
2026 Mitsubishi Outlander gets mild-hybrid power, Australian timing unclear
Mitsubishi in the US has confirmed the naturally aspirated 2.5-litre four-cylinder in the Outlander will be replaced for 2026 with a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, borrowed from the smaller Eclipse Cross, mated with 'the company's first mild-hybrid system'.
This suggests Mitsubishi is resurrecting a short-lived Outlander powertrain launched in China in 2022.
In the Chinese-market Outlander, the 1.5-litre turbo four was mated with a 48V mild-hybrid system and a continuously variable transmission (CVT), and featured outputs of 120kW of power and 280Nm of torque – down 15kW on the 2.5-litre, but up 36Nm.
Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now.
We've contacted Mitsubishi Australia to confirm if there are any plans to offer this powertrain here.
Since Chinese production ended in 2023, the Outlander is built exclusively in Japan, supplying markets such as ours and the US.
In introducing a mild-hybrid 1.5T option in China, Mitsubishi said the electric motor assist resulted in 'smooth, manageable acceleration while improving fuel efficiency'.
In its US announcement this month, Mitsubishi says the new powertrain will bring 'increased confidence and drivability thanks to electrified torque adding off-the-line acceleration', though it doesn't make note of any fuel economy improvements – or power and torque outputs, for that matter.
It says these will be released later this year, closer to the updated SUV's fourth-quarter (October-December) launch.
After a facelift for 2025, there are no further visual changes for 2026 in the US market. However, the range is expanding to include a Ralliart variant.
The company has yet to reveal the 2026 Outlander Ralliart.
Mitsubishi only offers one electrified powertrain in the Australian-market Outlander: a 2.4-litre plug-in hybrid four. This leaves Mitsubishi without a direct rival to a growing contingent of plugless hybrid mid-size SUVs, including the top-selling Toyota RAV4.
If this powertrain remains specific to North America, Mitsubishi will be doing as Nissan has done with its mechanically related Rogue.
A twin to the X-Trail sold here, the Rogue in 2022 ditched its atmo 2.5-litre four – the same engine still used in the X-Trail and Outlander here – for a turbocharged 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine.
Other forbidden mid-size SUV fruit includes plug-in hybrid versions of the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage, as well as versions of these crossovers with a naturally aspirated 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


7NEWS
3 hours ago
- 7NEWS
Audi Australia culls more passenger cars in increasingly SUV-heavy lineup
The Audi A7 Sportback and S8 limousine are the latest passenger models from the German luxury brand to become unavailable to order in Australia. Audi Australia has updated its website to confirm orders for the large five-door liftback and even larger four-door sedan are now closed. While the A7 is at the end of its lifecycle – it's understood the latest A6 replaces both the outgoing A6 and A7 – the S8 hasn't been discontinued globally. The S8 also continues to be offered in the UK, another major right-hand drive market, as well as in its home market of Germany. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. ABOVE: Audi A7 However, the A8 and S8 family entered production late in 2017, which means they're close to a decade old now, and yet no replacement has been announced, combustion-powered or otherwise. 'The S8 is no longer available in showrooms at this stage,' confirmed an Audi Australia spokesperson. 'While the A8 range is currently unavailable, the Audi Australia team constantly evaluates all models available to us from the factory, ensuring that we have a broad range of models available here to meet customer's needs.' The removal of the A7 and S8 from Australian order books comes after the 'regular' A8 was retired locally, and orders were closed for the high-riding A6 allroad wagon, the S6 sports sedan and the S7 Sportback after the 2024 model year. That leaves Audi's large passenger model range consisting of only the high-performance RS6 Avant and RS7 Sportback, plus the outgoing A6 sedan and the recently updated S and RS e-tron GT electric sedans. If you want a large, combustion-powered Audi without the RS treatment, you now have just one option: the A6 45 TFSI quattro S line, priced at $124,950 before on-roads. ABOVE: New-generation Audi A6 (left), outgoing model (right) A look at Audi's German website confirms the outgoing A6 and A7, including their sportier S and RS variants, are no longer available to order. Audi is replacing the outgoing A6 with a new-generation sedan and Avant wagon based on the company's Premium Platform Combustion (PPC), which will be complemented by the electric A6 e-tron and A6 Avant e-tron based on the Premium Platform Electric (PPE). Both of these model lines are already on sale in Europe but Audi has yet to officially lock them in for Australian release. Instead, it says these vehicles are 'currently under evaluation for the Australian market'. 'Our product team are constantly evaluating each model line and the specific models within the range to determine the mix, pricing, and specification for everything we offer here in Australia,' said the spokesperson. Should Audi not bring the new-generation A6 to Australia, including its inevitable hotted-up RS flagship, the recently launched A5/S5 would become the brand's largest combustion-powered passenger car available in Australia. ABOVE: Audi S8 The discontinuation of the S8 locally now leaves Audi without a model in the so-called 'Upper Large' passenger car segment, which also contains vehicles like the rival BMW 7 Series, Lexus LS and Mercedes-Benz S-Class, after 30 years. Audi delivered just three S8s in the first half of this year, but even looking at full-year sales of the A8/S8 in 2024 – when the flagship was still available to order – it notched up only 10 deliveries, down 47.4 per cent on the previous year and behind the LS (11), S-Class (43) and 7 Series (49). It isn't just the Upper Large segment from which Audi is withdrawing. The four-ringed brand no longer offers any coupe or convertible models, neither here nor abroad, following the axing of the R8 supercar and TT sports car, and the introduction of the new-generation of A5 without any two-door variants.


