Mitsubishi details 342kW ASX VR-e

MITSUBISHI Motors Australia has released further details of its incoming ASX VR-e battery-electric small SUV ahead of the model’s local showroom arrival late this year, confirming a four-grade line-up topped by a 342kW dual-motor GSR capable of reaching 100km/h in 3.9 seconds.

The Taiwanese-built ASX VR-e will mark Mitsubishi’s return to the Australian battery-electric vehicle market for the first time since the pioneering i-MiEV, and will be offered in familiar LS, Aspire, Exceed and GSR grades.

As previously reported by GoAuto, the model has been developed in partnership with Foxtron Vehicle Technologies – the electric vehicle arm of electronics giant Foxconn – and will be manufactured in Taiwan by Yulon Motor.

It forms part of Mitsubishi’s Momentum 2030 strategy and is based on the same architecture as the Foxtron Bria production model.

Three rear-wheel-drive variants – LS, Aspire, and Exceed – will use a single electric motor producing 171kW and 350Nm, fed by a 57.7kWh lithium iron phosphate battery.

Mitsubishi says those variants will accelerate from 0-100km/h in 6.8 seconds.

The flagship GSR adds a second electric motor at the front axle, lifting combined outputs to 342kW and 700Nm and slashing the 0-100km/h time to 3.9 seconds.

That makes the ASX VR-e GSR the quickest-accelerating Mitsubishi officially sold in Australia, eclipsing even the brand’s better-known turbocharged performance models of years past.

Drive modes include Eco, Comfort and Sport, with steering assistance separately adjustable through light, standard and heavy settings.

In GSR guise, Sport mode also alters the torque distribution from a nominal 50:50 split to a more rear-biased 30:70 arrangement, reverting as required under full-throttle acceleration.

All variants support CCS2 DC fast charging at up to 134kW, while Type 2 AC charging is capped at 6.6kW.

The closely related Foxtron Bria was previously quoted with a sub-30-minute 10-80 per cent DC charging time, although Mitsubishi has yet to confirm an equivalent figure or Australian driving range for the ASX VR-e.

Vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability is standard across the range via the external Type 2 charging port.

The new model measures 4315mm long, 1885mm wide and 1535mm high, riding on a 2800mm wheelbase.

Its body was styled by Pininfarina and incorporates a number of aerodynamic features, including an ‘S-Duct’ that channels air from a lower bumper opening across the upper frontal surface, as well as air curtains, active grille shutters, flush-fitting door handles and aero-optimised alloy wheels.

The same architecture was previously reported by this masthead as offering a drag coefficient of 0.26 in Foxtron guise.

Inside, the ASX VR-e departs significantly from the petrol ASX currently sold in Australia, with a 15.6-inch central touchscreen and 9.2-inch digital instrument display standard across the range.

The central display controls a large proportion of vehicle functions, although Mitsubishi has retained physical switches for commonly used functions including climate control, hazard lights, and front and rear demisters.

A configurable favourites button is also included, while the system supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, natural-language climate commands, and over-the-air (OTA) software updates.

Connected Car Services will be available from launch.

The entry-level LS rides on 18-inch alloy wheels and includes five-stage regenerative braking – including a full one-pedal setting – cloth trim, dual-zone climate control, six-speaker audio, proximity locking, LED exterior lighting, and a driver monitoring system.

Aspire builds on that equipment with electrically operated flush door handles, artificial leather trim, powered and heated/ventilated front seats, driver’s seat memory, 64-colour ambient lighting, a front storage compartment, adaptive driving beam headlights, additional parking sensors, surround-view cameras and autonomous parking.

Exceed adds 20-inch two-tone alloy wheels, a panoramic glass roof, hands-free powered tailgate and 12-speaker SEAS audio system.

The flagship GSR adds the dual-motor all-wheel-drive system, artificial leather and microsuede upholstery with blue stitching and a two-tone exterior treatment with black roof.

Mitsubishi will offer six listed exterior colours – Stealth Black, Solstice Red, Pacific Blue, Magnetic Grey, Polar White and Sage Green – with the GSR available in a selection of black-roof combinations.

Safety equipment includes adaptive cruise control with lane following control, autonomous emergency braking, forward collision warning, blind-spot detection, lane-keeping assistance, rear cross-traffic alert, traffic sign recognition and traffic jam assist.

Aspire and above also receive adaptive driving beams, surround-view monitoring and remote straight-line parking assistance.

The ASX VR-e arrives at a time when Mitsubishi is increasingly leaning on external partners to accelerate its electrification program.

GoAuto reported in June that Mitsubishi had shelved near-term development of its own dedicated next-generation BEVs in favour of partnerships with companies including Nissan and Foxconn, with company president Takao Kato saying collaboration provided a more pragmatic path while global EV demand remained unsettled.

MMAL chief executive officer Shunichi Kihara said the ASX VR-e would broaden the company’s powertrain offering locally.

“The ASX VR-e is part of our commitment to deliver customers a range of powertrains to meet ever-growing mobility requirements across Australia,” he said.

“It is a return to the BEV segment for Mitsubishi Motors, who pioneered with the i-MiEV over 15 years ago, and is thoroughly modern.

“ASX VR-e combines unique Pininfarina styling with seamless BEV performance and zero-emissions driving.”

The drive battery is covered for eight years or 160,000km against material and manufacturing defects, with Mitsubishi’s Battery Capacity Care Program guaranteeing at least 70 per cent usable capacity over that period.

The vehicle itself will also be covered by Mitsubishi’s 10/10/10 Diamond Advantage program, comprising a conditional 10-year/200,000km new-car warranty, 10 years of capped-price servicing and 10 years of roadside assistance.

Pricing, driving range, and final Australian specification details are expected closer to the ASX VR-e’s late-2026 showroom arrival.