You’ve gotta feel a touch sorry for the Japanese car makers.
Caught napping in the move to embrace electric vehicles, their reticence has returned to haunt them.
Their forward-thinking Chinese competitors have pulled clear of them and now, with the finishing line in sight — pose an unprecedented threat.
In a bid to catch-up, many have opted to pick up EVs from other sources, proudly or perhaps not so proudly — re-badging these vehicles as their own.
The practice may be questionable, but it is expedient and ultimately a means to an end.
Mitsubishi is the latest case in point.
It has just announced the launch of a fully electric version of its best-selling, compact SUV the ASX which it extols will arrive later in the year.
It represents a huge leap forward for the company as its first fully electric offering since the tiny pioneering i-MiEV from 2010 — one of Australia’s first EVs.
However, the Mitsubishi ASX VR-e is in reality a rebadged version of the Taiwanese-built Foxtron Bria.
Mitsubishi says ASX VR-e represents a new era of electrification for the range in Australia, leveraging the brand’s “strong partnership” with Foxtron Vehicle Technologies — to deliver a sophisticated, tech-driven battery electric vehicle (BEV).
That strong relationship dates back to 2023 when the pair signed a memorandum of understanding in which Foxtron agreed to build and supply Mitsubishi with a new electric model.
Styled by Italian design house Pininfarina, the prototype Model B was unveiled in October, 2022 with the production model making its debut a year later.
Although it carries Mitsu’s highly marketable ASX badge, the car has absolutely no links to that model which by the way is now itself a rebadged Renault.
The ‘VR-e’ designation is apparently a nod to the Galant VR-4, a high performance sedan that pre-dates the lamented Lancer Evolution (Evo).
Mitsubishi argues the ASX VR-e captures the essence of its namesake through sporty performance and responsive handling, based on an extensive local testing and tuning program by Mitsubishi’s global and regional development teams.
Power output is 134kW, it has a 58 kWh battery and a driving range of up to 437km under the WLTP test cycle.
Signature Mitsu styling elements include the front and rear fascias, wheels and interior trim.
The exterior design incorporates key features to achieve optimal aerodynamic efficiency, including a distinctive S-Duct to channel airflow from the centre of the front bumper over the bonnet surface plus active grille shutters to reduce drag.
The all-new ASX VR-e is set to debut in Australia in the last quarter of the year, with four model variants from which to choose: LS, Aspire, Exceed and GSR.
It is expected to be offered either with a single-motor and rear-wheel-drive model or with dual motors and all-wheel-drive.
Mitsubishi’s Shunichi Kihara said the ASX VR-e marks a significant milestone in its refreshed range as the first BEV since the i-MiEV, Australia’s first mass-produced electric vehicle.
“The new Mitsubishi ASX VR-e continues this path of innovation with an immersive infotainment system, bold design and excellent electric driving performance,” he said.
“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.”
Granted the VR-e is a good looking thing, but is it a Mitsubishi? And what about those awful digital exterior mirrors?
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