Mitsubishi will judge ASX VR-e's success before deciding on more Foxtron EVs

One model, one test case

Mitsubishi will use the ASX VR-e's Australian launch to judge its collaboration with Taiwanese manufacturer Foxtron before considering any further vehicles, with no additional models or expansion timetable confirmed. At the VR-e's first local preview, Mitsubishi Australia chief executive Shunichi Kihara told media, including CarExpert: "At this moment, our project scope is basically VR-e; that's the agreement we have." He said the focus is on the VR-e's success in the short term, with nothing further discussed beyond that. ¹³

Tim Clarke, Mitsubishi Australia's ASX VR-e product strategy manager, told CarExpert that Mitsubishi Motors Corporation in Japan is watching the local reception closely. "MMC is obviously watching us very closely to see how this product is received by the Australian market, and if it is a success, then that leads to further discussions," he said, adding that Foxtron would be "very eager" for more conversations if the product succeeds. ³

The VR-e is a rebadged version of the Foxtron Bria, one of Foxtron's first passenger vehicles. Foxtron has since revealed others, including the larger Cavira SUV, but CarExpert reports Mitsubishi says it is firmly focused on the VR-e for now. The Bria connection is also confirmed in GoAuto's reporting, which describes the model as closely related to the Foxtron Bria and built in Taiwan. ³⁵

Ground News, aggregating reporting including 7NEWS Australia and PerthNow, characterises the launch the same way: Mitsubishi's newest collaborative vehicle is weeks from market but the brand is waiting to see how it performs before committing to more. ¹

Why Foxtron, and what Mitsubishi changed

Mitsubishi Motors formally announced the ASX VR-e on 17 August 2026 as a battery electric small SUV for the Australian and New Zealand markets, supplied on an OEM basis by Foxtron Vehicle Technologies, a subsidiary of Hon Hai Precision Industry (Foxconn). The company said engineers extensively tested the vehicle on local roads and implemented dedicated suspension tuning for responsive handling and road-holding. ²

Kihara told media, including CarExpert, that although MMC holds the Alliance partnership with Nissan and Renault, its position is open to collaborating with other companies where appropriate. He said Foxtron was selected for the Australia and New Zealand battery EV project based on evaluation results, and that Mitsubishi Australia was satisfied with the collaborative work. ⁷

Clarke told CarExpert that MMC saw similarities between the Foxtron platform and the 'Mitsubishi Motors-ness' it wants from its products, and that Foxtron wanted export markets while Mitsubishi wanted a brand-fitting product it could access quickly. Mitsubishi Australia guided development for Australian requirements, exposing Foxtron to local conditions and roads, with changes made to steering calibration and ride and handling, and safety calibration work still under way at the time of the preview. ⁷

Because the VR-e is a software-defined vehicle, Clarke said Foxtron can push out over-the-air updates quickly, even individual lines of code in operational systems — a capability he described as different from Mitsubishi's usual model-year improvement cycles. He added Mitsubishi is learning from the vehicle's electrical architecture and software-defined nature, which he expects to reflect the future for most transport. ⁷

Foxtron itself was launched in 2020 as a joint venture between iPhone maker Foxconn and Taiwanese carmaker Yulon, focused primarily on producing electric cars and buses, CarExpert reports. Mitsubishi Australia already rebadges the Renault Captur as the non-electric ASX under its Alliance relationship with Nissan and Renault. ³

Specifications: two powertrains, one battery

Mitsubishi Australia has so far confirmed only preliminary specifications, with pricing expected in the coming weeks. The range comprises LS, Aspire, Exceed and GSR grades across two powertrains. The LS, Aspire and Exceed are exclusively single-motor rear-wheel drive with 171kW and 350Nm and a claimed 0-100km/h time of 6.8 seconds. All variants use a 57.7kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery, with a claimed WLTP range of up to 403km in rear-drive form. ³

The flagship GSR adds a front motor for dual-motor all-wheel drive with claimed outputs of 342kW and 700Nm and a claimed 0-100km/h time of 3.9 seconds, which CarExpert notes would make it the fastest-accelerating Mitsubishi ever sold in Australia. Its claimed WLTP range drops to 328km. GoAuto's separate report adds the GSR offers selectable drive modes and variable torque distribution, with its Sport setting providing a rear-biased 30:70 torque split under normal operation. ³⁸

Per-variant claimed WLTP range figures, reported by CarExpert, are 403km for the LS, 398km for the Aspire and 380km for the Exceed, alongside the GSR's 328km. All figures are manufacturer claims measured on the WLTP cycle, and pricing and final local specifications are yet to be confirmed. ⁴

