The Mitsubishi Elevance Concept Has Four Motors And Can Power A Camping Trailer

• Mitsubishi’s latest concept car is a quad-motor plug-in hybrid SUV.
• Dubbed the Elevance, it seats six people and its high-voltage battery can power a camping trailer.
• Revealed at the Japan Mobility Show 2025, the electrified show car has a capsule-like cabin.

This is the Mitsubishi Elevance concept, which broke cover today at the Japan Mobility Show 2025. And while it may have a made-up name, its striking design and powertrain setup make this radical show car a great prequel to what could become a next-generation Outlander or even a new Pajero.

The Japanese automaker prides itself on making one of the best-selling plug-in hybrid SUVs, and the Elevance concept is proof that Mitsubishi is not ready to let go of this type of power source just yet. In fact, the copper-colored four-door SUV kicks things up a notch in terms of complexity.

There’s a pair of in-wheel electric motors at the front and two more drive units at the rear. The front motors have been designed to enhance steering stability, while the rear units enable Active Yaw Control (AYC), which can minimize wobble and sway to reduce the risk of carsickness.

Putting two and two together leads to the latest iteration of Mitsubishi’s signature Super-All Wheel Control (S-AWC), which can, in this case, send precise amounts of torque to each wheel. A “large-capacity” traction battery powers the four electric motors, and to top it all off, there’s a “high-efficiency” gasoline engine that can run on carbon-neutral fuels, making the Elevance concept a plug-in hybrid. 

Moreover, it sure sounds like this is actually an extended-range EV (EREV) like the upcoming Jeep Wagoneer, which would mean there is no mechanical connection between the gas engine and the wheels. However, Mitsubishi didn’t say anything about this, limiting itself to just the PHEV moniker.

Whatever the layout, the Japanese automaker is adamant that the futuristic SUV can handle just about anything the driver throws at it, from urban streets to off-road adventures. And because this is 2025, it wouldn’t be a true show car without artificial intelligence. The AI Co-Driver can allegedly help the driver explore the unknown by suggesting destinations tailored to their lifestyle. 

Mitsubishi also showed off a custom-made camper trailer with a built-in shower and kitchen, which the Elevance concept can power from its high-voltage battery, making for a silent, generator-free adventure.

Inside the capsule-like cabin, the go-anywhere electrified SUV offers three rows of seating for up to six passengers, and the front two seats can be rotated 180 degrees to transform the interior into a cozier space. There’s a massive, full-width display on the dashboard, as well as an LCD screen embedded in the steering wheel.

Mitsubishi didn’t say how powerful or how much range the Elevance concept has, but that shouldn’t really be an issue, seeing how it’s not exactly ready for mass production. It could, however, influence the design of future vehicles. And who knows, maybe the next Pajero or Outlander will also get an AI Co-Driver. (I really hope not, though.)