Will a breath of fresh air come to Japan's automotive industry? Hopes for new possibilities
The hot topic in the automotive industry these days is the merger between Honda and Nissan Motors. It has become a commotion that has even involved Mitsubishi Motors, of which Nissan is the largest shareholder. As soon as the news broke, the three companies held a press conference together. The idea was to make an official comment before various speculations began to spread. As a media outlet, we watched the live broadcast, but there are still many unclear points, so we would like to keep an eye on future developments.
However, unlike mergers of the past, modern business integrations often involve a holding company and each brand is protected. The brands will likely continue to exist even if joint development or parts sharing takes place. Considering that both companies have worked with various partners in the past, including technical collaboration, the situation may be flexible.
Nissan has shared parts with Renault and bought engines from Mercedes-Benz. Honda is currently working with GM on joint development of fuel cells. A technical partnership is more about the field, while a capital partnership is more about management, but in either case, when companies with different cultures collaborate, problems are bound to arise.
However, we must not forget that there are also positive by-products that come from this. From a bird's-eye view of the automobile industry, we hope for such things. One example is the case of Maserati having a Ferrari engine installed. In this industry, by-products sometimes entertain car enthusiasts.
Minor changes make Outlander PHEV even more appealing
Enough about that, but this time I would like to focus on Mitsubishi Motors, one of the three companies. The model is the Outlander PHEV. It went on sale at the end of 2021, and a minor change was announced in October last year.


Body size: Length 4720mm x Width 1860mm x Height 1750mm
There are many areas that have been improved. In particular, I would like to draw attention to the updates that have been made using technology that is constantly evolving. Specifically, the lithium-ion battery. By renewing the drive battery, the EV driving range has been increased to over 100 km. Until now, the range was 80 km, which seemed sufficient, but the manufacturer has deliberately insisted on that. With this, I'm sure I'll be driving on electricity only on weekdays. It'll feel like starting the engine for the first time in a while on a weekend trip to a hot spring.
The interface was also updated. The center monitor has expanded from 9 inches to 12.3 inches, and the connected functions have been expanded. It's fun because you can see "Street View" and "Aerial View". It feels more like a gadget.


The display size of the center monitor has been increased to 12.3 inches.


To improve audio performance, sound insulation and soundproofing have been improved, such as by adding deadening around the doors.
In addition, this model change offers attractive specifications for the top grade. The model is equipped with an audio system jointly developed with Yamaha, and there are two types: "Dynamic Sound Yamaha Ultimate" and "Dynamic Sound Yamaha Premium." The former is equipped with 2 speakers, the latter with 12 speakers.
It goes without saying that the speakers themselves reproduce clear sound, and they automatically adjust the volume and reduce noise according to the speed. During the test drive, we tried out a "listening comparison," and the difference was immediately obvious to the ear.


Prices start at 526 yen for the M, 3500 yen for the G, 587 yen for the P, and 9500 yen for the P Executive Package.
The impression of this new model is "majestic" as per the design concept. The bold front mask and the styling with a strong presence give this impression. The ride quality, which is born from the revised suspension, also gives this impression. The ride quality is high quality, smooth and exudes a sense of luxury. And yet, when you step on the accelerator, it shows off sporty and firm handling. This flavor is typical of European cars. Since this model change has led to sales in Europe, the suspension was developed with high speed driving on the autobahn in mind.
The Outlander PHEV is one of the mainstays of Mitsubishi Motors. It is this car and the Triton pickup truck that are selling well globally. In that sense, it is a car that Honda and Nissan should also pay attention to. In fact, neither brand currently has an SUV in the PHEV category in their lineup.
*This article is a report for the Japanese market that tested a Japanese-spec vehicle.
Tatsuya Kushima
Motor journalist and columnist. Currently, he is the media site editor-in-chief and media business producer for the surfing magazine "NALU." She has previously served as editor-in-chief of many men's magazines, golf magazines, car magazines, airline in-flight magazines, etc. In addition to media activities, he is a member of the Japan Car of the Year selection committee, a member of the Japan Cigar Association, a Japan Boat of the Year selection committee, and the creative director of men's golf wear ``The Duke's Golf.''
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