New York show: Mitsubishi Outlander edges closer

MITSUBISHI has given a final glimpse at its forthcoming Outlander facelift before the covers officially come off at the New York motor show next week.

As previously reported, the updated Outlander will introduce Mitsubishi's latest design language in production form, which has so far only been seen on concept show-cars such as the Outlander Sport, the trio of SUV/crossover concepts from the 2013 Tokyo show and more recently, the XR-PHEV.

The darkened images show a sleeker front end design, with slimline headlights and a more subtle version of the expansive lower grille treatment seen on the aforementioned concepts.

Rear-end styling maintains some cues from the Outlander Sport concept, however the production model's tail-lights will not stretch across the length of the tailgate, and will have a more orthodox look.

The Japanese car-maker is giving little away at this stage, but said in a statement that the Outlander brings more than 100 design and engineering improvements, including its new “eye-catching exterior design”.

Other changes for the better, according to Mitsubishi, include improvements to on-road performance with lower noise levels, as well as better ride, handling and throttle response.

A new interior featuring high-end materials for a more upmarket feel is also expected, as per the Outlander Sport concept. Mitsubishi has not yet released any powertrain details for the updated model.

The redesign comes a little more than two years after the launch of the third-generation Outlander in Australia in December 2012, making the facelift an early one in terms of the overall life-cycle.

The Japanese brand has previously announced it will shift its focus to SUVs and light-commercials as well as electric vehicle and plug-in hybrid technology, while slowly moving away from traditional passenger cars.

All Mitsubishi concepts in recent years have been SUVs and GoAuto recently snapped a next-generation Triton-based Challenger undergoing testing in Adelaide ahead of a possible reveal later this year.

The new Outlander will go on sale next month in Australia, while the all-important Triton – the company's best-seller here – will roll into showrooms in early May.

An all-new ASX should lob next year, following a number of concepts, while the long-awaited next-generation Pajero off-roader is still believed to be a couple of years away.