Mitsubishi has launched a special edition of its big-selling Outlander PHEV called the Juro, as it celebrates a milestone in plug-in hybrid sales.
The Juro basically amounts to a free satnav unit on top of the mid-spec GX3h+ model, but is likely to further help sales of Mitsubishi’s successful hybrid SUV.
The company is reporting 25,000 UK sales of the Outlander PHEV range since it was launched just over two years ago. Mitsubishi points out that the entire plug-in hybrid sector achieved less than 1,000 registrations in 2013, the year before the Outlander PHEV was launched. Of course, there have been more than a dozen other plug-in hybrid launches over the same period, but the Mitsubishi commands about half of the market.
Over its first half-year in 2014, the Outlander PHEV achieved 5,354 registrations, followed by 11,681 registrations in 2015 and another 7,800 registrations to the end of September this year.
In fact, it has been so successful that electric charging point provider Ecotricity has blamed the Outlander for single-handedly increasing the cost of charging across its stations throughout the UK.
The special edition Juro is priced at £32,749 (on-road, including the government’s plug-in car grant). Based on the identically-priced GX3h, it gets a touchscreen infotainment unit with TomTom satellite navigation, DAB radio, CD/DVD player and smartphone integration.
Mechanically, the Juro is identical to the rest of the Outlander PHEV range, running a 2.0-litre petrol engine linked to an electric motor and battery. It is capable of running up to 32 miles in electric mode.
Finance and home charging offers to keep sales momentum up
Despite the growth in the plug-in hybrid market, the Outlander continues to dominate registrations. However, Mitsubishi is keen to maintain that momentum , and is currently offering finance offers and a free home charging unit on all new Outlander PHEVs as well.
The company is currently offering a three-year, zero deposit and interest-free hire purchase deal, or PCP offers with a deposit contribution of £2,500 (although interest and fees are still payable on PCP offers). Mitsubishi is also offering free supply and installation of a 3.6kW Chargemaster Homecharge unit to all Outlander PHEV buyers, which allows a 60% faster charge rate than a standard 13A wall socket.