Perth Now
4 hours ago
- Perth Now
Audi Australia culls more passenger cars in increasingly SUV-heavy lineup
The Audi A7 Sportback and S8 limousine are the latest passenger models from the German luxury brand to become unavailable to order in Australia. Audi Australia has updated its website to confirm orders for the large five-door liftback and even larger four-door sedan are now closed. While the A7 is at the end of its lifecycle – it's understood the latest A6 replaces both the outgoing A6 and A7 – the S8 hasn't been discontinued globally. The S8 also continues to be offered in the UK, another major right-hand drive market, as well as in its home market of Germany. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. Supplied Credit: CarExpert ABOVE: Audi A7 However, the A8 and S8 family entered production late in 2017, which means they're close to a decade old now, and yet no replacement has been announced, combustion-powered or otherwise. 'The S8 is no longer available in showrooms at this stage,' confirmed an Audi Australia spokesperson. 'While the A8 range is currently unavailable, the Audi Australia team constantly evaluates all models available to us from the factory, ensuring that we have a broad range of models available here to meet customer's needs.' The removal of the A7 and S8 from Australian order books comes after the 'regular' A8 was retired locally, and orders were closed for the high-riding A6 allroad wagon, the S6 sports sedan and the S7 Sportback after the 2024 model year. That leaves Audi's large passenger model range consisting of only the high-performance RS6 Avant and RS7 Sportback, plus the outgoing A6 sedan and the recently updated S and RS e-tron GT electric sedans. If you want a large, combustion-powered Audi without the RS treatment, you now have just one option: the A6 45 TFSI quattro S line, priced at $124,950 before on-roads. Supplied Credit: CarExpert Supplied Credit: CarExpert ABOVE: New-generation Audi A6 (left), outgoing model (right) A look at Audi's German website confirms the outgoing A6 and A7, including their sportier S and RS variants, are no longer available to order. Audi is replacing the outgoing A6 with a new-generation sedan and Avant wagon based on the company's Premium Platform Combustion (PPC), which will be complemented by the electric A6 e-tron and A6 Avant e-tron based on the Premium Platform Electric (PPE). Both of these model lines are already on sale in Europe but Audi has yet to officially lock them in for Australian release. Instead, it says these vehicles are 'currently under evaluation for the Australian market'. 'Our product team are constantly evaluating each model line and the specific models within the range to determine the mix, pricing, and specification for everything we offer here in Australia,' said the spokesperson. Should Audi not bring the new-generation A6 to Australia, including its inevitable hotted-up RS flagship, the recently launched A5/S5 would become the brand's largest combustion-powered passenger car available in Australia. Supplied Credit: CarExpert ABOVE: Audi S8 The discontinuation of the S8 locally now leaves Audi without a model in the so-called 'Upper Large' passenger car segment, which also contains vehicles like the rival BMW 7 Series, Lexus LS and Mercedes-Benz S-Class, after 30 years. Audi delivered just three S8s in the first half of this year, but even looking at full-year sales of the A8/S8 in 2024 – when the flagship was still available to order – it notched up only 10 deliveries, down 47.4 per cent on the previous year and behind the LS (11), S-Class (43) and 7 Series (49). It isn't just the Upper Large segment from which Audi is withdrawing. The four-ringed brand no longer offers any coupe or convertible models, neither here nor abroad, following the axing of the R8 supercar and TT sports car, and the introduction of the new-generation of A5 without any two-door variants. MORE: Everything Audi A6 • S6 • RS6 • A7 • S7 • RS7 • A8 • S8


The Advertiser
4 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Audi Australia culls more passenger cars in increasingly SUV-heavy lineup
