Tag Archives: plug-in
2019 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Now Has More Capabilities
The current-generation Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV has received very good reviews from critics and car enthusiasts alike. It was efficient, functional, fun to drive, and a relatively affordable plug-in hybrid, midsize, crossover option. For the 2019 model-year, on its home market in Japan, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is receiving a slew of updates—more electric power, a bigger gas engine, a bigger battery, better suspension, two new drive modes, and a number of design tweaks.
The car’s battery capacity has been increased to 13.8 kWh from 12 kWh. That will allow the car’s electric driving range to power to 40.4 miles from the regular 37.8 miles. There is also a boost in power coming from the rear electric motor/generator, and the gas engines increase its displacement from 2.0 liter to 2.4 liters.
There are new driving modes for this model—the Sport and Snow modes. Its 4WD Lock has also been adjusted to enable the better handling of poor road surfaces. This means the midsize crossover will be more than capable to handle off-road conditions.
To do this, the Japanese automaker must fit the Outlander PHEV with larger front and rear dampers with a new type of damper valve. For better steering feel and response, it will also come packed with a faster steering ratio and retuned electric power steering control.
For the exterior, the Outlander PHEV is now fitted with full LED headlights, an updated grille in front, and a new rear spoiler that improves aerodynamics and gives the midsize crossover a sportier look.
The cabin’s seats get leather wrapping with a diamond-quilt pattern. The door trim follows the same design. The front seats have been reshaped for added support.
These updates will likely make Mitsubishi’s midsize crossover more attractive for those looking for functionality and design. These updates are being offered to its Japanese market for now, but we think it’s more than likely we’ll see them in US soil.
2019 Subaru Crosstek PHEV Is Company’s First Plug-In Hybrid
Subaru’s third best-selling car, the Crosstek, will be the company’s first-ever plug-in hybrid. It’s quite telling, actually, that the automaker chose the Subaru Crosstek to be its first plug-in hybrid version seeing as it was the first conventional hybrid introduced for the 2014 model year.
Since the Crosstek is the company’s fast-selling vehicle, it makes sense that it would like to experiment on it as people are more open to shelling out their money for something they would choose to go with, in the first place. Subaru has yet to reveal photos of the plug-in hybrid variant, so we’re left to wonder how this would look like.
The Crosstek PHEV will be similar to the Subaru BRZ since both of them will benefit from Toyota technology—the hybrid system, that is. It will still be paired to a flat-four and will be capable of driving in full EV mode and in conventional hybrid mode. We have yet to receive information on what the range of the Crosstek PHEV will be.
What Subaru did reveal is that the Crosstek PHEV will be coming soon, even as early as the end of 2018. We might be seeing this in dealerships before the year comes to a close. Of course, while we’re on the subject of release dates and arrival in dealerships, this also signals that more information and details are bound to come in droves.
There aren’t many plug-in hybrid compact crossovers in the market, but there are a few and they are quite interesting. The closest competition of the upcoming Subaru Crosstek PHEV would be the Kia Niro PHEV, which claimed to have a range of 26 miles on a single charge and a solid 46 mpg when running with the gas engine. The Kia Niro PHEV has a starting price of $28,840, so we’re thinking the Crosstek PHEV might play near this number.
Another competitor is the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV with 22 miles of range and 25 mpg on gas. The Outlander has more cargo, but it has a higher base price of $35,915.
3 Things To Know About The 2017 BMW X5 Plug-In Hybrid
The 2017 BMW X5 Plug-In Hybrid is a killer on the road, if truth be told. The kidney grilles, sleek motifs, and elegant interior all scream BMW—a car that has always been worthy to take on any kind of highway. And the X5 is exactly like that.
According to a test, like all X models, the X5 was built to conquer the highway while highlighting the features that make it undoubtedly a sports car.
Powertrain
The X5 features an electric motor and internal combustion. The internal combustion features a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that can produce 240 horsepower. Once paired with an electric motor, it can add another 111 horses to the already powerful 240. These are all mated with an 8-speed Steptronic automatic gearbox.
As with any hybrid vehicle, the two units just don’t add up and bring 352 horsepower. Instead, they average at about 308 horsepower, which is still a welcome development compared to other models in the same segment. It can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 6.5 seconds. It has a top speed of 130 mph.
Earth-Friendly
If you’ll use the full electric, you can go 16 miles on a full charge. But once combined with the four-cylinder engine, you can reach the 56 MPG EPA estimated by BMW. Without the battery (if it is discharged), the motor engine can reach a decent 24 MPG with the four-cylinder engine.
The lightweight material used on the 2017 BMW X5 Plug-In Hybrid is able to save power and fuel, too. The X5 now has a lighter and stronger independent suspension that promised a quiet ride for the Pirelli 20-inch alloy wheels.
Price
The 2017 BMW X5 Plug-In Hybrid has a base price of $62,100. The high-end model will cost $72,420 because of the additional features inside the cabin. The price is justifiable enough because the car will also come packed with a host of safety features such as air bag development, four-wheel ABS brakes, stability and traction controls, and other BMW items.
Maserati Levante Will Have A Plug-In Version
The Maserati Levante will make its debut at the 2016 New York Auto Show, but its CEO already confirmed during the Geneva Motor Show last week that the SUV—marking Maserati’s first foray into SUVs—will also come in a plug-in hybrid variant.
According to Motor Authority, the plug-in hybrid powertrain will be sourced from the Chrysler Pacifica, both of which are cousins within the Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles umbrella. The Pacifica, already getting ready for its consumer launch, boasts of the company’s latest hybrid tech.
At this point, it’s pure speculation whatever part of that plug-in hybrid technology will be found under the Levante’s hood. The Levante bound for the United States will be available with a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-6 in either 345- or 424-horsepower tunes.
Levante has competitions from all over Germany in terms of plug-in hybrids, but its CEO Harald Wester suggested that this powertrain will comprise only six percent of the total Levante production.
The Levante, of course, would have to suffer some engineering stylistics because it would have to adapt the Pacifica’s hybrid tech. It rides on a Maserati platform and uses an engine not shared with Chrysler. What’s purely up in the air is how the Levante would perform on the road and in the real world. However, it surely promises fuel savings with plenty of power.
As we very well know, the Levante will come in gas-powered version too, which would probably produce more power than the hybrid variant since it’s using all fossil fuels for its engine. There’s no pricing yet, but expect it to be in the range of the Porsche Cayenne S.
The Levante, according to Wester, is for people who don’t want another Mercedes, Porsche, Audi, BMW or Lamborghini. It was created for those who want something different in an SUV, especially since it’s Italian and promises power coupled with efficiency.
