generation Outlander medium SUV, Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited (MMAL) has revealed a first official teaser images of the volume-selling family hauler ahead of its global launch in February next year.

The single darkened image does not actually reveal a whole lot other than the basic silhouette – which is still decidedly Outlander – led by the familiarly shaped bulbous nose.

While it is hard to see without brightening the image up a little, the bonnet line of the next-gen car looks to have been raised in relation to the glasshouse while the D-pillar looks to have been enlarged and angled forward more.

At the front we can see the signature chrome trim has made a return, underlining a prominently mounted new LED daytime running arrangement before skirting what we expect to be a new narrower grille and flicking back out to encompass the fog-lights.

MMAL says the new model has been developed in accordance with the Japanese term “I-Fu-Do-Do”, meaning authentic and majestic.

According to Mitsubishi Motors Corporation head of design Seiji Watanabe, the new Outlander will be the first model to debut the brand’s new design language. 

“The Outlander is an iconic SUV for the company, so when we developed the next generation model, we took inspiration from our rich SUV heritage to realise bold and confident styling with a solid stance that excites our customers,” he said. 

At this stage it remains to be seen what powertrains will be available Down Under, however we do know a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) will be returning and that the new model is expected to share its underpinnings with the next Nissan X-Trail.

For reference, the current model is powered by a range of engines including a 110kW/190Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol (manual only), a 124kW/220Nm 2.4-litre unit paired exclusively to a continuously variable transmission and a 2.2-litre turbo-diesel four.

The PHEV powertrain augments the aforementioned 2.4-litre petrol mill with a 13.8kWh battery and two electric motors producing a combined 157kW/332Nm

More details and images will be announced in the lead up to the global launch.

MMAL has sold 10,633 Outlanders this year ending November, affording it a 7.7 per cent slice of the crowded and ever-popular sub-$60,000 medium SUV segment.