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Mitsubishi is still interested in a high-performance Outlander to reprise the Ralliart badge in Australia after a 10-year absence.
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A high-performance version of the Mitsubishi Outlander family SUV remains on the wish list, possibly with tuned plug-in hybrid technology to boost power without sacrificing emissions.
The chief engineer for the Mitsubishi Outlander has confirmed "investigation is ongoing" into an Outlander Ralliart, three years after a widebody concept was shown at a car show in Japan.
"We are still investigating," Kentaro Honda, Mitsubishi Outlander segment chief engineer, told Drive.
"We attended the Asia Cross-Country Rally, so based on that kind of rally experience, we'll consider how to, or when to, develop the Ralliart version."
Asked if Mitsubishi is actively considering a Ralliart variant, or if it is just an idea in the background, Honda-san said: "This is not my [area of focus], but some investigation is ongoing in the development area."
Mitsubishi Motors Australia CEO Shaun Westcott said a high-performance Outlander is of interest to the local division.
"There are a number of studies underway, and it could be different for different markets as well. There's a number of moving parts in this permutation," he said.
"Mitsubishi Motors Corporation has just announced they have extended [their involvement in] the Asia Cross-Country Rally, and they're also looking at domestic rallying [in Japan].
"And they will be taking those learnings into the product, and there are definitely a number of active studies ongoing in this space."
He reiterated earlier comments ruling out Ralliart appearance packs – which add tweaked styling but no additional performance – offered on Mitsubishis in other markets.
"I declined the sticker packs. I was not happy with taking on sticker packs and calling it a Ralliart," said Westcott.
"So if Australia takes something on like that, we are actually looking for some enhancements in the actual vehicle.
"There's an appetite for it. Our global CEO is on public record as having said, probably about two years ago now, that the Ralliart brand is a very important part of the Mitsubishi DNA, and one that we will tap into at some point."
The Ralliart badge was last used in Australia in 2015 on the Lancer, which justified its badge with a 2.0-litre turbo engine and all-wheel-drive system not offered on cheaper grades, but a clear step below the hero Lancer Evolution.
The Vision Ralliart concept revealed at the 2022 Tokyo Auto Salon was based on the plug-in hybrid Outlander in its pre-updated, 2021 to 2024 form.
At the time, Mitsubishi promised "higher motor output", a larger battery pack, and "sportier four-wheel control tuning" above the standard car's 98kW/155Nm 2.4-litre petrol engine, 85kW front electric motor, 100kW rear motor, and 20kWh battery.
Some of those improvements have seemingly passed to the production Outlander PHEV in its facelifted form, which offers a 22.7kWh battery, and a 225kW combined output, up from 185kW.
Japanese media reports over the past three years claiming a showroom version of the Outlander Ralliart is around the corner have quoted an output of 213kW, broadly in line with the regular 2025 model.
More obvious upgrades introduced with the Vision Ralliart concept include flared wheel arches, 22-inch alloy wheels, larger brake discs with six-piston calipers, sportier bumper, and an F1-style lower rear rain light.
While never confirmed for production, Mitsubishi said at its reveal the Vision Ralliart "embodies Mitsubishi Motors’ vision for the new Ralliart".
"This is a concept car that expresses the possibilities of the new Ralliart, with elevated acceleration, cornering and braking in all road and weather conditions," Mitsubishi said in a media statement.
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Alex Misoyannis has been writing about cars since 2017, when he started his own website, Redline. He contributed for Drive in 2018, before joining CarAdvice in 2019, becoming a regular contributing journalist within the news team in 2020. Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family. Highly Commended - Young Writer of the Year 2024 (Under 30) Rising Star Journalist, 2024 Winner Scoop of The Year - 2024 Winner
