Mitsubishi Outlander Evolution plug-in hybrid to lead Ralliart revival – report

Mitsubishi will revive the fabled Evolution name with a high-performance version of the Outlander plug-in hybrid (PHEV) mid-size SUV, according to new reports.

Japanese website Best Car claims Mitsubishi will spearhead its revival of its Ralliart performance brand – announced in May, illustrated using a modified Triton ute – with the return of the hallowed Evolution moniker on the Outlander PHEV family SUV.

A hybrid performance SUV marks a significant departure from the last application of the Evolution nameplate: on the boot lid of the Lancer sedan, which dominated World Rally stages and became an icon among enthusiasts across ten 'generations' built from 1992 to 2016.

Best Car says a “symbolic” version of the Outlander Evolution was slated for reveal at the cancelled Tokyo Motor Show in October 2021, with the debut date now pushed out to June 2022 – though it’s not certain whether the Outlander Evolution will be a production car, as implied by the publication, or merely a concept built to promote the return of the Ralliart name.

No specifics of the Outlander PHEV Evolution’s powertrain are given – including confirmation of whether the Japanese brand will improve the vehicle’s performance, as would be required to justify the Evolution name – though a large battery pack and multiple electric motors are certainties.

MORE: Mitsubishi to revive dormant Ralliart nameplate, performance-focused Triton likely as first model

Top of story: 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander Evolution render, created by Best Car.

Whereas the new Outlander PHEV is expected to pack two electric motors (with one on each axle), Mitsubishi could bundle in another motor on the rear axle for a total of three – enabling advanced torque vectoring between the rear wheels.

A punchier petrol engine – possibly the 200kW turbo four-cylinder from the new Outlander’s twin under the skin, the Infiniti QX50 – and additional electric power could see a combined output in excess of 300kW or 350kW, and a 0-100km/h time beginning with a five.

Any performance upgrades are slated to be joined by an “aggressive exterior”, according to Best Car, with styling elements “reminiscent of a rally raid machine”.

Mitsubishi has previously hinted that any successor to the Lancer Evolution would likely use hybrid or electric power – and could take the shape of an SUV.

The e-Evolution concept of 2017 previewed such a reality, with three electric motors and a sporty shape – though reports published earlier in 2021 suggest this concept will spawn its own production model later this year, rather than influence other Evo-badged Mitsubishi models.

MORE: Mitsubishi boss pours cold water on next-generation Evolution (2019)
MORE: Outlander news and reviews
MORE: Everything Mitsubishi