Boris unveils 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV in Tokyo
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Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has unveiled the 2016 facelift for the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV in Tokyo as the new Outlander goes on sale in the UK.
The Outlander PHEV’s success in the UK – it’s the best selling AFV (Alternatively Fuelled Vehicle) in the UK, out-selling all the others put together – has seen Mitsubishi enjoy a profile it hasn’t enjoyed for years in the UK, and it wants to make sure it capitalises on the huge impact its plug-in Outlander has had.
So Mitsubishi has addressed some of the moans about the Outlander PHEV with the 2016 facelift, giving it a new face and a tweaked back end, improving the interior and making the drivetrain power sources work better together for more impressive performance, particularly up to 25mph, as well as tweaking the suspension for a more ‘European’ ride.
But what they haven’t changed is the Outlander PHEV’s USP – its 5 per cent BIK rate for business users – which makes the Outlander PHEV almost a gift for company car drivers, who pay less than a £1,000 a year in tax.
Lance Bradley, Mitsubishi’s UK MD, said:
The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV along with forward looking and consistent Government policy on incentives is creating a market for plug-ins that will ultimately set the UK apart in global terms, by delivering the right balance of low emission driving, value for money, economy and practicality. This new model is another bold step in that direction.
And until the government decides to change the tax structure for business buyers, the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV will remain a brilliant buy.
Geof Rayner says
Did he get paid for this? It is pretty outrageous when a public servant uses his ‘fame’ to help a foreign company selling its products in Britain.
Cars UK says
It’s a fair point, but to also be fair to Boris it is good for relations between Japan and the UK, and Mitsubishi has has already created 400 new jobs (which will rise to 1000) on the back of the Outlander PHEV’s success in the UK, and invested £48 million in their final assembly area in the UK. It’s a quid pro quo.