Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV to make history in Paris

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Mitsubishi announced today that the new Outlander PHEV will make its world debut at the 2012 Paris Auto Show , which starts on September 27th.

As the world's first plug-in hybrid SUV, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV simultaneously offers the environmental benefits of an electric vehicle, the cruising range of a conventional internal combustion engine vehicle as well as the on- and off-road performance of an SUV.

Mitsubishi claims that the Outlander PHEV achieves a combined fuel efficiency in excess of 61 km/L (1.64L/100km). It can reportedly travel 55 kilometres in full EV mode, and 880 kilometres overall. Interestingly, in Series Hybrid mode, the gasoline engine operates as a generator supplying electricity to the electric motors. It takes 30 minutes to get 80% of the battery charged and about 4.5 hours for a full charge.

Also on display in Paris will be 11 new models including the European version of Mitsubishi's new global compact car (known as Mirage in other regions) and the i-MiEV Evolution race car which finished second in the Electric Division of the 2012 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb held last month in the United States.

Photo: Mitsubishi