In a recent interview with Automotive News, Mitsubishi CEO Osamu Masuka conveyed that the Japanese automaker will be refocusing its efforts towards offering a smaller, SUV-dominant line-up in the United States.
It’s new charge in the US will be led by the arrival of three new SUVs that will debut over the next five years. Prior to this, the company also confirmed that it will finally launch its current-gen Outlander PHEV there come mid-2016.
The introduction of the three new models kicks-off with a brand-new coupe-styled SUV that is said to fill a gap between the Outlander and Outlander Sport (the equivalent of the ASX in Malaysia). The new SUV is expected to be available in the US by the fourth quarter of 2017.
The next-generation Outlander itself is set to appear sometime in 2018, followed by a new Outlander Sport as well. Interestingly, while the new coupe SUV and the Outlander will be available as plug-in hybrid and regular petrol-powered models, the Outlander Sport that arrives in 2019 is said to offer a full-electric variant, alongside a petrol-powered one. Could a production model have been previewed by the recent Mitsubishi eX Concept?
Masuko told the publication that “we are strong in SUVs and four-wheel drives. And that is what we would like to focus on as core models in the US market.” The CEO went on to say that it will be allocating more of its resources to support that philosophy. Naturally, this also means that it will be scaling down the development of its sedans.
Citing the lack of resources to pursue a successor for the Mitsubishi Lancer, Masuko also said that Mitsubishi’s attempt to strike a deal with Renault to possibly supply it with a sedan has not succeeded. The CEO confirmed that there are no other talks between its company and any other carmaker at the moment.
Mitsubishi is still on track to launch its new Mirage compact hatch and its equivalent sedan model (known to us as the Attrage) in the US by the second quarter of 2016.
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If only they were serious about business. Putting one concept model (just for the design) into production would sell like hot-cake la.
Mitsubishi has been building too many half hearted and unexciting cars both to look at and drive. Their concepts are fabulous but those Ah Peks in Mitsubishi Japan are too old fashioned when it comes to design. An ugly car cost the same to build as a good looking one, but a good looker may attract more new customers to the brand.
Mitsubishi should hire me. Honestly their cars are great and reliable. But their designs lately are questionable at best. They striked gold with the previous Triton and the sharkish Lancer, but the Mirage is nothing like the old one, the new Triton is ugly in front while the upcoming Pajero Sport is too outlandish, eye catching but outlandish. Get a designer who could appreciate Mitsubishis of old and make evolution rather than constant revolution. I loved the shark nose design language before. Now, the new one not so much. Better yet, hire me instead to draw for you.