TEASED: New Mitsubishi Outlander Getting Bold New Look

Although it's far from the most standout midsize crossover on the market, the2021 Mitsubishi Outlanderoffers great value with a sub-$25,000 starting price and one of the most affordable plug-in hybrid powertrain options available. The Outlander is due for a refresh in the 2022 model year, as evinced byrecent spy shotsand aphoto leakthat purportedly revealed the front, back, and side profile.

Of course, with any set of leaked images, the possibility for fakes always exists. But Mitsubishi just released its first official teaser image of the 2022 Outlander, and even though the car is shrouded in darkness, the teaser makes it clear that those leaked images were legitimate. That someone spilled the beans regarding the new Outlander's design may sound like bad news for Mitsubishi, but when is the last time you heard this much about a new Outlander?

Mitsubishi describes the new Outlander as a next-generation vehicle, meaning this 2022 model is more than a facelift. It will officially debut first in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico in February 2021, followed soon thereafter by numerous international markets. The 2022 Outlander was developed using a Japanese design philosophy called "I-Fu-Do-Do," which means authentic and majestic. It features Mitsubishi's new Dynamic Shield design concept, which looks reminiscent of the Montero Sport sold in other markets.

"The Outlander is an iconic SUV for the company, so when we developed the next-generation model, we took inspirations from our rich SUV heritage to realize a bold and confident styling with a solid stance that excites our customers," said Seiji Watanabe, Division General Manager of Design for Mitsubishi Motor Cars. "The all-new Outlander is the first model epitomizing the new generation of Mitsubishi design and the frontrunner of our design strategy."