OUTLANDER PHEV COMPLETES AXCR FOR SECOND STRAIGHT YEAR

4x4magazine | 26/08/2014 | 0 Comments

A Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV plug-in hybrid electric four-wheel drive SUV, entered and managed by the Two & Four Motor Sports rally team supported by Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC), successfully completed the FIA-certified Asia Cross Country Rally 2014 (AXCR) in its T1E class (electric vehicle class).

The team completed the rally in 19 hours 17 minutes and 12 seconds for the total driving distance of 1986 km under rough courses, winning the first place in the class and 14th place overall. The best stage result was a second place in Leg 6, starting from Phnom Penh and featuring a flat high-speed course.

The Outlander PHEV, having completed this rally for two years in row proved its outstanding levels of reliability, durability and all-terrain performance as well as proved the Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) powertrain is durable even under severe road conditions.

The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV rally car used the competition-modified suspension from last year’s race car as well as raised ground clearance with the drive battery placed higher for improved off-road performance. The car’s Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC) integrated vehicle dynamics control system was tuned for competition use to provide better traction.

Other modifications included the fitting of a roll cage and underbody skid plate, the use of lighter engine hood, rear gate and interior parts, and additional sealing and a snorkel for water crossings. Apart from these changes, the car competed using the almost the same Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) powertrain and mechanical parts as the standard production model.

Yasuo Tanaka, Technical Director, said: “Because the extreme road surface conditions unique to the Asia Cross Country Rally gave us a really hard time when we competed for the first time last year, this year we raised the ground clearance further to improve the car’s off-road performance. It makes me very happy that the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV has not only successfully completed the rally under such gruelling conditions for the second year in a row but also placed higher than last year. I am also very satisfied and proud that the Outlander PHEV was able to demonstrate so convincingly the reliability and durability of MMC’s own plug-in hybrid electric vehicle system as well as the superior capabilities of its Twin Motor 4WD and S-AWC systems. The Outlander PHEV’s improved all-terrain performance this year means we have been able to collect more valuable data than last. I am looking forward to utilising this in our electric vehicle development.”