Photo Source/Copyright: Mitsubishi Media
Mitsubishi Motors teased the all-new Outlander, and it may be the change the automaker needed. The Outlander SUV has long been a flagship model for the Japanese automaker and has inspired the creation of the Outlander Sport and Outlander PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle). Although many are hoping it’s not what the brand had in mind in regards to producing a new vehicle for the C-D car segment. The car can range from subcompact to a large format vehicle.
For the teaser, it was refreshing to see Mitsubishi opt for a dark color to further mask the mystery behind the all-new Outlander SUV. The teaser photo only barely reveals a slight outline between the daytime running headlights and the vents on the front of the car. The SUV is hiding behind dark shadows and a dark exterior paint color that reveals little to nothing ahead of its debut. The vehicle will debut in the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Canada in the coming weeks of February—but as expected, it hit the overseas market first.
“The OUTLANDER is an iconic SUV for the company, so when we developed the next-generation model, we took inspirations from our rich SUV heritage to realize a bold and confident styling with a solid stance that excites our customer,” said Seiji Watanabe, Division General Manager of Design (Head of Design), MMC. “The all-new OUTLANDER is the first model epitomizing the new generation of Mitsubishi design and the frontrunner of our design strategy.”
The team is calling it ifuudoudou, pronounced as “I-Fu-Do-Do.” It doesn’t mean what you would probably associate it with phonetically. Thankfully, thesauruses exist, and the word translates to elegant, magnificent, and gracious. If the new model fits the description behind it, drivers should expect a strong, well-defined, quality build from the automaker in a much needed revamp. Customers should also look forward to the Dynamic Shield design concept, as it will allow for more protection from accidents and add an extra layer of style that could potentially carry over to other models in the line.
Aside from this, there isn’t much else we know about the new Outlander SUV, but many will be watching the live stream when the vehicle is announced in the coming weeks. The car does bring one question, though. What happened to the Engelberg Tourer? A couple of years back, the automaker was hyping up the Engelberg as if it were going to replace the Outlander PHEV and potentially become the focal point of Mitsubishi. Perhaps it fell out of plans during the pandemic, or could it be a crossover as a mystery vehicle.
In the meantime, Mitsubishi Motors has been making an effort to upgrade its vehicles and even breaching the luxury level surface. With this new generation of their iconic Outlander SUV, we look forward to what new features and upgrades will be made available to set it apart from its predecessors. If you’d like to stay up to date with Mitsubishi, check out University Mitsubishi on social media for news about the live stream later this month.
Like what you see? Click here for more stories about Florida automotive news. Florida Insider is dedicated to educating, entertaining, and informing its readers about everything in Florida. Easy to read content at the palm of your hands and covering the stories that matter.
Terry is an avid Nascar fan who grew up attending races at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina, just down the road from his hometown of China Grove, NC. Terry currently resides in Wellington and has been writing for 15 years. He also enjoys watching the Road Runner Looney Tunes cartoon with his two sons in his spare time.