New Mitsubishi Outlander revealed

A plug-in hybrid version of the Mitsubishi Outlander will hit the roads in Europe later this year ahead of a global roll-out of the emission-reducing powerplant.

The third-generation Outlander will initially be sold in two-wheel and four-wheel drive variants and some markets will have the choice of a 2.0-litre petrol and 2.2-litre diesel engine.

Australia misses out on the diesel, though Mitsubishi president Osamu Masuko says an oilburner will be offered if the company identifies enough demand.

"If there is a need of course we have to consider diesel," he says of the growing Australian demand for diesel-powered SUVs.

Masuko says the plug-in hybrid will account for around 20 per cent of Outlander sales globally, with that figure to increase during the model life of the SUV.

He says and pure electric drive for the small A and B segment vehicles represent a major component of Mitsubishi's future strategy, highlighting the electric-powered i-MiEV's ability to power homes during blackouts as an example of the advantages EVs have.

Mitsubishi plans to start sales external feeder in Japan next month and says the system can provide up to 1500 watts of power to run a household during electric grid power failures.

The system is a reversal of the energy management system used to recharge the car during periods of low power demand. On a smaller scale, the hybrid Outlander will also have a socket to accept domestic appliances -- meaning families will be able to power hairdryers and recharge phones during camping trips.

An electric-only Mitsubishi will also tackle the famous Pikes Peak hillclimb in the US in July this year and Masuko says it will showcase EVs ability to match internal combustion cars for acceleration.

Masuko discounts - for now - the idea of pure electric high-performance cars but says the next Mitsubishi Evo, which is due in around two years, could well have a hybrid variant.