Mitsubishi ASX VR-e News

Mitsubishi says its new ASX VR-e EV will be aimed more at legacy manufacturers than cheaper Chinese brands, and says it believes buyers will see the value in the brand's legacy and network. That's the word from Tim Clarke, Mitsubishi's Product Strategy Manager, who says the car that is being built in Taiwan in partnership with iPhone manufacturer Foxconn will be banking on his brand's history in Australia to justify what is likely to be a higher price than some rivals. Australian pricing is yet to be confirmed, but for context, the model has been priced in New Zealand, and spans NZ$57,990($47,050) to NZ$72,990($59,220) for the flagship GSR. "We are focused on the value proposition. So what do you get for the money that we think it should be sold for, and making sure that that's competitive amongst the market that it operates in," Clarke says. "And with this product in particular, it doesn't fit well in the small SUV category (in terms of space), even though that's where it will be counted. How do we communicate that, and leverage that, and who will that appeal to? "It's been a really interesting process for us as we've understood the product, as we've learned more about it. "So for the vehicle's content and the overall ownership experience, which we include the 10/10 warranty and the network as well, what's the value of that? "It is a pretty challenging question to put a number on it. But we do that internally and we position it accordingly. And we think versus all the vehicles that you might cross-shop it against in medium SUV, small SUV, passenger – it's a lot of different segments that we arrived at -- the value proposition is where we want it to be." Asked if he believed Australian buyers were willing to pay a premium for legacy and dealership footprint rather than opt for a cheaper newcomer Chinese brand, Mr Clarke replied: "Yeah, definitely. We think it has value for us." The VR-e will launch in Australia this year, and will arrive with four trim levels – LS, Aspire, Exceed and GSR.  All share the same 57.7kWh LFP battery, and all but the GSR get a single, rear-mounted electric motor delivering 171kW and 350Nm. Stepping up to the GSR earns you a second front-mounted motor, which not only ups the grunt to 342kW and 700Nm, but its 3.9-second sprint to 100km/h makes it the fastest production Mitsubishi ever sold in Australia.

Mitsubishi has thrown the covers off its long-awaited electric crossover, dubbed the ASX VR-e. The new ASX, built in Taiwan in partnership with electronics giant Foxconn, will continue to be sold alongside the French-built and Renault Captur-based combustion ASX which launched locally late in 2025. The new model’s VR-e name is a reference to the Galant VR-4 from Mitsubishi’s past, said to be earned through the new car’s “sporty performance and responsive handling.” The brand said that it has undergone extensive local testing and tuning by both global and regional teams. Mitsubishi didn’t confirm any technical details on the car at this time, other than it will arrive in four familiar variants, LS, Aspire, Exceed, and GSR. However, specifications for the Foxtron Bria on which it is based can give us an idea of what to expect. Overseas this car is equipped with a single 57.7kWh LFP battery option in either rear- or all-wheel drive layouts. The RWD versions produce 171kW, while the AWD version produces 299kW. The latter can sprint from 0-100km/h in just 3.9 seconds according to Foxtron. Range is 516km for RWD variants or 466km for the AWD variant although this is to the more lenient NEDC measuring standard. All cars can charge at a max rate of 134kW on DC for a roughly 30 minute 10-to-80 per cent charge. On the styling front the car shares largely the same key elements as the Foxtron Bria, but has unique lighting signatures as well as Mitsubishi badgework and wheel designs. Inside is also said to feature unique Mitsubishi touches, while featuring a large central touchscreen and small digital instrument cluster, alongside a floating centre console and other contemporary design motifs. The ASX VR-e will be added to the brand’s local line-up in the fourth quarter of 2026. Expect more detailed local pricing and specifications closer to its launch window. The new EV, Mitsubishi’s first pure electric model since the experimental i-MiEV city car which launched in 2010, will be crucial for the brand in helping it keep on top of potential penalties under Australia’s new vehicle efficiency laws. Its line-up continues to be heavily combustion-weighted, currently consisting largely of the Triton ute and Outlander mid-size SUV. The highly anticipated return of the Pajero nameplate, slated to arrive at a similar time to the ASX VR-e, is expected to be diesel powered at launch although recent news that the company is investing in upgrades for the Thai plant at which it is built suggests electrification may be on the way.