Mitsubishi is investing heavily in the plug-in hybrid craze with reports coming out that their 2009 Tokyo Motor Show concept Outlander Sport plug-in hybrid will make its way to North American markets by 2013. The hybrid crossover is being promoted by Mitsubishi as being environmental with on-road performance thanks to its electric powertrain combined with a 1.6L gasoline four-cylinder.

If the Outlander Sport plug-in hybrid does arrive in the United States by 2013, it’ll be Mitsubishi’s second electric offering with the 2012 i-MiEV hatchback already on sale.

Mitsubishi doesn’t plan on stopping the EV rollout then either, with plans for eight total electric/hybrid vehicles to launch globally before 2015.

[Source: Ward's Auto]

Click here to read AutoGuide’s 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport Review

As promised, Mistubishi pulled back the cover on the Outlander GT Prototype at the New York Auto Show, a concept car that will influence the next generation Outlander “compact” SUV.

Prior to the show, Mitsu teased us with blurry images of the new vehicle and now we can see more clearly what we saw then – an EVO-inspired front end.

The production model is expected to look quite close to this concept and will feature a more powerful 236hp 3.0-liter V6 engine. An Idle Neutral Logic system will work with the V6, shifting the transmission into Neutral when the vehicle comes to a stop to help preserve fuel. The car will also feature Mitsu’s world-famous Super-All-Wheel-Control System.

Other highlights include a 710 watt audio system and a 40 gig hard drive with a navigation system.

GALLERY: Mitsubishi Outlander GT Prototype

The next generation Mitsubisi Outlander is due out soon and you can be sure it will look a lot like the Outlander GT Prototype that the Japanese automaker will debut at the New York Auto Show next week.

Mitsubishi has just released three teaser images of the crossover concept and while it doesn’t give the whole picture, it might as well. The “jet fighter” front end is taken directly from the Lancer Evolution and gives the crossover an aggressive style far ahead of other SUVs in its class.

The Outlander GT Prototype will showcase several new technologies that are expected to make it into the production version. An Idle Neutral Logic system is one of these advances, working to shift the transmission into Neutral when the vehicle comes to a stop to help preserve fuel. The car will also feature a Super-All-Wheel-Control System as well as a more powerful 3.0-liter SOHC MIVEC V6 powerplant.

We’ll be sure to bring you more info with live coverage from the New York Auto Show beginning April 8th. The Outlander GT Prototype will debut April 9th.

GALLERY: Mitsubishi Outlander GT Prototype