Anyone in the U.S. who wants to buy a Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-In Hybrid crossover has had to exercise incredible patience.
The Outlander plug-in went on sale in Japan in 2013, but its U.S. launch has been delayed multiple times.
In fact, U.S. buyers won't even get a plug-in version of the Outlander that's been on sale for more than two years--with a gasoline engine.
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They'll have to wait until after a facelifted version arrives for the 2016 model year.
That version will feature new styling, and could well debut at the 2015 New York Auto Show about two weeks from now.
Mitsubishi 2015 New York Auto Show teaser
While not a completely new generation, the 2016 Outlander could feature more substantial changes than just tweaked styling, according to InAutoNews.
In addition to launching Mitsubishi's new styling theme, the updated Outlander will reportedly feature "countless engineering improvements" relating to "overall refinement and drive quality."
CHECK OUT: 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-In Hybrid: Revealed At Paris Motor Show (Sep 2014)
Those words come from an unnamed "company representative," and are about as specific as the sourcing.
Mid-cycle refreshes like the one the Outlander is undergoing are generally limited in scope, but that doesn't mean they can't include meaningful mechanical changes.
So far, though, the most significant change is expected to be cosmetic.
Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Concept-S, 2014 Paris Auto Show
The Outlander will adopt the revised styling first seen on the PHEV Concept-S from the 2014 Paris Motor Show.
A Mitsubishi-released teaser image shows a vehicle with similar styling to the concept, indicating that at least the gasoline Outlander will debut in New York.
However, it's unclear whether the Outlander Plug-In Hybrid will make an appearance as well.
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Mitsubishi previously said the plug-in hybrid won't launch in the U.S. until the second quarter of 2016--likely as a 2017 model.
That's almost a year after the rest of the revised lineup, which is expected to arrive in dealers this June.
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