Mitsubishi President Osamu Masuko is working to rebound Mitsubishi in the US, and thinks that bringing the Pajero SUV to our shores would help.
“We would like to bring the next-generation [Pajero] version that we are developing, partly because it will have a plug-in hybrid version,” Masuko told Automotive News. The Pajero is a full-size SUV that would compete with the Toyota 4Runner, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Nissan Pathfinder among others.
Mitsubishi will introduce a plug-in hybrid version of its Outlander compact crossover onto the scene in 2015, and it is clear that Masuko thinks that electrified drive trains are the future. ”One thing I can say for sure is that the plug-in hybrid market will grow,” said Masuko.
Masuko also made it clear that crossovers and SUVs are at the top of the list in terms of importance to the brand, dashing any hopes that the Japanese brand might introduce a new sports car into North America.
“When you look at the global ranking of top-selling Mitsubishi vehicles, at the top are pickups, then the Pajero and Pajero Sport and then the Outlander and Outlander Sport. We want to further enhance our strong suits,” he said. “That will better secure the future of our brand. This is a simple strategy of back to basics.”
[Source: Automotive News]
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