Articles by Tim Nicholson

After 15 long years, Mitsubishi has finally replaced its impossibly popular ASX small SUV. It’s no longer the cheap model it once was. But is it good enough to be considered against some stiff competition?

The new-generation Mitsubishi ASX is expected to come to market with a four-star ANCAP rating.However, the company’s local executives don’t think this will impact the target buyers of the new Renault Captur-based model.The European-market ASX received a four-star rating from Euro NCAP, matching its donor car’s rating.Mitsubishi is expected to have the vehicle assessed by ANCAP but is anticipating the same four-star rating.With most large fleet buyers mandating five stars for their fleets, it means the new ASX won’t attract that business.But the company is targeting private buyers with the new ASX so it’s not concerned about lost sales, according to Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited Product Strategy Manager for SUV/Electrification, Tim Clarke.“Not such a big deal in private buyer space. Like we said, the key attributes that they want are the items we went through in the presentation. So having the technology is one, but having five star rating didn't show up in our research for a private buyer.”The previous ASX, which was on sale from 2010 and discontinued earlier this year, was awarded a five-star rating back in 2014. That rating expired in 2022.Clarke said because it hasn’t had a rating in three years, fleet buyers have not been the target for ASX for a while now.The ASX has gone up in price considerably with the new-gen model and now starts from $37,740 before on-road costs, which is more than the price of the previous-generation’s flagship grade.While the previous ASX was at various points the best-selling small SUV in the country, the company acknowledges that the new model is unlikely to hit those sales highs.Mitsubishi’s GM Product Strategy & Product PR, Bruce Hampel, said while many in the industry recognise that four stars is still a safe car, communicating that to buyers can be challenging.“I guess this is our first foray into four star right? So I guess a few other OEMs are going through the same journey as it becomes more and more, I guess, costly to deliver five star, it really questions the value that it's offering to the customers, and whether a four-star vehicle, which, as you indicated, is an extremely safe vehicle.“A four star on today's protocol is safer than a five star in the last protocol, as you know. But trying to educate the general consumer that that's the case is challenging. Whether it really influences their purchase decision or not I guess is a debate.”Hampel highlighted customer feedback about the intrusive nature of some advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and what Mitsubishi is doing to help that.“What we are seeing a lot of rhetoric now, though, is looking at all the safety features that are available to the customer, and a lot of them are reacting in terms of, this is overly complicated, and we want to be able to just turn things off simply.“We're trying to work on ways to allow customers to customise their use of the ADAS features as well.”Interestingly, the new ASX does not come with a driver monitoring system. Mitsubishi has been criticised for this system in the Triton ute as it’s overly sensitive and, ironically, distracting. The brand issued an update to address the issues earlier this year but the system still intervenes at odd times.“Those type of ANCAP mandated features, I guess, are not being well received at the moment, in the market, and there's lots of pushback to ANCAP to try and moderate… their expectations going forwards.”The ASX won’t be the only four-star ANCAP-rated small SUV in Australia when it hits showrooms. The Hyundai Kona, Honda HR-V, and hybrid versions of the new MG ZS all have the same rating.While the HR-V is not a massive seller, the ZS is currently the best-selling small SUV in Australia and the Kona is second on that list.

It’s been expected for a while, but now it’s official.

Mitsubishi says it's not concerned that it doesn’t have a hybrid option for its new-generation ASX small SUV from launch.After 15 years on sale, Mitsubishi has just replaced the ageing runabout with a new-gen model that is twinned with alliance partner Renault’s Captur.From launch all three grades are powered by the same 113kW/270Nm 1.3-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, without any hybrid assistance.In Europe the new ASX is offered with a mild hybrid and full hybrid powertrain options, as well as the petrol engine.However, Mitsubishi Motors Australia Product Strategy Manager for SUV/Electrification Tim Clarke said hybrid ASX grades are being considered, but they’re not locked in.“So not currently in our product plan. We're looking for a business case to make that a positive,” he said at the recent ASX launch.“At the moment, we've launched a product into the biggest wedge of this mainstream, small SUV . So we'll work with that and continue to improve the product throughout its life cycle.”Data provided by Mitsubishi shows that around 80 per cent of total small SUV sales (sub-$45k segment) last year were for pure petrol models. Hybrids made up just 16 per cent, although that is growing.Other similarly sized small SUVs with hybrid powertrain options include the GWM Haval Jolion, MG ZS, Nissan Qashqai, Honda HR-V, Toyota Corolla Cross, Hyundai Kona and Chery Tiggo 4.The new-gen ASX consumes 6.4 litres per 100 kilometres of 91 RON petrol on the combined cycle. The full hybrid in Europe brings that figure down to between 4.7 and 4.9L, a big fuel saving.Hampel said stock of the outgoing ASX had all but dried up but added there may be some dealer stock left across the country.He added that the new ASX has not undergone an Australian tuning program to tailor it to local road conditions.“The vehicle was developed in conjunction with Mitsubishi Motors of Europe (MME). So it was predominantly done and designed between MME and Renault Europe, tuned more for the European conditions."When we evaluated the vehicle down here in Australia, we felt it was actually quite suitable for the Australian conditions as well, so we didn't request any changes.”

