2024 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV GSR: New performance flagship coming?

Information from the Department of Infrastructure’s publicly available list of approved vehicles reveals that Mitsubishi has applied for, and been granted permission to use, the GSR badge on its Outlander PHEV SUV.

The update appeared on the Road Vehicle Regulator database on 20 July, adding GSR to the existing ES, Aspire and Exceed variants that were approved in July 2021.

No specific changes have been listed in the database that contains information about suspension, wheel/tyre, and sizing compliance, so potential GSR features discussed here are speculative.

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Could Mitsubishi's GSR badge make a return to the Outlander's tailgate?

And while a Mitsubishi Motors Australia spokesperson noted that “it’s standard practice to register, apply and withdraw brand identifiers”, and that this “doesn’t always translate to a new product”, it does make sense for Mitsubishi’s most powerful vehicle to get a sporty variant.

After all, the third-gen Outlander PHEV was sold in GSR trim. That added Bilstein monotube front dampers with ball-bearing top mounts and increased spring rates all around, as well as bringing a sporty suede-cloth interior treatment with red stitching and black exterior badging.

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Physically larger in fourth-gen guise, the Outlander PHEV develops 185kW and 450Nm, enough for an 8.2 second 0-100km/h sprint and mid-range punch that justifies some more body control that Bilstein dampers would bring.

We also know Mitsubishi is planning a performance comeback. Though we understand vehicles wearing Ralliart badging will be fairly well worked over – with engineers discussing a potential tri-motor Outlander Ralliart with over 285kW, torque-vectoring AWD and sophisticated suspension changes – this could be known as the GSR in Oz.

The third option is a simple trim level as GSR means for the Triton ute and Pajero Sport SUV. The Outlander GSR could be a blacked-out version of Exceed with a gloss grille, 18-inch alloy wheels, and sporty cabin treatment. Our best guess is the first option, though, with Bilstein dampers and a light performance work-over.

The Japanese-built Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is a hybrid medium SUV priced between $55,490-$69,990 before on-road costs. A rival for the Toyota RAV4, Nissan X-Trail, Haval H6, the Outlander is popular in Australia notching up 11,324 deliveries this year for an 11.4 per cent slice of the medium SUV segment.