Mitsubishi Angers Purists With an Electric Eclipse SUV
Mitsubishi is working on a second-generation Eclipse Cross as a purely electric vehicle and its first EV in Europe since the i-MiEV launched back in 2010. The new model won't be a true Mitsubishi, though, as it's being developed by alliance partner Renault and will be built at Renault's factory in Douai, France. In reality, the next Eclipse Cross will be a badge-engineered version of the
Scenic E-Tech
.
Photo by: Mitsubishi
It's one of several Mitsubishi models sourced from the automaker's French ally. The Colt is a rebadged Clio, the ASX is based on the Captur, and the upcoming Grandis will essentially be a Symbioz. This underscores Mitsubishi's reliance on Renault to maintain a presence in Europe, where its only proprietary models will be the Space Star and
Outlander
once the original Eclipse Cross is phased out.
The new EV will debut in September and go on sale in Europe in the fourth quarter of the year as a long-range version, with a mid-range variant scheduled for 2026. In the meantime,
Mitsubishi
will unveil the Grandis in July and launch it in late fall with both mild-hybrid and full-hybrid powertrains.
In other regions, Mitsubishi is slapping its badge on the
new Nissan Leaf
crossover. Additionally, it's teaming up with Foxtron to speed up the launch of another EV. Foxtron is a joint venture between iPhone maker Foxconn and Yulon, Taiwan's largest automaker. This new model will be based on the Foxconn Model B and will go on sale in the second half of 2026. It won't be made by Mitsubishi either, but rather by Yulon in Taiwan.
But not everything will be a case of swapping badges. The genuinely cool off-road
D:X minivan concept
is morphing into a production model and is coming to the United States. Mitsubishi intends to launch a 'new or significantly revised vehicle' each year from 2026 until 2030 in the U.S. It'll get the ball rolling next year with its take on Nissan's reinvented Leaf.
Catch Up With Mitsubishi:
Mitsubishi Is Getting Another Car Developed by Someone Else
The New Nissan Leaf Will Also Be a Mitsubishi
Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily.
back
Sign up
For more information, read our
Privacy Policy
and
Terms of Use
.
Source:
Mitsubishi
Share this Story
X
Got a tip for us? Email:
tips@motor1.com
Join the conversation
(
)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Drive
41 minutes ago
- The Drive
The 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander's New Powertrain Makes the Car Interesting Again
The latest car news, reviews, and features. Mitsubishi is often treated a little dismissively by my industry colleagues, yet the Japanese brand is still planning to expand its U.S.-market lineup every year through 2030. I think more people should be paying attention to Mitsubishi's low-cost offerings. Especially now that it's about to have the cheapest, and possibly most fuel-efficient, three-row SUV on the market. The 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander's all-new mild hybrid powertrain, a first for Mitsubishi, is the brand's big news for the next model year. I've never driven anything with that car's outgoing 2.5-liter four-cylinder MIVEC engine, but as it only posted 181 horsepower, I doubt I was missing much. (OK, maybe some of my friends' dismissal of Mitsubishi has been justified.) The SUV will now run a 1.5-liter 16-valve four-cylinder turbo looped in with a mild hybrid system. Detailed specs, including power, price, and fuel economy, are TBA. But Mitsubishi promises that 'the new powertrain will deliver increased confidence and drivability thanks to electrified torque aiding off-the-line acceleration,' in a press release. It's already a decent-looking vehicle, and very low-priced in its class. A 2025 Outlander S-AWC (Super All-Wheel Control) starts at $31,795 with a 10-year, 100,000-mile warranty. If the new car gets better with getting too much more expensive, don't sleep on it. This really is a dang decent-looking machine. Mitsubishi The 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV (a different model; the plug-in hybrid, which starts at $40,445 with all-wheel drive) is getting a bigger battery to increase all-electric range. Its dampers, springs, stabilizer bars, and bushings have also been adjusted to improve ride quality and steering feel. The PHEV is also getting some new feature enhancements that the regular Outlander got for 2025. That includes better sound insulation, heated