Mitsubishi is making a bold statement about its upcoming electric vehicle (EV) that will be arriving in Australia before 2026 ends. The Japanese automaker said that the ASX VR-e GSR will be the quickest accelerating production vehicle the brand has ever sold in the Australian market.
The top-spec ASX VR-e GSR is claimed to go from zero to 100 km/h in just 3.9 seconds, a notable acceleration time for Mitsubishi’s EV model, and it is said to be a nod to the brand’s performance-oriented Lancer Evolution. Mitsubishi Motors Australia Chief Executive Shunichi Kihara told Drive that the brand intends to keep Mitsubishi’s Evo heritage alive “in some shape or form.”
“Clearly, our brand heritage is around Pajero and Evo, and many people still talk about those products. “That doesn’t mean we don’t do any kind of Evo-type vehicle, and that’s why we bring this VR-e with this strong performance,” Kihara said.
The Lancer Evolution is widely regarded as one of Mitsubishi’s most iconic motorsport icons. Alongside the Pajero, the Lancer Evo helped Mitsubishi to establish its foothold in the global automotive industry. As such, Mitsubishi reportedly intends to continue offering vehicles that embody its performance-oriented heritage, and the ASX VR-e is one of those vehicles.
This is why Kihara-san reportedly mentioned that Mitsubishi will keep the Evo heritage alive “in some shape or form.” While the brand might not produce a sports sedan anymore, it can still integrate a high-performance powertrain into its current model lineup, as in the case of the ASX VR-e. It’s as if Mitsubishi is saying that the ASX VR-e is a continuation of its performance-oriented heritage.
Of note, the ASX VR-e is a joint venture with Taiwanese company Foxtron, where it is sold as the Bria. The ASX VR-e has been developed through a partnership involving Pininfarina, the renowned Italian design house, and Foxtron, an EV manufacturer.
Autocar’s Take
Mitsubishi is positioning its upcoming EV, the ASX VR-e, for Australia and New Zealand as a model that embodies its performance-oriented heritage, seen on the likes of the Lancer Evolution. That comparison is supported by the ASX VR-e’s quick zero-to-100 km/h acceleration time, which is claimed to be 3.9 seconds. This time is regarded as the quickest acceleration of a production vehicle sold by Mitsubishi in Australia. While that’s a valid claim, some might argue that the ASX VR-e is not a “full-blooded” Mitsubishi, as it is a model that came from a joint venture with the Taiwanese company Foxtron.
