Mitsibushi is adding two new SUVs to their current lineup

Mitsubishi has announced it will be expanding its lineup for North America with an off-roading variant of the Outlander to go along with a recently announced BEV, both aiming for late 2026 releases.

The Japanese automaker, well known for its performance-oriented cars and rally history, has been taking an SUV-only approach based on affordability and utility with plans to expand offerings.

Outlander for off-roading

Many SUVs have the styling that makes them look off-road capable, even if they have never taken on trails before. This new trim level builds upon the current 2025 Outlander Trail Edition by adding off-road-oriented styling, performance upgrades and some off-road-focused drive modes.

The feature that will benefit this SUV the most is the Super-All Wheel Control (S-AWC), Mitsubishi’s unique all-wheel drive system. What makes S-AWC stand out from other all-wheel drive systems is that it balances control to all four tires, or it can be delivered to each wheel individually. It now adds Active Yaw Control (AYC) that helps driving forces and braking forces of the wheels to recognize how the vehicle behaves under specific driving conditions.

This is the same all-wheel drive system that helped Mitsubishi Motors win the legendary Dakar Rally 12 times and many other races in the World Rally Championship.

Mitsubishi’s Momentum 2030 plan

Momentum 2030 is a mission by Mitsubishi to deliver a new or refreshed vehicle every year from now until 2030 and is defined by four key goals. The company plans to create a path to electrification, to a more prominent lineup for the North American market, a more effective and modern retail sales model and a network focused on growing sales.

The president and CEO of Mitsubishi Motors North America, Mark Chaffin, said in a news release shoppers should be intrigued by what Mitsubishi has to offer.

“When we announced our Momentum 2030 plan publicly, we set ambitious goals for ourselves," Chaffin said. "The plan is underway right now, with the new 2025 Outlander already on sale, with an updated Outlander Plug-in Hybrid coming soon, the debut of a new mild-hybrid powertrain in the 2026 Outlander and with today’s announcements of two more all-new vehicles coming in fiscal year 2026. This is just the beginning, with more new vehicles and more news coming.”

At the moment, there are no photos or an official trim name of the off-roading-focused Outlander or for its new EV as of yet.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Mitsubishi reveals plans for 2026 off-road Outlander launch

Reporting by Keenan Thompson, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press

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