Mitsubishi launches new Outlander in China without PHEV!

"Mitsubishi Launches New ""Outlander"" in China, but No PHEV! What is the ""BEV"" that Mitsubishi is focusing on in China? Around 12,000 Reservations Received in China 　The third-generation Outlander, introduced in Japan in October 2021 exclusively as a PHEV model, has been highly acclaimed both in Japan and abroad as the flagship model of the Mitsubishi SUV lineup. PHEV-less and appearing in China! See the new Outlander SUV with unique specifications in 16 images. 　The Outlander will make its debut in China in August 2022, and reservations began on August 26, and within a week the number of reservations had reached approximately 12,000, showing its popularity. The new Outlander handled by Guangqi Mitsubishi in China 　The reservations are made before the official price is announced, using a method commonly known in China as ""blind revision. By paying a 99,000 RMB (approx. 2 million yen) deposit, Outlander customers can receive various preferential treatment, including priority delivery of the car. 　What are the differences between the Outlander and the Japanese version of the third-generation Chinese Outlander that has just been announced? The Outlander, introduced in 2005 as the successor to the Airtrek, has undergone two model changes in the past 17 years. 2012 saw the introduction of the second-generation Outlander, the world's first 4WD plug-in hybrid SUV, and the introduction of a PHEV model. 　The ability to supply electricity from the car attracted a lot of attention, and the model was introduced for outdoor use by individuals and for use by companies and municipalities in case of disasters, making it the best-selling PHEV model overall. 　The third-generation Outlander in Japan will be introduced in 2021. Like previous models, it was introduced in markets outside Japan, but in Japan the pure gasoline model was discontinued and only the PHEV model with the 4B12 2.4-liter inline 4-cylinder engine was available. 　In other markets such as Australia and the U.S., initially only gasoline models powered by Nissan's PR25DD 2.5-liter inline-4 engine were available, but it was later announced that PHEV models would also be introduced (PHEVs were already available in Australia). 　In China, the first-generation Outlander (Japanese name: Airtrek) landed in 2004. At the time, Mitsubishi had a partnership with Beijing Jeep, a joint venture between Beijing Automotive and Jeep (Chrysler), to produce Mitsubishi models in China. Many may ask, ""Why Beijing Jeep?"" Mitsubishi has long had a strong relationship with Chrysler, and at the time had a capital tie-up with DaimlerChrysler (now Sterantis). 　Beijing Jeep, created in 1984, was contracted to produce and sell Chrysler-related models in China, partly because the Jeep brand had been absorbed by Chrysler. Production of the first generation Outlander continued until 2008, when the joint venture was dissolved. Mitsubishi launches the new Outlander in China, but no PHEV! What is the ""BEV"" that Mitsubishi is focusing on in China? No PHEV in the Chinese market, not even the Eclipse Cross! 　In 2006, the second generation Outlander (first generation in Japan) was introduced in China, but since the second generation model was not produced by a joint venture, it was sold as an ""import"" with higher prices due to tariffs. This situation would continue until 2016, when Mitsubishi again established a joint venture and revived production of the Outlander in China. 　In 2012, Mitsubishi established Guangqi Mitsubishi, a joint venture with Guangzhou Automobile; the third-generation Outlander (second generation in Japan) was introduced to China as an import in 2012, and switched to local production in 2016. 　The Outlander has a unique history, but after about a year of delay, the fourth-generation Outlander (the third-generation model in Japan) will finally be available for reservation in China in August 2022. The new Outlander handled by Guangqi Mitsubishi in China 　The basic exterior is identical to the Japanese version, and the interior is also unchanged. 　However, the most distinctive feature of the Chinese version is its unique 48V mild hybrid. While plug-in hybrid models are available in Japan, and pure gasoline models are available in the U.S. and Australia, only a mild hybrid model (212hp) powered by a 4B40 1.5-liter turbocharged inline 4-cylinder engine is available in China. 　It is not clear why only the Chinese version is a 48V mild hybrid. 　However, the Chinese-spec Eclipse Cross is also not available as a PHEV model, but as a pure gasoline model with the same engine. 　Mitsubishi also manufactures and sells the Airtrek electric vehicle (BEV) in China, whose body was transferred from Guangzhou Automobile. 　We suspect that the reasons for not selling PHEVs in China include the difficulty of producing PHEV-related parts locally in China, or the purpose of focusing on BEVs to clarify the position with the Airtrek. 　When we asked Mitsubishi's public relations department about the development of the Outlander in the Chinese market, the response was, ""As you may have guessed, we are focusing on the Airtrek for BEVs, and we will consider PHEVs while watching the policy and market trends in China. 　We will keep an eye on the market to see if there will be additional PHEV models depending on demand, or if Mitsubishi will continue to develop only mild-hybrid models. Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version) "