Polestar’s flagship two-door sports car will still go into production, but its launch has been delayed as the company prioritises higher volume models.The Polestar 6 will be a production version of the two-door electric roadster concept revealed back in 2022. It’s yet to be seen in production guise and now it sounds like the world might not get a glimpse for at least a couple more years.Polestar CEO Michael Lohscheller told Australian journalists the Chinese-owned Swedish EV brand is focussing on the Polestar 7 medium SUV ahead of anything else in its portfolio, given how big the segment is.“The 6 absolutely comes later, because after the 5, we need to do the 7 in terms of the volume. I want to make Polestar broader, more accessible for people, right, also in terms of price point. And then once we have successfully done this, we will look again at the Polestar 6,” he said.Slotting into the line-up under the freshly revealed Polestar 5 four-door grand coupe, the Polestar 6 will eventually compete with the likes of the upcoming next-generation electric Porsche 718 and the MG Cyberster.The Polestar 7, meanwhile, is yet to be seen, but it will tackle electric mid-size SUVs like the BMW iX3, Audi Q4 e-tron, Zeekr 7X and Tesla Model Y.Lohscheller denied the suggestion the company would need to improve its financial situation before launching a niche model like the Polestar 6.“No, it is a priority, and we will do it, but the sequence matters, right? You can't do everything at the same time. A small company like ours, need to set clear priorities, and that's what leadership is all about. And that's my role, to give guidance and leadership.”He said the main priorities for Polestar include a shift from online car sales to an ‘active selling model’ and expanding its global retail network by 75 per cent before the end of 2026, followed by entering a volume segment.“Second, I go into the volume segments, that's why the Polestar 7 has to come as quickly as possible, right? And that's the priority compared to a Polestar 6. And once we have then gone through this, then we will do the Polestar 6. And of course, everybody loves the Polestar 6. No question. Everybody wants to have it. But we need to walk before we run here.”The production version of the Polestar 6 hardtop convertible will use Polestar’s bespoke bonded aluminium platform that features 800-volt electric architecture found in the related Polestar 5.When the concept was revealed in 2022, Polestar said it would be good for performance figures including up to 650kW of power and 900Nm of torque from a dual-motor powertrain, with a 0-100km/h sprint time of 3.2 seconds.The four-door Polestar 5 Performance grade revealed at the start of September pumps out 650kW/1015Nm and Polestar confirmed it achieved the blistering 3.2-second 0-100km/h sprint time.

One of the most important models in Mitsubishi’s long history is drawing closer.

Rumours of Polestar’s demise are premature, according to the company’s global boss.Polestar’s recent financial results included some sobering details, including a billion-dollar loss that had some commentators questioning the long-term viability of the Geely Group-owned marque.But Polestar CEO Michael Lohscheller put a positive spin on the results and said the reason for the massive financial loss was a result of the Chinese-built Polestar 3 no longer being able to be sold in the United States due to tariffs.“The reality is, there was a lot of very good financial news in the H1 results. Why do I say that? First of all, volume was up 51 per cent. Revenue was up 56 per cent. For the first time in the history of Polestar, we achieved a positive operating gross margin. Costs are coming down, and EBITDA losses are also reducing. So all operational indicators show in the right direction and we do the right things,” he explained.“Truth is, we had to impair the Polestar 3 very much driven by the US situation, and that's obviously a one-time impact we had to book. And that's why you get then the headlines like, hey, the losses are big. But I think if you split the story in the two pieces, operational performance is good. We do the right things, and that's the encouraging piece.”Lohscheller said Polestar has put in place some strategies to further protect itself from the Trump Administration's 100 per cent tariff on electric cars made in China, starting with manufacturing for the upcoming Polestar 7 compact SUV.“We will produce this car here in Europe in a Volvo plant in Slovakia, so it's close by. And of course, that makes a tonne of sense, because the majority of our volume is in Europe. Then we don't have to ship the cars around the world. The tariff problem is also then not there. Because you produce locally here in Europe, and then this will make life much easier,” he said.“We also want to go into segments which are bigger, right? So compact SUV segment is quite big, so we do the right things on that side too. And that helps us. At the same time, we have certain flexibility. We use also the Volvo plant in North America. We also use a factory of Renault and Geely in South Korea. And obviously we have the Chinese plant, right? So we have some flexibility, which I think is a very big competitive advantage too.”Sustainability is at the core of Polestar’s brand image and it has talked up transparency with annual public reporting of the sourcing and impacts of its supply chain and manufacturing facilities.Lohscheller said that laser focus on sustainability and transparency did not slow down model development, and in fact, it has resulted in positive outcomes for the company.“No, not at all. I think… it actually makes things easier, because we know that we have to go this way, right? So when we set up new factories, for example, or use factories of our partners, renewable energy is of highest importance. So I think it makes things a little easier, actually. And then the question is, okay, how can you translate that into also economic efficiency? But I think this direction makes it actually easier for us.”

BMW has revealed the look of all of its future models with the iX3, but don’t expect every new BMW to look the same from here out.

Believe it or not, we’re now three quarters of the way through 2025. Where did the year go?

Polestar is set to buck the trend of buttonless minimalist interior design with its next-generation models.