Mitsubishi reveals bold SUV concept

Mitsubishi has previewed a bold-looking plug-in hybrid SUV which will make its world premiere at this month’s Paris Motor Show.

The Ground Tourer GT-PHEV Concept has striking looks, similar to the eX Concept revealed at the last year’s Tokyo Motor Show. It is a departure from the Mitsubishi ASX’s relatively bland aesthetics, with classically-inspired design that includes a more aggressive take in Mitsubishi’s ‘dynamic shield front styling’ plus striking horizontal lines and angles.

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There are no pictures of the interior, but Mitsubishi says the GT-PHEV has a spacious cockpit-like interior with the instrument panel and high centre console wrapping around the occupants to provide a sense of protection. It apparently oozes leather trim, which will be colour co-ordinated with the exterior roof finish.

New connection and infotainment technology will combine information networks, on-board sensors and cameras to inform the driver of what’s ahead while managing electricity consumption and fuel economy and providing suitable all-wheel control settings to match road and weather conditions.

The GT-PHEV is powered by an advanced plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) system with a new high-capacity drive battery package that Mitsubishi says will give it an electric-only range of 120km and a hybrid cruising range of more than 1200km.

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The triple-motor configuration – one unit at the front and two at the rear – enables Super All Wheel Control (SAW-C) integrated vehicle dynamics control system to provide improved handling stability.

Mitsubishi is coy about the combustion engine that will comprise the rest of the hybrid affiliation but says it is specially designed to improve electricity generation and “motive performance”.

The Grand Tourer Concept is Mitsubishi’s third hybrid or electric-powered concept vehicle to be released at as many international shows.

These include the lightweight XR PHEV II concept revealed at Geneva last year and the aforementioned eX Concept, which was a more compact electric-powered two-door SUV.