Putting your 'alternative' fuel SUV through the rigours of off-roading to prove its ruggedness seems to be the done thing in the world of automotive at the moment. A fleet of Range Rover Hybrids is currently doing a 16,000-kilometre trek along the old Silk Road as part of the car's final validation process before launch and the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV has just completed the 2,000km Asia Cross Country Rally (AXCR).
Mitsubishi, of course, has past form in the world of off-road racing, what with Dakar and World Rally Championship wins to its name, but never at the helm of a plug-in hybrid. Known as the Asian Dakar the AXCR winds its way between Thailand and Laos over the course of six days with 20 vehicles fighting out for top honours.
The vast majority of entrants are diesel-powered pick-ups that have been modified specifically for the event but save for the regular cross-country racing routine of upgraded shock absorbers and springs, roll cage, under floor protection, exhaust and snorkel duct etc. the pre-production Outlander PHEV was a standard car.
Like the other 20 entrants in the four-wheel category (we assume the Mercedes-Benz G 63 6x6 had a class all to itself) the Outlander had to face mountain roads, muddy jungle and river crossings and (Mitsubishi says) did so without mechanical failure.
Anything else?
Mitsubishi did not just enter the AXCR for fun (though we imagine it was that) but to prove its ability before hitting the market. First European cars will be delivered to the Netherlands and Nordic countries in October with roll out for the rest of Europe beginning from November.