The cabin centres on a 15.6-inch touchscreen incorporating vehicle settings, energy management, climate control, smartphone mirroring and audio, with connected services standard. Physical controls are limited: a handful of buttons below the screen on the steering wheel, a column stalk gear selector on the right-hand side, and a slim 9.2-inch instrument cluster. CarExpert, via PerthNow, describes this as a stark departure from most in-house Mitsubishis. ⁶

Range positioning and the competitive set

Clarke defended the range figures in comments to media reported by CarExpert: "From the battery capacity perspective, you look at vehicles in the same segment with a similar battery capacity; they're getting the same range claimed on the WLTP cycle... In that regard, it's not behind or in front; it kind of is where it is for that battery size." ⁴

CarExpert's own comparison shows most named rivals offer greater range. The Kia EV3 Air Standard Range (front-wheel drive) pairs a 58.3kWh battery with 436km WLTP, 33km more than the longest-travelling VR-e variant; the BYD Atto 3 Evo (rear-drive) offers 510km from 74.9kWh, and the all-wheel-drive Zeekr X 415km from 64kWh. The MG 4 EV XPower produces 300kW with a 64.0kWh battery and 405km claim. These rivals have different battery capacities and configurations, so the comparison reflects differing package choices rather than a single like-for-like metric. ⁴

Clarke said Mitsubishi considers the range acceptable for Australian urban commuting, noting research suggesting range concerns diminish once buyers adopt a BEV and shift to regular home top-up charging, with range mattering mainly for long interstate journeys. He also said larger-battery options were not currently available from Foxtron for the VR-e, and that Mitsubishi expects the model to appeal to small families as a second car and the retiree segment. ⁴

On the performance flagship, Clarke told GoAuto that buyer behaviour in the EV segment is fairly even across price bands, with higher-performance and higher-spec variants selling well against their lower grades. GoAuto's analysis notes the GSR is a substantially different proposition from the turbocharged Lancer Evolution sedans of the past, but Mitsubishi hopes its acceleration and all-wheel drive credentials will reconnect with enthusiasts familiar with the GSR and Evolution heritage. ⁸

Pricing, ownership proposition and launch timing

Australian pricing has not been confirmed. CarExpert reports the VR-e is expected to be priced among its named competitors, none of which sit below $47,000 before on-road costs except the BYD Atto 3 Evo at $46,990 plus ORCs, while noting cheaper entry points exist for the MG 4 EV from $39,990 drive-away and the Atto 3 Evo FWD from $41,990 before on-road costs. Kihara has said the VR-e "won't be the cheapest option in the market". In New Zealand, Mitsubishi has announced the VR-e will start at NZ$57,990 before on-road costs. ⁴⁷

GoAuto reports Clarke framed value more broadly than price and specification alone, pointing to Mitsubishi's established Australian dealer and service network and its conditional 10-year warranty program as factors for buyers weighing the brand against newer EV entrants. He acknowledged the challenge of comparing against "so many new entrants to the market that we don't know much about". ⁵

The ASX VR-e is on track to reach Australian showrooms in December 2026, with pricing and full specifications to be revealed in the coming weeks, CarExpert reports. GoAuto likewise reports the Taiwanese-built model is due locally late this year. Mitsubishi Motors' August announcement positioned the model for the small SUV segment in Australia and New Zealand, where it says BEV demand continues to expand, particularly in urban areas. ²⁴⁵

The launch marks Mitsubishi's return to the Australian battery electric market following the i-MiEV, its first EV on sale here in nearly 15 years, GoAuto and CarExpert both note. The ASX nameplate carries forward the heritage of Mitsubishi's long-established compact SUV in Australia and New Zealand, while the VR-e designation is inspired by the Galant VR-4 performance sedan, according to Mitsubishi Motors. ²⁵

GoAuto reports Clarke acknowledged an unusual positioning challenge: the VR-e shares its nameplate with the separate Renault-derived petrol ASX, and its exterior footprint is closer to a small SUV even though its wheelbase and width compare favourably with some larger medium SUVs. He said maintaining ASX name familiarity was valuable in a market where new brands appear constantly. ⁵

Mitsubishi also concedes the tech-heavy cabin may not suit all buyers. Clarke told media, including CarExpert via PerthNow, that the VR-e is probably the most tech-heavy vehicle in the lineup and that "there's always going to be people that don't want the tech", with other portfolio products available for those customers. He added that buyers stepping from an internal-combustion car to a BEV face behavioural change around charging regardless, making adaptation to the screen-driven interface part of that overall process. ⁶