We've only just got the Frankfurt Motor Show out of the way, but the endless event cycle of the automotive industry means there's another biggie on the horizon, in the form of the 46th Tokyo Motor Show - this will open its doors at the end of October and run into early November. And this little teaser image shows off Mitsubishi's Tokyo star, in the form of a new 'small plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) SUV concept car', which will make its debut in Japan.
Downsized, lighter PHEV drivetrain
Presumably, this new motor will be a companion vehicle to Europe's best-selling PHEV, the company's Outlander, while also taking some of the learnings from Mitsubishi's smallest EV, the i-MiEV city car. The company says the teased Tokyo concept embodies Mitsubishi's brand message of 'Drive Your Ambition', and that it will be 'an electric SUV that delivers unparalleled driving pleasure and confidence over all terrain in light and wind'.
Nope, us neither, but at least know these more solid facts, such as it combining the SUV and PHEV characters with proper 4WD, provided by an electric all-wheel traction set-up and a downsized, lower-weight PHEV drivetrain. Mitsubishi therefore says it delivers a new kind of driving experience, with ease-of-use and safety in everyday town driving for the masses, coupled to the ability to go further in the rough stuff and let more talented drivers exploit its capabilities.
It will remain to be seen whether that turns out to be the case, but from what we can see in these images, we're more intrigued by the shape of the Mitsubishi PHEV. If we're glancing at the back of it, adorned with the four fan-like structures, then it seems to have a very, um, 'saloon-esque' profile. We can't wait to see it fully revealed, then, to see just precisely how it is styled.