2021 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV revealed
Mitsubishi's second plug-in hybrid electric vehicle is the Eclipse Cross SUV.
The 2021 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, a crossover SUV, will be built as a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), joining the world's bestselling plug-in hybrid, the Outlander PHEV.
A brief look at the 2021 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV
What can buyers look forward to from this new plug-in hybrid?
- Redesigned exterior. As part of the update, Mitsubishi is rolling out a crisper aesthetic for the 2021 Eclipse Cross. The SUV's body has been lengthened, the front and rear retooled (including a sharper light cluster, representing Mitsubishi's updated Dynamic Shield design philosophy) while designers also created bash plates for the front and rear. According to Mitsubishi, this gives the Eclipse Cross a stout SUV stance. Changes aren't purely for form, there's some function too. For example, Mitsubishi claims the new model has improved rear visibility thanks to a simplification of the back window, while the taillights have been inched upwards, ostensibly making them more obvious to other road users. Mitsubishi says the bodywork and bumpers are heavy duty.
- Passenger cabin. There are some new additions for the interior too! On upper-tier trims, Mitsubishi has created new part-suede, part-synthetic leather seats, matched with a black interior. There's the option of leather seats, in a light grey, for those who want it. Mitsubishi custom-designed an eight-speaker sound system for the Eclipse Cross, reportedly placing the speakers for optimum sound quality. The car also receives a larger eight-inch display.
- Hybrid power. The Eclipse Cross will receive the same PHEV system from the Outlander, though it will be modified to suit the smaller SUV. In the Eclipse Cross, you'll find a 2.4-litre MIVEC engine, coupled to a 4WD twin-motor drivetrain. The Eclipse Cross has a 13.8kWh battery, which is good for a decent 57.3km electric range. There were no power or torque figures in the initial press release.
- Recharging capabilities. The Eclipse Cross has a 100-volt AC on-board plug, which is rated for 1,500 watts. This plug can be used to power electronics. Interestingly, you can also hook up the Eclipse Cross to a home, allowing a compatible network to use the charge stored in the battery.
- Handling. Engineers have given the Eclipse Cross Hybrid a thorough going over. The SUV has a super-stiff body and something called Super-All Wheel Control, which uses the electric motors to tighten up cornering and handling. Mitsubishi also tweaked the balance of the car and dropped the battery as low as possible for a stability boost.
- All-terrain modes. The Eclipse Cross sounds as though it should tackle most weather conditions and road surfaces. There's a Snow Mode, Gravel Mode and Tarmac mode, each responding to the conditions under the tyres.
Australian launch and pricing
No Australian pricing has been confirmed yet, these details will be finalised closer to the car's local launch next year.
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