Skip to main content

Plan your assault on the neighborhood with the Mitsubishi GC-PHEV’s ‘Tactical Table’

What’s this? A new Mitsubishi Montero? Well not quite, it is the Mitsubishi GC-PHEV, a concept car fresh from the floor of the Chicago Auto Show. Yet, if Mitsubishi is to be believed, and we hope it is, this plug-in hybrid lunar rover represents the future of the company’s SUVs.

The center of the story is the GC-PHEV’s plug-in hybrid powertrain. Honestly, Mitsubishi kind of gives that away in the name, which stands for ‘Grand Cruiser Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle.’ Expanding on the XR-PHEV concept that has been making the rounds of auto shows, the GC-PHEV will be powered by a combination of supercharged 3.0-liter V6, producing 335 horsepower, and 70 kW electric motor producing an additional 94 hp.

Mitsubishi claims that this powertrain will be able to operate in EV-only mode for as much as 25 miles, and achieve better than 35 mpg — not bad for a car with more than 400 hp.

This power is distributed to all four wheels via an advanced full-time AWD system. This system is an evolution of Mitsubishi’s existing Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC) technology. On the GC-PHEV, it will feature front and center differentials to split power both front and back, and side to side (at least on the front axles). The GC-PHEV will also feature electronic active yaw control. Mitsubishi was not specific as to just how this works, but it would appear that the electric motor is capable of producing differential torque to each of the front wheels — a neat trick for producing better handling.

As exciting as all of the under the hood technology is, the most striking thing about the car is the styling. Concept cars are supposed to stand out, and by that measure the GC-PHEV certainly succeeds. The Mitsubishi, with its tall profile, angular lines, and futuristic wheels looks like a 1950s conception of something we should be driving on Mars right now. An impression underscored by the fact that its unveiling in Chicago was accompanied by people dancing in Daft Punk costumes.

At least the odd exterior lines aren’t the only futuristic thing about it. The interior features what Mitsubishi calls a “Tactical Table,” this large flat touchscreen runs from the center console all the way back to the second row of seats. The idea being to run apps and programs for the whole family. Apps like Risk, or a map featuring an invasion plan of neighboring garages if the “Tactical Table” moniker is to be believed.

In all seriousness, while there are some polarizing styling choices and silly language associated with the GC-PHEV it does contain some good news for consumers. Mitsubishi has been struggling to stay relevant with an older stable of vehicles, and a concept like GC-PHEV suggests that the company is committed to modernizing and getting ahead of the curve. So while the GC-PHEV is speculative for now, a lot of this good be showing up in the next generation of Montero.

Editors' Recommendations

Peter Braun
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Peter is a freelance contributor to Digital Trends and almost a lawyer. He has loved thinking, writing and talking about cars…
This Graco car seat lasts for ten years, and it’s 25% off for Black Friday
Graco 4EVER 4-in-1 baby car seat black friday deal

A good car seat will adjust as your child grows, reducing the amount of times you have to buy a newer, bigger model. How, you ask? Well, Graco's 4EVER DLX 4-in-1 car seat is the ideal example. It offers up to ten years of use, with seamless transformations between rear-facing harness, forward-facing harness, high back belt positioned, and backless belt positioned booster modes.

For Black Friday -- and really, this should be featured in the best Black Friday deals -- this exact car seat is on sale for 25% off, which is a discount of $82. Normally $330, it's yours today for just $248. Considering you'll never have to buy another seat for ten years, and by then, they can use a seatbelt, it's a fantastic investment.

Read more
There’s a huge Black Friday sale on Thule roof cargo boxes
thule rooftop cargo boxes deals amazon november 2023 box on car

It's almost winter, which means snowy day trips and skiing, and if you pack your whole family inside one vehicle, it can be difficult to get the rest of your critical belongings (such as bikes and kayaks) to your destination. In theory, you could buy a larger car. Many families get a minivan for the explicit purpose of relieving this kind of pressure. But that's pretty extreme when you could simply expand the storage space of your current car. And with Black Friday sales like this one, putting dozens of Thule rooftop cargo boxes on big discounts, now is a good time to consider doing so. We're seeing deals were you could save $100 (or even more) or Thule rooftop cargo boxes and accessories. Just tap the button below to access the curated collection, then keep reading for our take in how to shop the sale.

Why you should shop the Thule rooftop cargo box sale
One of the first things we want you to know before you shop the Thule collection is some features that aren't immediately apparent just by looking at the cargo boxes. For example, you may be highly concerned about driving off and having your belongings (including embarrassing items like underwear) go everywhere because the box flies open. Thule boxes, however, typically snap shut with an audible click. You know your items are secure. Alternatively, items like their

Read more
Honda recalls more than 300,000 vehicles over seat belt safety issue
2015 Honda Accord Sport

Honda has recalled more than 300,000 of its 2023-2024 HR-Vs and Accords over a safety issue, according to a document posted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The issue concerns a missing seat belt part, which means that in the event of a crash, the belt “will not properly restrain the occupant, increasing the risk of injury,” the NHTSA said.

Read more