The Audi A7 Sportback and S8 limousine are the latest passenger models from the German luxury brand to become unavailable to order in Australia. Audi Australia has updated its website to confirm orders for the large five-door liftback and even larger four-door sedan are now closed. While the A7 is at the end of its lifecycle – it's understood the latest A6 replaces both the outgoing A6 and A7 – the S8 hasn't been discontinued globally. The S8 also continues to be offered in the UK, another major right-hand drive market, as well as in its home market of Germany. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. ABOVE: Audi A7 However, the A8 and S8 family entered production late in 2017, which means they're close to a decade old now, and yet no replacement has been announced, combustion-powered or otherwise. "The S8 is no longer available in showrooms at this stage," confirmed an Audi Australia spokesperson. "While the A8 range is currently unavailable, the Audi Australia team constantly evaluates all models available to us from the factory, ensuring that we have a broad range of models available here to meet customer's needs." The removal of the A7 and S8 from Australian order books comes after the 'regular' A8 was retired locally, and orders were closed for the high-riding A6 allroad wagon, the S6 sports sedan and the S7 Sportback after the 2024 model year. That leaves Audi's large passenger model range consisting of only the high-performance RS6 Avant and RS7 Sportback, plus the outgoing A6 sedan and the recently updated S and RS e-tron GT electric sedans. If you want a large, combustion-powered Audi without the RS treatment, you now have just one option: the A6 45 TFSI quattro S line, priced at $124,950 before on-roads. ABOVE: New-generation Audi A6 (left), outgoing model (right) A look at Audi's German website confirms the outgoing A6 and A7, including their sportier S and RS variants, are no longer available to order. Audi is replacing the outgoing A6 with a new-generation sedan and Avant wagon based on the company's Premium Platform Combustion (PPC), which will be complemented by the electric A6 e-tron and A6 Avant e-tron based on the Premium Platform Electric (PPE). Both of these model lines are already on sale in Europe but Audi has yet to officially lock them in for Australian release. Instead, it says these vehicles are "currently under evaluation for the Australian market". "Our product team are constantly evaluating each model line and the specific models within the range to determine the mix, pricing, and specification for everything we offer here in Australia," said the spokesperson. Should Audi not bring the new-generation A6 to Australia, including its inevitable hotted-up RS flagship, the recently launched A5/S5 would become the brand's largest combustion-powered passenger car available in Australia. ABOVE: Audi S8 The discontinuation of the S8 locally now leaves Audi without a model in the so-called 'Upper Large' passenger car segment, which also contains vehicles like the rival BMW 7 Series, Lexus LS and Mercedes-Benz S-Class, after 30 years. Audi delivered just three S8s in the first half of this year, but even looking at full-year sales of the A8/S8 in 2024 – when the flagship was still available to order – it notched up only 10 deliveries, down 47.4 per cent on the previous year and behind the LS (11), S-Class (43) and 7 Series (49). It isn't just the Upper Large segment from which Audi is withdrawing. The four-ringed brand no longer offers any coupe or convertible models, neither here nor abroad, following the axing of the R8 supercar and TT sports car, and the introduction of the new-generation of A5 without any two-door variants. MORE: Everything Audi A6 • S6 • RS6 • A7 • S7 • RS7 • A8 • S8 Content originally sourced from: The Audi A7 Sportback and S8 limousine are the latest passenger models from the German luxury brand to become unavailable to order in Australia. Audi Australia has updated its website to confirm orders for the large five-door liftback and even larger four-door sedan are now closed. While the A7 is at the end of its lifecycle – it's understood the latest A6 replaces both the outgoing A6 and A7 – the S8 hasn't been discontinued globally. The S8 also continues to be offered in the UK, another major right-hand drive market, as well as in its home market of Germany. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. ABOVE: Audi A7 However, the A8 and S8 family entered production late in 2017, which means they're close to a decade old now, and yet no replacement has been announced, combustion-powered or otherwise. "The S8 is no longer available in showrooms at this stage," confirmed an Audi Australia spokesperson. "While the A8 range is currently unavailable, the Audi Australia team constantly evaluates all models available to us from the factory, ensuring that we have a broad range of models available here to meet customer's needs." The removal of the A7 and S8 from Australian order books comes after the 'regular' A8 was retired locally, and orders were closed for the high-riding A6 allroad wagon, the S6 sports sedan and the S7 Sportback after the 2024 model year. That leaves Audi's large passenger model range consisting of only the high-performance RS6 Avant and RS7 Sportback, plus the outgoing A6 sedan and the recently updated S and RS e-tron GT electric sedans. If you want a large, combustion-powered Audi without the RS treatment, you now have just one option: the A6 45 TFSI quattro S line, priced at $124,950 before