Mitsubishi ASX VR-e BEV here Q4

MITSUBISHI will return to the Australian battery-electric vehicle market in the fourth quarter of 2026 with the ASX VR-e, a Taiwanese-built compact SUV developed in partnership with Foxtron and offered locally in four model grades.

The ASX VR-e will become Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited’s (MMAL) first battery-electric model since the pioneering i-MiEV and will arrive in LS, Aspire, Exceed, and GSR variants.

Developed by Foxtron Vehicle Technologies – the electric vehicle subsidiary of Taiwanese electronics giant Foxconn – and manufactured in Taiwan by Yulon Motor, the ASX VR-e forms part of Mitsubishi’s Momentum 2030 product strategy for Australia.

The vehicle is based on the architecture underpinning the Foxtron Bria, itself the production evolution of the Foxtron Model B concept, but will feature Mitsubishi-specific front and rear styling, wheels, and interior trim.

It continues the long-running ASX nameplate, standing for Active Sports Crossover, while the VR-e designation draws inspiration from Mitsubishi’s performance heritage and, specifically, the Galant VR-4 sports sedan.

Mitsubishi says the connection is intended to reflect the new model’s performance and handling characteristics, with the ASX VR-e undergoing local testing and tuning involving Mitsubishi global and regional engineering teams.

Underneath, the ASX VR-e uses a Pininfarina-designed platform incorporating aerodynamic features including an S-Duct that channels air from the centre of the front bumper over the bonnet, as well as active grille shutters that adjust according to driving conditions to reduce drag.

While Australian powertrain, battery, driving range, and charging specifications have yet to be announced, the closely related Foxtron Bria provides an indication of the hardware available from the architecture.

In rear-wheel-drive specification, the Bria uses a 57.7kWh lithium iron phosphate battery and 171kW electric motor, with Foxtron claiming a 516km NEDC driving range and 0-100km/h acceleration in 6.8 seconds.

It supports DC charging at up to 134kW, with a claimed 10-80 per cent charging time of less than 30 minutes, while AC charging is rated at up to 7.0kW.

A higher-performance all-wheel drive Bria is also offered overseas, with a claimed 0-100km/h time of 3.9 seconds, though MMAL has not confirmed whether this powertrain will be offered in the ASX VR-e GSR or elsewhere in the Australian range.

The Bria measures 4315mm long, 1885mm wide, and 1535mm high and rides on independent MacPherson-strut front and five-link rear suspension. Foxtron quotes a drag coefficient of 0.26 for the model.

Inside, the Foxtron model features a 9.2-inch digital instrument display and 15.6-inch central touchscreen operating through a software-defined architecture capable of over-the-air (OTA) updates.

Again, final Australian specifications for the Mitsubishi derivative are yet to be detailed.

MMAL chief executive officer Shunichi Kihara said the arrival of the ASX VR-e represented an important step in Mitsubishi’s Australian electrification strategy.

“ASX VR-e marks a significant milestone in our refreshed Mitsubishi range as the first BEV since the i-MiEV – Australia’s first mass-produced electric vehicle,” he said.

“The new Mitsubishi ASX VR-e continues this path of innovation with an immersive infotainment system, bold design and excellent electric driving performance.

“It joins an evolving multi-powertrain vehicle lineup designed and tuned with Australian lifestyles in mind as part of our Momentum 2030 plan – which will see the electrification of new models in the years to come.”

The ASX VR-e also represents a significant change in direction for one of Mitsubishi Australia’s most familiar nameplates.

Previous generations of the ASX have been conventional internal-combustion compact SUVs, with the nameplate becoming an important volume contributor for Mitsubishi over its lengthy Australian tenure.

The incoming VR-e instead places the ASX badge on a dedicated battery-electric product sourced outside Mitsubishi’s traditional Japanese production network and developed through its collaboration with Foxtron.

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation announced its agreement with Foxtron in May 2025, confirming the Foxtron-developed and Yulon-manufactured EV would be supplied to Mitsubishi as an OEM model specifically for Australia and New Zealand.

The arrangement gives Mitsubishi relatively rapid access to a contemporary dedicated EV platform as it expands its electrified offering under Momentum 2030.

The ASX VR-e will enter an increasingly crowded Australian electric compact crossover market, facing established and emerging rivals including the BYD Atto 3, Kia EV3, Hyundai Kona Electric, Geely EX5, and Chery E5, among others.

Its four-tier LS, Aspire, Exceed and GSR range also suggests Mitsubishi intends to offer the ASX VR-e across a relatively broad price and specification spread rather than positioning it as a single-variant niche EV.

Pricing and complete Australian specifications for the Mitsubishi ASX VR-e will be announced closer to its fourth-quarter 2026 launch.