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2022 Mitsubishi Outlander Black Edition adds a bit of menace

The Mitsubishi Outlander is a competent SUV that's still trying to shed the stigma of the company's post-Evo doldrums. To give shoppers a reason to take a second glance, Mitsubishi has just introduced the new-for-2022 Outlander Black Edition, a trim package that, albeit largely cosmetic, adds a hint of sinister flair to its unique sheetmetal. The Black Edition builds off of the Outlander SE grade, and as such can be ordered with either drivetrain, front-wheel-drive or in Mitsubishi's Super All-Wheel Control all-wheel-drive. From there, it adds popular features like dual-zone climate control and a panoramic roof. Propulsion comes from the standard 2.5-liter inline-four mated to a continuously variable transmission. Of course, the selling point of the Black Edition is the black trim that sets it apart from other Outlanders. As such, it's treated to black 20-inch wheels that look a bit snazzier than the standard dual-finish rollers. Black trim covers the side mirrors and garnishes the door handles as well. And cabin-wise, the headliner and pillars are now finished in black. Apart from the rims, these are barely noticeable changes. The main visual difference comes in the front and rear bumper lower bumper areas that give the vehicle a statelier vibe. Oh, and the name Outlander is now spelled out in black letters across the prow. The Outlander Black Edition starts at $29,995, which is a pretty good deal considering that items like the panoramic roof and dual-zone climate control aren't even standard on the more expensive SEL trim. For certain buyers, the Black Edition will fall in the sweet spot in terms of options and features. Mitsubishi joins many other car companies that have put out Black Edition trims across their lineups. It can seem a bit frivolous, but if it brings a few more customers to the table, especially with the option mix, it will have done its job.

Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV van variant coming to Europe

Mitsubishi's Outlander Plug-in Hybrid SUV will be hitting our shores this fall. Across the Pond, however, it's heading into more no-nonsense territory. That's because the Japanese automaker is making a commercial van variant of the plug-in hybrid for the UK. Mitsubishi will start selling a model called the Outlander PHEV GX3h 4Work in the UK, Motoring Research says. Like the SUV, the model will pair a 2.0-liter gas engine with an electric motor and will have an all-electric range of 32 miles. The difference is that the back seats will be taken out and the glass will be blacked out. Hardcore, we say. The model will be priced at 36,905 British pounds (about $61,000), though buyers are eligible for a government grant worth 7,381 pounds ($12,200). Mitsubishi plans to start selling the Outlander PHEV stateside in Fall 2015. The company said earlier this summer that the US version will be substantially different from the current version, with updates for everything from exterior and interior styling to powertrain efficiency improvements. The model had some battery-melting issues last year in Japan, though Mitsubishi ramped up its production once those problems were solved. Mitsubishi representatives didn't immediately respond to a request for comment about the commercial-van variant from AutoblogGreen, but we expect to be hearing more about it soon.

'Zero' chance of Renault taking over Nissan, Mitsubishi, says Ghosn

TOKYO — Renault SA absorbing Nissan Motor Co. and Mitsubishi Motors Corp is not an option as the carmakers look to strengthen their partnership while retaining their autonomy, alliance chairman Carlos Ghosn said on Friday. "Anybody who will ask Nissan and Mitsubishi to become wholly owned subsidiaries of Renault has zero chance of getting a result," Ghosn told shareholders of Mitsubishi Motors at a meeting. He also serves as chief executive of France's Renault. The alliance was the world's top-selling passenger vehicle maker in 2017, but as the global auto industry consolidates, it is looking to strengthen its position before the 64-year-old Ghosn, its main architect, retires in the coming years after overseeing the partnership for nearly 20 years. We reported in March that the carmakers were discussing a deeper tie-up, which could see the French government, a major shareholder in Renault, give up influence at Renault and the French carmaker relinquish control over Nissan. The three automakers have a unique partnership designed to leverage their combined scale to save on costs including R&D, parts procurement and production to better compete with rivals Volkswagen AG and Toyota Motor Corp. They are also interlinked by their shareholding structure. Renault holds 43.4 percent of shares in Nissan, while Nissan owns 15 percent of Renault, with no voting rights in a partnership that began in 1999. Mitsubishi Motors joined the alliance in 2016 after Nissan took a 34 percent controlling stake in the smaller automaker. Nissan CEO Hiroto Saikawa has said the alliance is not discussing a "full merger." Ghosn said that while the focus of the alliance was to sell more cars and increase profitability by reducing unnecessary duplication of processes, he wanted each of the three automakers to maintain their independence, which differentiated the group from Toyota and Volkswagen. "We need to work together ... to find a system by which what we have today, which is working very well, can continue in the future no matter who is leading the alliance," he said. "We need to prove that this is sustainable five years down the road, 10 years down the road, 15 years down the road." In a Figaro interview published last week, Ghosn was upbeat about the prospect of securing a new deal for the alliance despite its extreme political sensitivity in France and Japan, saying a plan would need to be announced "well before" the end of his four-year term at the helm of Renault in 2022.