Mitsubishi to Preview a New Crossover with Paris-Bound Grand Tourer Concept

Mitsubishi Grand Tourer Concept (Credit: © Mitsubishi )

Now under the Nissan umbrella, Mitsubishi’s future is brighter than ever, but it looks like the change in parent companies will not change its focus on fuel-savvy crossovers. This is evidenced by the new Grand Tourer Concept that the automaker will launch at the Paris Auto Show, which kicks off on October 1, 2016. Today, Mitsu gave us the first glimpse at this crossover in a teaser image.

The image shows a long and sleek crossover that builds upon the brand’s design language, but it goes beyond just that. According to the press release, the new Grand Tourer Concept will be more upscale, featuring a quiet, comfortable, and luxurious interior—all things Mitsubishi has not been known for.

In addition to the premium cabin that Mitsubishi waxes on about, the Grand Tourer Concept will also continue Mitsu’s focus on plug-in technology. According to the automaker, the concept will boast the brand’s latest plug-in hybrid electric technology, but it didn’t dive into the specifics of this model’s powertrain. My gut tells me that this powertrain will be closely related to that in the Outlander PHEV, which uses a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and a pair of electric motors to produce 200 horsepower. With a full charge, which takes as few as 3.5 hours, the Outlander PHEV can travel up to 32 miles on electricity alone and continue on for up to 541 miles with a full tank of gas.

Now, I don’t expect Mitsubishi to just plunk this powertrain into the concept without modifications—it is a little underpowered for a larger crossover here in the U.S. I suspect it’ll boost the output a bit before dropping it into this new concept. There is still an outside chance that the automaker could create an all-new powertrain for this concept, but that’s unlikely in my mind.

We’ll continue monitoring the development of the Grand Tourer Concept and bring you updates as they become available.