Mitsubishi is to unveil the 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander for the first time in North America, at the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show.

While the company claims the regular car will be one of the most efficient vehicles in its class, the real gas-sipper will be the plug-in hybrid version, due in early 2014.

The Outlander PHEV will use front- and rear-mounted 60 kW electric motors to supplement its 2.0-liter gasoline engine, as part of its Super All Wheel Control (S-AWC) all-wheel drive system.

It will also allow drivers to select from various driving modes, including full EV mode on the 12 kWh battery pack, parallel hybrid mode, and series hybrid mode.

All-electric range is claimed to be up to 35 miles (albeit on the incredibly optimistic Japanese testing cycles--real range is likely to be nearer 20-25 miles) and says the car will be able to reach speeds of up to 75 mph in EV mode.

In series hybrid mode, the gasoline engine can run independently of the driven wheels, powering a 70 kW on-board generator as it goes along--which in turn provides power for the twin motors. When more power is required, the car can switch to parallel hybrid mode, where the twin electric motors provide assistance for the internal combustion engine.

A charge from a 240V station takes four hours, and an 80 pecent rapid charge takes under 30 minutes.

The regular 2014 Mitsubishi outlander will seat seven, and arrives with a host of safety and technological features.

Mitsubishi has worked hard to reduce vehicle weight, and the new car tips the scales at 200 pounds less than the old model. MIVEC variable valve timing helps to improve performance and efficiency in a re-engineered version of the 2.4-liter, four cylinder engine. A V-6 will also be available.

No pricing has yet been announced--but expect more details on both models to emerge during the show.

You can keep up with the latest from LA on our 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show page.

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