on-roads. ABOVE: New-generation Audi A6 (left), outgoing model (right) A look at Audi's German website confirms the outgoing A6 and A7, including their sportier S and RS variants, are no longer available to order. Audi is replacing the outgoing A6 with a new-generation sedan and Avant wagon based on the company's Premium Platform Combustion (PPC), which will be complemented by the electric A6 e-tron and A6 Avant e-tron based on the Premium Platform Electric (PPE). Both of these model lines are already on sale in Europe but Audi has yet to officially lock them in for Australian release. Instead, it says these vehicles are "currently under evaluation for the Australian market". "Our product team are constantly evaluating each model line and the specific models within the range to determine the mix, pricing, and specification for everything we offer here in Australia," said the spokesperson. Should Audi not bring the new-generation A6 to Australia, including its inevitable hotted-up RS flagship, the recently launched A5/S5 would become the brand's largest combustion-powered passenger car available in Australia. ABOVE: Audi S8 The discontinuation of the S8 locally now leaves Audi without a model in the so-called 'Upper Large' passenger car segment, which also contains vehicles like the rival BMW 7 Series, Lexus LS and Mercedes-Benz S-Class, after 30 years. Audi delivered just three S8s in the first half of this year, but even looking at full-year sales of the A8/S8 in 2024 – when the flagship was still available to order – it notched up only 10 deliveries, down 47.4 per cent on the previous year and behind the LS (11), S-Class (43) and 7 Series (49). It isn't just the Upper Large segment from which Audi is withdrawing. The four-ringed brand no longer offers any coupe or convertible models, neither here nor abroad, following the axing of the R8 supercar and TT sports car, and the introduction of the new-generation of A5 without any two-door variants. MORE: Everything Audi A6 • S6 • RS6 • A7 • S7 • RS7 • A8 • S8 Content originally sourced from: The Audi A7 Sportback and S8 limousine are the latest passenger models from the German luxury brand to become unavailable to order in Australia. Audi Australia has updated its website to confirm orders for the large five-door liftback and even larger four-door sedan are now closed. While the A7 is at the end of its lifecycle – it's understood the latest A6 replaces both the outgoing A6 and A7 – the S8 hasn't been discontinued globally. The S8 also continues to be offered in the UK, another major right-hand drive market, as well as in its home market of Germany. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. ABOVE: Audi A7 However, the A8 and S8 family entered production late in 2017, which means they're close to a decade old now, and yet no replacement has been announced, combustion-powered or otherwise. "The S8 is no longer available in showrooms at this stage," confirmed an Audi Australia spokesperson. "While the A8 range is currently unavailable, the Audi Australia team constantly evaluates all models available to us from the factory, ensuring that we have a broad range of models available here to meet customer's needs." The removal of the A7 and S8 from Australian order books comes after the 'regular' A8 was retired locally, and orders were closed for the high-riding A6 allroad wagon, the S6 sports sedan and the S7 Sportback after the 2024 model year. That leaves Audi's large passenger model range consisting of only the high-performance RS6 Avant and RS7 Sportback, plus the outgoing A6 sedan and the recently updated S and RS e-tron GT electric sedans. If you want a large, combustion-powered Audi without the RS treatment, you now have just one option: the A6 45 TFSI quattro S line, priced at $124,950 before on-roads. ABOVE: New-generation Audi A6 (left), outgoing model (right) A look at Audi's German website confirms the outgoing A6 and A7, including their sportier S and RS variants, are no longer available to order. Audi is replacing the outgoing A6 with a new-generation sedan and Avant wagon based on the company's Premium Platform Combustion (PPC), which will be complemented by the electric A6 e-tron and A6 Avant e-tron based on the Premium Platform Electric (PPE). Both of these model lines are already on sale in Europe but Audi has yet to officially lock them in for Australian release. Instead, it says these vehicles are "currently under evaluation for the Australian market". "Our product team are constantly evaluating each model line and the specific models within the range to determine the mix, pricing, and specification for everything we offer here in Australia," said the spokesperson. Should Audi not bring the new-generation A6 to Australia, including its inevitable hotted-up RS flagship, the recently launched A5/S5 