Mitsubishi to launch ASX VR-e in Australia and New Zealand
Mitsubishi has revealed a new compact EV called ASX VR-e for Australia and New Zealand. iPhone maker Foxconn's automotive subsidiary, Foxtron, has developed the new EV as part of an agreement with the Japanese brand jointly announced in May 2025.
The ASX VR-e is a rebadged model, but unlike Mitsubishi’s other recent EVs such as the Euro-focused all-new Eclipse Cross or the all-new Eclipse Sportback for North America, it is not based on a Renault or Nissan. Mitsubishi derived it from Foxtron’s first in-house model, the Bria.
While Mitsubishi has not revealed the technical details of the ASX VR-e, one can expect much of that to mirror the Taiwanese EV. The new EV should measure 4.3 metres in length, 1.9 metres in width, and 1.5 metres in height and have a 2.8-metre wheelbase. It may offer 320-1,043 litres of luggage space in the cabin and feature a 52-litre frunk.
Foxtron outsourced the design of its new compact EV to Italian design house Pininfarina, and Mitsubishi has retained that work almost entirely, giving the ASX VR-e a smart and bold exterior. Beyond the obvious changes in branding, the company has replaced the pixel-like turn indicators beside the low- and high-beam lights with new ones comprising four horizontal bars.
On the sides, Mitsubishi has introduced unique designs for the 20-inch wheels and the C-pillar decal. At the rear, the company has replaced the pixel-like pattern in the combination lamps with four horizontal bars. It has also carried over the minimalist interior, distinguishing its version simply with black wood-look garnish on the dashboard and blue stitching in the upholstery.
Mitsubishi plans to offer the ASX VR-e in Australia in LS, Aspire, Exceed, and GSR trims. For New Zealand, it has confirmed a slightly different line-up, comprising LS, XLS, Exceed, and GSR trims. The company may use the same powertrains and battery pack as the Taiwanese model in both markets. It will likely use a rear-mounted motor that develops 171 kW and 350 Nm of torque and a 57.7 kWh LFP battery pack in the regular trims. This setup should allow the car to reach 0 to 100 kph in 6.8 seconds, achieve a top speed of 180 kph, and travel 516 kilometres on a full charge, as per NEDC.
In the high-performance GSR trim, Mitsubishi will likely use a combination of a rear-mounted primary motor and a second motor powering the front wheels when the driving situation demands more power or traction. The two motors should generate 299 kW of total power and 700 Nm of system torque, cutting the 0 to 100 kph acceleration time to 3.9 seconds. The top speed may remain electronically limited to 180 kph, though. The battery pack will likely be the same 57.7 kWh LFP unit, providing an NEDC range of 466 km.
Mitsubishi is unlikely to launch ASX VR-e in Europe or any other regions, at least not in the immediate future. According to the memorandum of understanding it signed with Foxconn last year, it plans to market this car only in the Oceania region. The company will source it from Yulon Motor’s factory in Miaoli, Taiwan.