The last time the Mitsubishi Outlander was completely redesigned was back in 2012. It's been updated a few times and the addition of a plug-in hybrid variant is welcome, but the Outlander's age is evident in terms of its design and overall technology. The smaller Outlander Sport and new Eclipse Cross are both strong sellers for the brand but Mitsubishi needs for the Outlander to do better.

Automotive News Europe has some good news: a new Outlander is on its way.

Speaking with Mitsubishi Europe CEO Bernard Loire, the plan is to source a platform from the Renault-Nissan alliance, of which Mitsubishi is the newest member. "In the second half of next year we will have a replacement of the current Outlander. It will be on an alliance platform," Loire said.

In addition, "There also will be another smaller SUV coming at the same time." Which platform could the next-generation Outlander ride on? Word has it will share the same platform as the Nissan Rogue. A hybrid variant is also expected to arrive, sitting alongside the Outlander PHEV model.

Loire did not go into any further details, but it's a fair assumption the next Outlander will continue with the design language inaugurated with the Eclipse Cross. Also, don't mistake the new Outlander for the upcoming production version of the awesome Engelberg Tourer Concept, revealed last March at Geneva. Mitsubishi plans to re-enter the SUV market and this concept is its supposed ticket. The Outlander will continue to be a more family-friendly crossover.

As far as powertrain goes, we previously learned the next Outlander could once again make use of the current model's 2.4-liter engine four-cylinder engine with 166 hp and 162 lb-ft of torque, or the optional 3.0-liter V6 with 224 hp and 215 lb-ft. We don't know whether the Outlander PHEV's 2.0-liter four with two electric motors outputting a combined 190 hp and an all-electric range of 22 miles will be carried over or replaced with a more advanced system.