would become the brand's largest combustion-powered passenger car available in Australia. ABOVE: Audi S8 The discontinuation of the S8 locally now leaves Audi without a model in the so-called 'Upper Large' passenger car segment, which also contains vehicles like the rival BMW 7 Series, Lexus LS and Mercedes-Benz S-Class, after 30 years. Audi delivered just three S8s in the first half of this year, but even looking at full-year sales of the A8/S8 in 2024 – when the flagship was still available to order – it notched up only 10 deliveries, down 47.4 per cent on the previous year and behind the LS (11), S-Class (43) and 7 Series (49). It isn't just the Upper Large segment from which Audi is withdrawing. The four-ringed brand no longer offers any coupe or convertible models, neither here nor abroad, following the axing of the R8 supercar and TT sports car, and the introduction of the new-generation of A5 without any two-door variants. MORE: Everything Audi A6 • S6 • RS6 • A7 • S7 • RS7 • A8 • S8 Content originally sourced from: The Audi A7 Sportback and S8 limousine are the latest passenger models from the German luxury brand to become unavailable to order in Australia. Audi Australia has updated its website to confirm orders for the large five-door liftback and even larger four-door sedan are now closed. While the A7 is at the end of its lifecycle – it's understood the latest A6 replaces both the outgoing A6 and A7 – the S8 hasn't been discontinued globally. The S8 also continues to be offered in the UK, another major right-hand drive market, as well as in its home market of Germany. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. ABOVE: Audi A7 However, the A8 and S8 family entered production late in 2017, which means they're close to a decade old now, and yet no replacement has been announced, combustion-powered or otherwise. "The S8 is no longer available in showrooms at this stage," confirmed an Audi Australia spokesperson. "While the A8 range is currently unavailable, the Audi Australia team constantly evaluates all models available to us from the factory, ensuring that we have a broad range of models available here to meet customer's needs." The removal of the A7 and S8 from Australian order books comes after the 'regular' A8 was retired locally, and orders were closed for the high-riding A6 allroad wagon, the S6 sports sedan and the S7 Sportback after the 2024 model year. That leaves Audi's large passenger model range consisting of only the high-performance RS6 Avant and RS7 Sportback, plus the outgoing A6 sedan and the recently updated S and RS e-tron GT electric sedans. If you want a large, combustion-powered Audi without the RS treatment, you now have just one option: the A6 45 TFSI quattro S line, priced at $124,950 before on-roads. ABOVE: New-generation Audi A6 (left), outgoing model (right) A look at Audi's German website confirms the outgoing A6 and A7, including their sportier S and RS variants, are no longer available to order. Audi is replacing the outgoing A6 with a new-generation sedan and Avant wagon based on the company's Premium Platform Combustion (PPC), which will be complemented by the electric A6 e-tron and A6 Avant e-tron based on the Premium Platform Electric (PPE). Both of these model lines are already on sale in Europe but Audi has yet to officially lock them in for Australian release. Instead, it says these vehicles are "currently under evaluation for the Australian market". "Our product team are constantly evaluating each model line and the specific models within the range to determine the mix, pricing, and specification for everything we offer here in Australia," said the spokesperson. Should Audi not bring the new-generation A6 to Australia, including its inevitable hotted-up RS flagship, the recently launched A5/S5 would become the brand's largest combustion-powered passenger car available in Australia. ABOVE: Audi S8 The discontinuation of the S8 locally now leaves Audi without a model in the so-called 'Upper Large' passenger car segment, which also contains vehicles like the rival BMW 7 Series, Lexus LS and Mercedes-Benz S-Class, after 30 years. Audi delivered just three S8s in the first half of this year, but even looking at full-year sales of the A8/S8 in 2024 – when the flagship was still available to order – it notched up only 10 deliveries, down 47.4 per cent on the previous year and behind the LS (11), S-Class (43) and 7 Series (49). It isn't just the Upper Large segment from which Audi is withdrawing. The four-ringed brand no longer offers any coupe or convertible models, neither here nor abroad, following the axing of the R8 supercar and TT sports car, and the introduction of the new-generation of A5 without any two-door variants. MORE: Everything Audi A6 • S6 • RS6 • A7 • S7 • RS7 • A8 • S8 Content originally sourced from: