More zap and seating for seven … and how about a bonkers performance flagship?

MORE electric-only range, more battery-fed power, seven seats and, according to a report, potentially delivering with a flagship that will revive Ralliart and the fabled Evolution name.

That’s the tenor of official and unofficial news out today in relation to the next-plug-in hybrid version of the next generation Mitsubishi Outlander.

Whereas the fully petrol version of a model now based on a platform developed and already used by Renault and Nissan are about to touch down in New Zealand within weeks, the arguably more crucial PHEV model is going to be a 2022 model.

The derivative is still under wraps, but Mitsubishi Japan today started its pre-launch by sending out a couple of images, seen here, and also relating that the PHEV system will be a ‘new-generation’ set-up.

In a brief release, it says the vehicle will roll out in Japan soon and then start to hit export markets from early 2022.

It has given no technical detail about the hybrid drive, but says “with improved motor output and increased battery capacity over the current model, the all-new Outlander PHEV model delivers more powerful road performance and greater driving range.”

Does that mean it continues with a revised version of the current drivetrain, which marries a 2.4-litre (94kW/199Nm) petrol engine backed by two electric motors (60kW/137Nm driving the front axles and 70kW/195Nm driving the rear) that offers around 55km electric-only range?

It’s long been assumed that would be the case; Mitsubishi’s Alliance partners don’t have a compatible set-up and, also, the present technology has just spread into the Eclipse Cross, the last car purely developed by Mitsubishi and relatively new.

Mitsubishi Japan doesn’t cast any light on that. It is assumed the new model will continue with the all-wheel-drive format offered now.

However, its statement does confirm the new PHEV will step up from the current five-seat format and offer in “an optimised layout” that will allow it to “accommodate seven passengers in three rows, offering a new level of comfort and utility in an SUV.”

In addition to this, there’s also a report out from Japanese website Best Car claiming that the make will revive the Evolution name, last affixed to 10 generations of rally-bred Lancers, with a high-performance version of the battery-backed car.

Best Car says a “symbolic” version of the Outlander Evolution was slated for reveal at the cancelled 2021 Tokyo Motor Show.

Reporting on this, Australia’s CarAdvice website says 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.

In respect to a potential drivetrain, there’s been conjecture Mitsubishi could bundle in another motor on the rear axle for a total of three – enabling advanced torque vectoring between the rear wheels – and also install a punchier petrol engine. One suggested candidate is the 200kW turbo four-cylinder from the new Outlander’s twin under the skin, the Infiniti QX50.

CarAdvice says that combo could deliver a combined output in excess of 300kW or 350kW.

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”.