At the Tokyo Motor Show, Mitsubishi unveiled the Elevance concept, a plug-in hybrid capable of off-road driving. A gas engine and four electric motors—one for each wheel—make up the drivetrain. In the futuristic cabin, there is an “AI Co-Driver” that can offer different driving modes and routes based on the terrain. The Mitsubishi Montero is coming back. A year after Nissan filed for a US trademark for “Montero,” our spy photographers saw a huge body-on-frame SUV prototype earlier this year that looked like it was based on the Nissan Armada and had a Mitsubishi-style. There is more talk about the Montero returning, thanks to Mitsubishi’s Elevance, an all-terrain SUV concept shown at the Tokyo car show. The Elevance is sleek and stands straight. The big trapezoidal wheel openings make it look like a typical SUV. People inside can see more of their surroundings thanks to the large canopy and the glass that runs the length of the doors. The way the C-pillar goes around and over the rear side window makes it look like the body is covering the glass. The headlights at the front of the car are composed of many thin LED strips, and a bright Mitsubishi logo stands out above a honeycomb-shaped bumper, mounted on a plate that matches the body color. The front and back bumpers have chunky silver trim, and the two hockey-stick-shaped LED taillights are connected by a full-width light bar. Elevance’s plug-in hybrid powerplant comprises an all-wheel-drive electric system with four motors and an unknown “high-efficiency” gasoline engine. Mitsubishi says the electric drives are sufficient for daily driving, and the hybrid system enables long trips. This means the PHEV is a range-extended system in which the gas engine acts only as a generator, adding extra power to the battery rather than directly driving the wheels. Mitsubishi says that the in-wheel motors improve turning stability, and the ability to control traction at each wheel improves off-road performance. Mitsubishi says the big battery can power a campsite, and the combustion engine runs on gasoline that doesn’t produce carbon dioxide. When you want to stay outside in comfort, the Elevance can pull a trailer with a kitchen and a shower. The inside of the Elevance has three screens along its length, and a fourth is built into the eight-sided steering wheel. The center desk has a dome that looks like a compass but is used to switch between drive modes. Below the screens is a blocky panel with several depressions and a narrow screen that appears to have climate controls. The three sets of seats, all made of white and brown leather, can seat six people. The front chairs can be turned around to face the people in the back, making the experience more like sitting in a lounge. The Elevance also has a virtual assistant from Mitsubishi called the “AI Co-Driver,” which suggests “destinations tailored to each driver’s lifestyle.” The AI Co-Driver keeps an eye on the car and its surroundings to suggest alternative driving routes. It is unlikely that the Elevance design will be built the way it is now, with the glass doors and camping trailer. It is built on the Armada SUV, which doesn’t yet have a hybrid version. However, Nissan is getting its e-Power hybrid system ready for the US market, which could lead to a range-extending plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). The new Montero is likely to keep the three-row plan and blocky style.
