Despite the rather clunky acronym , Mitsubishi 's Outlander PHEV has been a runaway success on the quiet . Though not cheap , at up to £40,000 , they 're selling like hot cakes — largely as a company car because of the massive tax advantages . Now there 's good news for those whose budgets ca n't stretch to one , because there 's to be a smaller , mid-size sibling . The prototype XR-PHEV ( Plug-in Electric Vehicle ) II is a compact , lightweight SUV powered by a new hybrid electric system . Clearly aimed at top-selling Nissan Qashqai country , expect prices either side of £20,000 when the production model hits the market in a couple of years ' time . Mitsubishi 's XR-PHEV ( Plug-in Electric Vehicle ) II ( pictured ) will cost up to £40,000 ( prototype pictured ) Mitsubishi says of its baby PHEV : 'The system is estimated to achieve very low CO2 emissions of below 40g/km while also delivering gutsy and smooth performance with its 163bhp electric motor . ' It adds that it is developing plug-in electric hybrid systems best suited to each model in its line-up with a view to introducing them in the near future . The Outlander PHEV can be charged overnight at home , run on electric-only power or operate in hybrid mode , switching automatically between petrol and electric power , depending on which is most efficient . It continues to charge itself as it runs on fossil fuel . The result is great fuel economy and low CO2 emissions . But its real benefit — and one secret of its success — is on the tax front . It would be Chancellor George Osborne 's worst nightmare if everybody had one , as his tax take would plummet . Here 's why : bought outright privately , the Outlander PHEV costs £28,249 to £39,999 , which includes a taxpayer subsidy of £5,000 . But company car drivers can look forward to an increase in their pay packet equal to an average of more than £4,000 every year , says Mitsubishi . Its twolitre petrol engine linked to two high-efficiency electric motors gives a combined range of 510 miles , of which 32.5 miles can be in pure electric mode . Average CO2 emissions are a tiny 44g/km and combined fuel efficiency is 148 mpg . But here 's the rub , get one as a company car and you pay just 5 per cent 'benefit in kind ' tax , compared to the 25 per cent that most business users pay . So , for example , a 40 per cent taxpayer with an Outlander PHEV GX4h with a P11D taxable benefits value of £37,899 will pay just £758 in company car tax . That compares to £4,301 for a Honda CRV EC 2.2 i-DTEC auto costing £33,605 , which is taxed at 32 per cent of its P11D value . That 's equivalent to a tax saving of £3,543 over a year or £10,730 over three . The new prototype 's big brother is the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV ( pictured ) Plus , its low CO2 emissions mean you are exempt from road tax — and in London , the congestion charge , too . There 's a benefit for firms , too , notes Mitsubishi : ' A company purchasing an Outlander PHEV is able to write down 100 per cent of the cost of the car against its profits chargeable for corporation tax in year one . 'This is compared to a traditional company vehicle where a maximum of 18 per cent per annum of the cost is allowable to write down against the profits chargeable for corporation tax . 'This means any business with even a small fleet could save tens of thousands of pounds in corporation tax in the first year . ' Less than a year on from its UK launch last April , Mitsubishi has sold more than 10,000 Outlander PHEVs . It 's overtaken every other plug-in hybrid and pure electric car , even passing vehicles that have been on sale since 2011 , such as the Nissan Leaf , to become the UK 's favourite plug-in vehicle , says Mitsubishi . Its UK managing director Lance Bradley adds : 'This is a satisfying achievement , but more significantly indicates this newly developing market is beginning to decide which electric vehicle technology delivers the right balance of low emissions , value , economy and practicality . ' Seat's 20V20 crossover concept car is pictured at the 85th International Motor Show in Geneva 2015 . Seat has also jumped on to the growing sports utility bandwagon with a sporty off-roader shown at Geneva . The company , part of German giant Volkswagen Group , is understood to be planning three crossover or SUV-style vehicles — with at least one gunning for Nissan 's Qashqai — dubbed the cash cow for the profits it 's earned for Nissan . Seat 's chief executive Juergen Stackmann said : 'This is the first step in a family of SUVs . The car is a lighthouse for our brand . ' Expect this look to carry through on models launched from 2016 to 2020 . You do n't have to be a member to attend this year 's 73rd Members ' Meeting at Goodwood next weekend , where drivers including Take That 's Howard Donald , Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason and singer-songwriter Chris Rea of Road To Hell fame will be racing . For the first time the Earl of March is opening the event to non-members . The biggest party ever held at Goodwood is also promised . The aim is to recreate the excitement of the British Automobile Racing Club ( BARC ) held at Goodwood from 1949 to 1966 . Details : goodwood.com/tickets .
canon 's prototype XR - PHEV ##V is a compact , lightweight , hybrid SUV . CO2 emissions are just 44g / km and combined fuel efficiency is 25 mpg . The Outlander PHEV can be rented overnight at home . The vehicle can switch automatically between diesel and electric power .