What's the news?
Mitsubishi will give us our first peek at both the style and the mechanical makeup of the next-generation Pajero at the Tokyo Motor Show with the unveiling of the Concept GC-PHEV.
The big bluff 4x4 (the GC bit stands for Grand Cruiser - is Mitsubishi tilting at Toyota with this one?) uses a supercharged 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine tied into a plugin-hybrid electric module to deliver what Mitsubishi describes as "all-terrain performance truly worthy of an all-round SUV". It also gets an eight-speed automatic gearbox. Flanking the Grand Cruiser on the stand will be a preview of the next-gen ASX and an all-new MPV, Mitsubishi's first since the Grandis went out of production.
The ASX replacement is previewed by the XR (Crossover Runner in Mitsubishi speak and another apparent nod towards a rival Toyota product). As with the Grand Cruiser, it's a plugin-hybrid, which should be good for some low CO2 figures (Mitsubishi isn't quoting emissions for any of the cars yet), but instead of the big V6, it uses a titchy turbocharged 1.1-litre unit. Using the same engine, but without the plugin bit, is the Concept AR (Active Runabout), which seeks to marry some of Mitsubishi's traditional SUV styling with proper MPV-like practicality inside. Instead of a plugin module, this one uses what Mitsubishi calls a mild hybrid.
Anything else?
All three concepts feature Mitsubishi's latest "e-Assist"*7 active safety technologies and the advanced "connected car" technology that utilises next-generation information systems. These functions include a danger detection system that activates the corresponding safety functions and a failure/malfunction early-detection system that urges the driver to seek repairs or other maintenance.
Neil Briscoe - 6 Nov 2013