Mitsubishi Motors->ke58 may actually be having an American comeback. Well, sort of. The Automaker released this poster entitled “The Return Of A Legend” as a teaser for this shadowy SUV’s->ke145 debut at the 2015 Chicago Auto Show->ke225 on February 12. When considering “legendary” SUV nameplates in the Mitsubishi book of past products, it’s easy to immediately hone in on the Montero.

Remembered for its body-on-frame construction (for the first two generations, at least) and rugged four-wheel-drive capabilities, the Montero lasted three generations in the U.S., dating from 1982 through 2006. The SUV did live under other names elsewhere in the world, most notably the Pajero and Shogun.

It’s highly suspected Mitsu will debut a revamped or near production-ready version of its GC-PHEV concept. The highly stylized SUV first saw daylight at the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show->ke1834 where it showed crowds Mitsubishi was focused on offering more “green” vehicles. As its name suggests, the concept was a plug-in hybrid->ke147 with a 3.0-liter supercharged V-6 backed by an eight-speed automatic and supplemented by a 94-horsepower electric motor and high-capacity battery. Despite that supercharged V-6 making 335 horsepower, the GC-PHEV aimed to achieve roughly 35 mpg highway. Its all-electric range was a hair over 25 miles on a single charge.

Whatever Mitsubishi brings to Chicago, we suspect it will eventually make it into production, as the Japanese automaker doesn’t have the funds to invest into concept vehicles that don’t go anywhere. Let’s just hope this “legendary” vehicle is more hit than miss.

Click past the jump to learn more about what this "legend" could be.

Why it matters

Mitsubishi’s U.S. product lineup is on the wrong side of stale, with only six products to speak of and one of them headed for the chopping block at the end of 2015. Crossover wise, the automaker only has the Outlander and the smaller Outlander Sport. Both offer limited capabilities as a true SUV, though the larger Outlander does have room for seven.

Adding a more masculine SUV would likely do wonders for the brand, especially if it could achieve nearly 35 mpg while still offering a more rugged attitude. Adding the whole hybrid aspect would attract even more attention form those seeking the “green” lifestyle.