Mitsubishi plans a rugged Outlander variant that will help grow the brand’s lineup in Canada. This was confirmed recently during a meeting between company brass and Canadian brand dealers, which saw the presentation of an updated Momentum 2030 plan.
“We will celebrate our 25th anniversary in Canada next year, and this updated Momentum 2030 plan gives us a clear path forward. The product lineup Mitsubishi Motors will deliver in the years to come responds directly to feedback from our dealers and our customers, and strengthens the long-term future of the brand.”
- Kenichi Kawaji, President and CEO of Mitsubishi Motor Sales of Canada
Together with the upcoming Eclipse Sportback EV , based on the Nissan LEAF, the yet-to-named Outlander-derived rugged SUV will expand the Japanese automaker’s Canadian lineup from its current four to six. Mitsubishi presently sells the Outlander, Outlander PHEV, RVR an Eclipse Cross in Canada.
The new model should get a name in the coming months, and a market launch in the first quarter of 2027.
A truck on the horizon?
Mitsubishi is also floating the idea of entering the light-duty truck segment in Canada. That would come, like the Eclipse Sportback, from its model-development partnership with Nissan, and its realization is “subject to related mandates”, according to the automaker’s statement released today.
A Mitsubishi-badged pickup would certainly fit nicely with the company’s stated intention, repeated today, that its current strategy involves “an expanded focus on adventure-oriented and off road-capable vehicles,” this as customer demand for more rugged and versatile models continues to grow.
Momentum 2030
Recall that Mitsubishi’s business plan is built around four pillars, including developing more electrified products, expanding the brand’s foothold in North America, modernizing its retails sales model and achieving an expansion of its network built on sustainable sales growth.
Return of the Pajero/Montero
Though this is of less direct relevance to Canadians, Mitsubishi today also confirmed it’s bringing back the Pajero/Montero nameplates in global markets. The newly reborn full-size, off-road-ready Pajero SUV (known as the Montero in North America) will make its official debut in Asia on September 2nd. There are no plans for a North American introduction in the near-term, however.
The new Pajero/Montero will be built on the same platform as the Triton midsize pickup and is expected to be about the same size as the modern Toyota Land Cruiser.