Mitsubishi PH to launch 2024 Montero Sport facelift, Outlander PHEV next?

The talk of the town for Mitsubishi Motors right now is the incoming launch of the all-new XForce subcompact crossover. Sharing its platform and powertrain with the Xpander, the XForce has recently been spotted being tested on Philippine roads.

MMPC already confirmed the XForce’s launch to take place by June, but it looks like we can expect more to come from Mitsubishi this year. We recently learned that Mitsubishi Motors Philippines received the homologation approval for two of their larger SUVs – the Montero Sport (Pajero Sport) and the Outlander PHEV.

The homologation papers we’re talking about came from the LTO. These are being done for new models entering the market for proper identification and classification during initial registration.

As early as last year, MMPC has been teasing us with the all-new Outlander PHEV, especially when it was showcased at their 60th anniversary expo. Upon seeing their homologation papers, it looks like Mitsubishi PH is looking to offer the Outlander PHEV in two variants – the SEL Touring and the SEL Premium.

Both are classified as 7-seaters, and will be powered by a 2.4-liter naturally-aspirated inline-four that works with a pair of electric motors and a 20 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. The combined system output of the PHEV system puts out 251 PS and 450 Nm of torque. It also gives the Outlander PHEV an all-electric range of up to 61 km.

On the other hand, the facelifted Montero Sport already made its Southeast Asian debut back in March’s Bangkok International Motor Show. Over in Thailand where they call it the Pajero Sport, the SUV receives an Xpander-inspired front end with the honeycomb grille and redesigned LED headlights, while the rest of the updates include a reworked bumper and new 18-inch alloys.

Based on the LTO memo, the facelift could only apply to the GLS and Black Series 4x2 models of the Montero Sport. As for the engine, the older 4N15 turbodiesel is being retained instead of the Triton’s new 4N16 single turbo that’s seeing use in the Thai-market models.

Earlier in the year, a reliable source has told us that the facelifted Montero Sport could make its way in the country by around the latter part of the year. If everything then goes into plan, then we may see both the Montero Sport and Outlander PHEV headline Mitsubishi’s booth at this year’s PIMS happening in October, or perhaps even much earlier than that.