The 2025 Japan Mobility Expo has opened the floodgates to all kinds of concept cars, including exotics. Lexus LS six-wheeler. Local automaker Mitsubishi is also attending the Tokyo event, showcasing a concept with an innovative name: “Elevance.” It’s already sparking speculation about whether it will preview a future SUV, and perhaps the return of the Pajero (Montero in some markets). For what it’s worth, the front resembles a camouflaged prototype spotted in July.
But the boxy design and transparent back-hinged doors aren’t the most interesting part. Mitsubishi It caught our attention with the Elevance’s complex powertrain. The concept has a complex hybrid setup that combines four electric motors and a gasoline engine. It features twin in-wheel motors at the front and Mitsubishi’s familiar Active Yaw Control (AYC) system at the rear. The non-specified combustion engine is described as a “highly efficient” ICE capable of running on carbon neutral fuel.
Mitsubishi remains silent about the battery, saying only that it is a “large package.” For reference, the Zeekr 9X uses a massive 70 kWh battery, instead Volvo XC70 reborn It has a 39.6 kWh pack. It’s unclear where Elevance falls between these two, though it likely deviates smaller. Either way, the battery is powerful enough to power the matching trailer, which includes a kitchen and shower.
Interestingly, Mitsubishi did not mention that the combustion engine acts as a generator to recharge the battery. This indicates that the Elevance is not a range-extending electric car, but rather a conventional plug-in hybrid with the gas engine mechanically driving the wheels. Whatever the case, we’re told the ICE delivers the “clean, exhilarating performance of an electric motor.”
Photo by: Mitsubishi
Aside from the complex PHEV setup, the Elevance appears to be a large vehicle, supporting the theory that it is about the size of a Pajero. However, we may be getting ahead of ourselves, as Mitsubishi has a reputation for unveiling bold concepts that never make it to production. Hopefully it will break this trend.
Inside, the Elevance offers three rows of seating but only seats six passengers in a 2+2+2 layout, with swivel front seats. It embraces the current screen-heavy design trend with a triple-screen setup that extends across the dashboard. There’s also a display integrated into the octagonal steering wheel, while climate controls are controlled via a thin horizontal touch bar.
Fortunately, not everything is digitized. A rotary dial between the front seats allows the driver to switch between driving modes. Elsewhere, the trapezoidal steering wheel display is flanked by physical switches and vertical toggle switches behind it.
It’s still uncertain whether Mitsubishi plans to follow up with a production model, but there’s hope that at least some of the Elevance ideas will make it into an SUV that people can actually buy.
