Mitsubishi will unveil a concept crossover at the Geneva motor show in March, and the automaker has just shared the first glimpse of what could help define the shape the next-gen Outlander SUV. And it's expected to be battery-electric.
The Engelberg Tourer Concept, named after a Swiss ski resort (all other Swiss ski resort names were taken, apparently), is promised to bring "more SUV capability, EV efficiency, technology and style to the lineup," according to Mitsubishi.
The concept features a bar of safari-style lights on the roof, as part of a roof rack, along with blue-lit accent lights that bookend the front fascia. The concept also features large intakes in front of prominent wheel arches — a design element that has been working its way into the brand's latest production vehicles. Overall, the front fascia of the Engelberg concept appears similar to that of the e-Evolution concept shown at the 2017 Tokyo auto show.
The automaker has been moving steadily in the direction of EVs and crossovers following the debut of the Outlander PHEV and the Eclipse Cross, so it's no surprise that Mitsubishi's latest concept combines both trends. In the U.S., the automaker has relied on SUV and crossover sales after cutting just about all cars from its lineup, but it has been unable to offer trucks due to the Chicken Tax. This means its path to relevance in the U.S. is confined to crossovers and SUVs, and luckily the automaker is not saddled with models in segments that are doing poorly at the moment, like large and midsize sedans.
It remains to be seen if Mitsubishi is ready to jump into the EV crossover segment in the near future. Concept cars have trickled out at a very slow pace over the last few years following a brush with serious financial issues that led Nissan to take a controlling stake in Mitsubishi, and all of the current and upcoming EV crossovers and SUVs on the market hail from luxury brands.
It would take a substantial investment for Mitsubishi to launch an EV at the moment, one aimed at a very small piece of the entire EV pie, which hovers just above 1 percent of all car sales in the U.S.
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