and cooled front seats, some redesigned interior elements (cupholders, storage, and more), a Yamaha-branded stereo, and an optional larger screen. The Outlander PHEV is still the flagship, but is syncing up with the regular Outlander's visual updates for next year. Mitsubishi Mitsubishi The Eclipse Cross is getting some decorative tweaks too; Outlander Sport is a carry-over for '26. Mitsubishi is also introducing Trail Editions of the Outlander and Outlander Sport for next year, with [sic] 'model-specific graphic and trim packages, dedicated wheels, dealer-available off-highway-focused tires and accessory kits and Thule roof-racks and mounts.' Sounds pretty low-effort to me, though a trim package could mean pretty much anything. Maybe the graphics kit will end up being cool—Mitsubishi has been known to offer loud decal sets on its cars for some reason. The Mirage is going out of production, but when you could still order one, you could spec these Ralliart graphics. Mitsubishi Jokes aside, a new mild hybrid Outlander is very interesting to me. PHEVs are great, but only if the majority of your driving is in a relatively close-to-home orbit. A mild hybrid is better for longer trips and adventures. On paper, the Outlander is a pretty incredible value if you don't mind the low horsepower figure—a brand-new all-wheel drive seven-seat SUV for about $35,000? That's pretty rare in 2025! The current Outlander AWD claims 27 mpg in combined driving (24 city, 31 highway). Assuming the new turbo electric hybrid setup will improve on that and cure some of the vehicle's anemia, that's going to be a compelling product even without true low-range or hardcore off-road capability. Mitsubishi might not have as cool of a lineup as it did in the '90s, but I wouldn't write them off just yet. Driven a modern Mitsubishi? I'd love to hear about it—I'm at
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Yahoo
Jaguar Land Rover delays EV rollout after axing hundreds of staff
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has delayed the launch of its much-anticipated electric Range Rover as it cuts 500 jobs in the UK. Customers who had expressed an interest in buying the new model have been told it will now arrive in 2026, having previously been told orders would start in 2025. JLR is also reportedly pushing back production of its revamped electric Jaguars following a controversial rebranding involving a pink concept car that critics said ditched the marque's heritage. Switch Auto Insurance and Save Today! Affordable Auto Insurance, Customized for You The Insurance Savings You Expect Great Rates and Award-Winning Service The new production vehicle, which has not been unveiled, is now set to go into production in August 2026, according to the Guardian. The new Range Rover will be the first fully electric Land Rover vehicle, and the first in an electric relaunch, after the company ended production of its existing battery-powered Jaguar models. It comes after JLR confirmed on Thursday that it was cutting 500 jobs in the UK. The news was damaging for Sir Keir Starmer, who had vowed to protect JLR jobs as part of a US trade deal. The company said it would offer voluntary redundancy to managers, calling it 'part of normal business practice'. Andrew Griffith, the shadow business secretary, said the news was a 'personal embarrassment' for the Prime Minister. JLR's sales have fallen by 15pc in recent months after the company briefly suspended exports to the US, resulting from Donald Trump increasing car tariffs. Range Rover's website said until recently that customers on a waiting list would be able to pre-order the electric model in 2025, but has updated it to say this would not happen until 2026. A JLR spokesman said: 'By 2030, JLR will sell electric versions of all its luxury brands. Our plans and vehicle architectures are flexible so we can adapt to different market and client demands. 'We are committed to the highest standards of design, capability and quality, and we will launch our new models at the right time for our clients, our business and individual markets.' EV demand slumps The electric Range Rover, which is rumoured to cost as much as £170,000, is not designed to be a radical departure from existing models, unlike the new Jaguar company demonstrated the car to motoring reviewers earlier this week and said 62,000 people are on the waiting list to buy it. Jaguar released a pioneering electric model, the I-Pace, in 2018, but ceased production last year as it prepares to relaunch the brand. JLR is owned by Tata. A subsidiary of Tata, JLR's Indian owner, is building a gigafactory in Somerset that will provide batteries for electric Land Rovers cars. The delay to the launch of the electric Range Rover comes lower-than-expected demand for electric vehicles (EVs). Electric car sales rose by a third in the UK in the first half of 2025 but are below Government targets, which mandate that EVs must account for 28pc of all new car sales this year. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Yahoo
