Mitsubishi ASX VR-e: Mitsubishi targets Kona and Atto 3 with the help of iPhone builder and Pininfarina

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Mitsubishi will re-enter the Australian EV market later this year after a 14-year absence, with the ASX VR-e.

Much like the existing ASX, which is a rebadged Renault Captur, the ASX VR-e is a reskin of an existing car. Underneath the Mitsubishi badges is a Foxtron Bria.

While Foxtron is not widely known in the automotive industry, you’re likely reading this article on one of its products. Foxtron is a part of Foxconn, the Taiwanese contract manufacturing giant that assembles, among other consumer electronics, the majority of Apple products.

Australia will receive four variants: the LS, Aspire, Exceed and GSR. Mitsubishi Australia told Chasing Cars that specifications of the four variants would be revealed closer to launch.

Also TBA is pricing. The Renault-derived petrol ASX starts at $37,740 before on-roads. If Mitsubishi mimics rivals by pricing the electric ASX somewhat above the petrol one, it would be in line with the Hyundai Kona (from $46,000 before on-roads for electric variants) or BYD Atto 3 ($39,990 before on-roads).

How much range does the ASX VR-e have?

In the ASX VR-e’s native Taiwan, two powertrains are offered, both with a 57.7kWh lithium-iron-phosphate battery – either a rear-wheel-drive 171kW version or an all-wheel-drive 299kW version. Range claims of 516km (RWD) and 466km (AWD) should be taken with a grain of salt, as both are taken from the lenient NEDC cycle.

A DC charging peak of 134kW is claimed across the range in Taiwan, theoretically enabling 10-to-80 percent charging in under half an hour.

At 4315mm long, 1885mm wide and 1535mm high, the ASX VR-e is sized similarly to the petrol ASX, which is 77mm shorter, 88mm narrower and 40mm taller.

What does Mitsubishi’s EV include inside?

Inside, the eye is drawn to the 15.6-inch central touchscreen. Below it, however, is a row of physical buttons for the air conditioning. The sight of more buttons on the steering wheel and doors raises hopes the Mitsubishi ASX VR-e will be easier to use than many other new EVs.

Foxtron/Mitsubishi quotes a 320L boot size (1043L with the back seats folded). A 52L front boot isn’t standard in Taiwan, so whether Australian ASX VR-es will have a ‘froot’ is undetermined.

Mitsubishi and Foxtron developed the ASX VR-e specifically with the Australian and New Zealand markets in mind; it’s coming down under and across the ditch before any other markets.

Mitsubishi claims the ASX VR-e’s ride and handling is tuned for Australian conditions, which Chasing Cars will assess when we get behind the wheel for our in-depth review. 

The name VR-e is a nod to Mitsubishi’s 1990s performance flagship, the Galant VR-4, and also to the VR-X variants of Mitsubishis past, such as the 380.

Foxtron collaborated with renowned Italian industrial design firm Pininfarina to develop the ASX VR-e. The exterior hides some clever drag reduction; a duct under the front lights guides air over the hood and roof, and the grill closes when air supply isn’t needed.