Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) revealed in advance of the 2026 edition of the SEMA Show (November 3-6) its return to Las Vegas, Nevada, for the first time since 2012 – they’re coming to celebrate the release of the all-new 2028 Mitsubishi Outlander Diamond Trail Edition.
The Japanese automaker’s US subsidiary is a pale shadow of a shadow of its former self: earlier this month they reported a total of just 18,543 deliveries for the third quarter of 2026, and since then the only novelty has been the reveal of the pricing details for the Nissan Leaf-based 2027 Mitsubishi Eclipse Sportback, which starts at an MSRP of almost $38k, which is much higher than its corporate sibling.
Anyway, now Mitsubishi wants to steal the spotlight of the 2026 SEMA Show in advance, announcing the world debut of the 2028 Outlander Diamond Trail Edition, a rugged, off-road-focused model designed to compete with the likes of the 2026 Toyota RAV4 Woodland and Subaru Forester Wilderness or Honda CR-V TrailSport and Ford Bronco Sport Badlands, among others.
It will mark the return of Mitsubishi to the SEMA Show as it will be the brand’s first appearance at the premier automotive aftermarket event since 2012. The Mitsubishi Motors exhibit will be located at Booth 52249 in West Hall, and the headline will be the all-new 2028 Outlander Diamond Trail Edition, dubbed as “the most capable and adventure-focused Outlander ever offered in North America.”
Mitsubishi aims to “expand its presence among adventure-minded customers and automotive enthusiasts” as part of the new Momentum 2030 business plan. Based on the strategy, six vehicles will be showcased at the event, from the factory-built adventure model to extreme customization concept builds “inspired by the brand’s off-road heritage.”
After the recent global debut of the reborn Pajero, Mitsubishi aims to bring a new level of “ruggedness and confidence to North America’s best-selling Mitsubishi nameplate” with the 2028 Outlander Diamond Trail Edition. It will spearhead new off-road-capable vehicles, complete with “off-road-focused bodywork, all-terrain tires, revised approach and departure angles, and a new Rock drive mode to create the most capable Outlander ever offered.”
More precisely, the new Rock mode has upgraded brake control to rein in wheel-slip and help secure traction. It’s faster than in other modes of the S-AWC all-wheel drive system, and the driver also gets a new screen setting in the digital instrument cluster to showcase front-wheel steering angle, individual wheel-slip, and traction-control intervention. The Multi-View Camera System can stay on at up to 18.6 mph or 30 kph, and when the Rock Mode is selected, Hill Descent Control is automatically activated as well – adjustable “for the speed at which it holds the vehicle.”
The Outlander Diamond Trail Edition also gets a matte black grille, black Dynamic Shield trim, black finish headlights, and redesigned front and rear bumpers to improve the approach and departure angles from 18.3 to 20.5 degrees and from 22.2 to 23.1 degrees. There are also new over-fenders, unique 18-inch black alloy wheels, dedicated Nexen Roadian ATX all-terrain tires, as well as raised roof rails.
Inside, the Diamond Trail Edition gets a unique water-repelling dark grey material with khaki stitching, plus textured matte black, dark chrome and dark satin trim elements. The new Diamond Trail Edition logo – “intended to be representative of skilled athletes on a downhill course, and playing on the motif of the brand’s Three Diamonds” – is applied to the seat backs, floor mats, and the door trim. Also, the Outlander Diamond Trail Edition comes with an all-new color: Trail Green Metallic.