Japan provides reality check for Couche-Tard's grand retail dream
By Anton Bridge, Makiko Yamazaki and Ritsuko Shimizu TOKYO (Reuters) -Alimentation Couche-Tard's attempt to create a global convenience store behemoth was set back when it pulled its $46 billion bid for Seven & i, whose consumers in Japan have emotional ties to their purveyor of rice balls. The Canadian company, which owns Circle-K, withdrew its bid on Thursday after a year-long pursuit, citing "a calculated campaign of obfuscation and delay" by the Seven-Eleven operator and lack of engagement by its founding Ito family. Couche-Tard first disclosed the proposal in August last year, with Seven & i under pressure from shareholders to boost returns by selling off assets and focusing on its mainstay convenience store business. "ACT bid at just the right time... when Seven was at its weakest," said Michael Causton of consultancy JapanConsuming. The possibility of a takeover quickly sparked concern about whether the Seven-Eleven operator's fresh food would be affected. It also generated debate about Japan's openness to foreign takeovers. Convenience stores are an important resource in Japan during natural disasters, but Seven-Eleven's massive global presence made it a target for Couche-Tard. With Seven & i looking to avoid a takeover, it changed its self-reported national security category to "core" in September, a step which raised questions as to whether it was a defensive manoeuvre. In private, it emphasised its importance to Japan's economic security to the government, three sources familiar with the matter said. Seven & i declined to comment. The Canadian company hiked its proposal price in October, with Seven & i revealing plans to hive off assets the same month. The Japanese firm also announced plans to list its North America business. "It has sparked the management into being more proactive," said Lorraine Tan, an analyst at Morningstar. The company had expressed concerns about the regulatory hurdles to a deal. "Couche-Tard seemed to want to iron out the details after Seven & i had agreed to the deal," said Travis Lundy, an analyst who publishes on Smartkarma. PROLONGED NEGOTIATIONS Couche-Tard's approach appeared to gain a tailwind when an attempt by the Ito founding family to buy Seven & i collapsed in February after failing to secure funding. Then, after initially providing little public explanation for pursuing the deal, Couche-Tard in March made a publicity push for the combination emphasising its financial credentials. However, the Canadian retailer faced growing challenges including lacklustre retail spending in the U.S., with its stock price sliding between the end of last year and Wednesday's close. "Couche-Tard may have realised that the cost cannot justify the risks, including prolonged negotiations and uncertain business prospects," said Tatsunori Kawai, chief strategist at Mitsubishi UFJ eSmart Securities. Its shares jumped 8% on Thursday after withdrawing the bid. "To continue further... would ultimately be a lost opportunity for its own growth," said Takahiro Kazahaya, an analyst at UBS. Analysts are also questioning how Seven & i, famed for its ready meals, will drive further growth. On Thursday, Natsuko Douglas, an analyst at Macquarie Capital, downgraded Seven & i to neutral from outperform, citing unclear benefits from the planned listing of the North America business. "Full recovery is a long time away," she wrote in a note. The planned listing is "something they probably don't want to do but were prepared to do to get rid of Couche-Tard," said Tom Leske, director at Churchill Capital. Industry experts point to Seven & i's strengths, honed over decades in Japan's bruising retail market, which has proved tough for many foreign entrants. "Seven globally will be giving competitors a hard time once it has its ducks in a row," said JapanConsuming's Causton. Sign in to access your portfolio
