Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV gets boost from rally champ

Australia’s best-selling plug-in hybrid SUV, the Mitsubishi Outlander, PHEV has received a boost from an unexpected source – the car-maker's Lancer Evolution rallying icon.

Previewed at an exclusive media preview event in Gol, Norway, the 2017 Outlander PHEV will pair a newly developed drive-by-wire twin-motor four-wheel-drive system with Super All Wheel Control (S-AWC).

Developed for and honed in the Lancer Evo, Mitsubishi’s four-wheel drive technology works in conjunction with the Outlander PHEV’s twin motors.

S-AWC integrates the vehicle’s four-wheel-drive, active stability control, anti-lock braking and active yaw control systems to optimise power deliver across all four wheels.

Mitsubishi says the updated drive system will improve the Outlander PHEV’s driving dynamics by enhancing both stability and handling precision.

Where the S-AWC system implemented in the Lancer Evo used a centre differential to split the torque between front and rear axles, the system employed in the Outlander PHEV uses electric motors located at both the front and rear of the vehicle to deliver torque to the respective wheels.

Paired with open differentials at the front and rear, S-AWC reduces front-wheel slippage to deliver more powerful acceleration.

Left and right torque delivery is managed through the Outlander PHEV’s active yaw control with independent four-wheel braking controlling torque distribution in cornering.

In addition to a normal drive mode, the Outlander PHEV will now also offer a 4WD Lock mode further enhance power distribution to improve traction and stability on unsealed surfaces such as gravel, snow and ice.

Mitsubishi is also promising further dynamic developments for the Outlander PHEV with future vehicles set to feature additional driving modes including sport and snow.

motoring.com.au was able to drive a prototype vehicle featuring development versions of the modes and while the changes won’t go as far as to include adaptive suspension or steering, they will add additional flexibility to the Outlander PHEV package.

While there’s no clear timeline, future iterations of Mitsubishi PHEV vehicles will benefit from a greater focus on driving dynamics with S-AWC to be further developed and advanced plans in train to introduce torque vectoring via electric active yaw control.

Full Australian details on the 2017 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV will be released at the local launch next month and watch out for our first drive in Norway later this week.