PHEV Benefits for the New Mitsubishi Model A
It was only a few months ago that Mitsubishi Motors announced some of its plans to celebrate its 100th Year Anniversary. Aside from limited edition trims, their Centennial Hyaku concept, and their new all-electric eCanter commercial truck, Mitsubishi also plans to bring the vehicle that started it all. Currently unnamed, Mitsubishi Motors is bringing the Mitsubishi Model A into the 21st century on a plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) powertrain.
The news only came out in May when Mitsubishi Motors talked about giving the Mitsubishi Model A a PHEV platform and a face lift. Now, there hasn’t been a whole lot of news since then, not even an official name for the new model. We only know it as the Model A PHEV for now, and that got us thinking. Does Mitsubishi know how to build a PHEV?
Well, although not here in the states, and maybe not ever, Mitsubishi Motors actually has a PHEV variant of the popular Mitsubishi Outlander called the Mitsubishi Outlander GT PHEV. The Outlander GT PHEV does very well overseas, having been in production for several years (since the third generation in 2012).
How can the Model A benefit? Well, for one thing, because it is a PHEV, drivers have the choice of driving with just gas, just electricity, or both. Secondly, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV can drive on 30 miles on electricity alone. If it can travel that far, considering how large the vehicle is, couldn’t the electric-only driving range increase for a smaller vehicle like the Model A? Not only that, but the Mitsubishi Outlander GT PHEV offers four driving modes and three methods of recharging, making it a versatile player in the PHEV faction of the auto industry.
Feel free to read more about the fabled Mitsubishi Outlander GT PHEV here. The other way the Model A will benefit is pretty clear. Bringing an old vehicle into the modern age could be a challenge. How does one take a car that was basically a gasoline-powered carriage and turn it into a winner today? Remember who Mitsubishi chose to give it that face lift we mentioned above? Three words – West Coast Customs. It’s the same guys behind all those swanky vehicles in MTV’s Pimp My Ride. Surely, the Mitsubishi Model A PHEV, real name yet to be determined, will look amazing.