Brand’s first car from Taiwan set to sell in four variants - all reprising yesteryear model names.

ELECTRIC edge is coming to the oldest nameplate in Mitsubishi’s passenger line here, with a new battery-pure car out of Taiwan set to take the ASX badge already meted to a wholly different petrol car in its 17th year of sale.

While pricing and specification details remain under wraps, Mitsubishi Motors New Zealand has confirmed the new ASX VR-e will be on sale before end of year.

MotoringNZ.com understands the ASX VR-e, the new Triton ute-based Pajero sports utility and the Outlander Sport hybrid it showed off at Fieldays in June will all land in November.

A five-door medium crossover styled by Italian design house Pininfarina and measuring 4.3 metres long, 1.8m wide and 1.5m tall, the car is a rebadge of the Foxtron Model B that has been selling in Taiwan and other parts of Asia since 2023.

Model B avails in single-motor rear-drive and dual-motor all-wheel-drive forms and that’s also expected to be the way for its ASX VR-e presentation.

MMNZ said today it will present its line in four grades - all reprising names from its past. The headliner is a high-performance GSR model, with Exceed, XLS and LS options also available.

Power outputs from the Foxtron products range from 171kW on single-motor variants up to a combined 300kW on high-performance dual-motor flagship setups.

Range from the single motor edition is cited at 450 kilometres, but it is not clear what schedule that figure is tested to.

Thought is that it will compete against the BYD Atto3, which has just updated to a new Evo format, MG ZS, Kia EV3 and others. That’s a price zone that begins at just under $50,000 and tops out at $75k.

Foxtron is not a Mitsubishi company but instead is a partner for the ASX VR-e.

Foxtron’s parent is Foxconn, the world's largest contract electronics manufacturer, which counts major technology companies such as Apple, for which it makes the iPhone, among customers.

It will be the first Taiwan-sourced car sold here. The deal is Foxconn’s first first major contract in the booming and highly competitive EV industry, but has previously created concept cars and expressed ambition to become a automotive involver.

Porirua-headquartered MMNZ’s previous electric car foray here was with an in-house effort, the teensy i-MiEV, an electric version of the city commuter kei class i-Car, sold in the 2010s, a time when electric was barely a thing for consumers.

Last year it trialled the Japan domestic market eK EV, a rebadged Nissan Sakura of similar ilk to the Honda Super-ONE that has recently released. But that programme foundered.

In supplied comment today, MMNZ said the ASX VR-e will strengthen its established electrified range, alongside the popular Outlander and Eclipse Cross plug-in hybrids.

The ASX petrol has consistently been a successful product despite also now being the oldest passenger car here. It is so dated its safety rating has expired.

Though no longer sold in Japan and discontinued in other places - including in Australia, where the switch was made to a rebranded Renault Clio last year - the ASX as we know remains in production for export, and MMNZ says they intend to keep it alongside the VR-e range for the foreseeable future.

How did the VR-e designation come about? Set to used in Australia as well as here, it is derived from another long-gone model, the Galant VR-4 sports sedan, and is reflective of the electric also having sporty driving character, electrified technology and advanced features.

MMNZ chief operating officer Tony Johnston said the VR-e reflects Mitsubishi’s long-standing commitment to helping New Zealand motorists transition from traditionally powered vehicles.

“Mitsubishi Motors introduced the first mass production electric vehicle to New Zealand in 2011 with iMiEV, before leading the growth of plug-in hybrid technology through the best-selling Outlander PHEV,” said Johnston.

“With the arrival of Outlander Sport HEV and ASX VR-e, we’re providing customers with more choices that align with their evolving lifestyles and development of local infrastructure.”

MMNZ has more than 60 dealerships nationwide and over five decades’ experience supporting Kiwi motorists, so has the knowledge and infrastructure to make the new ASX VR-e a particularly compelling proposition for EV customers, Johnston proposes.

“In a rapidly evolving market, ASX VR-e buyers can be confident their vehicle is backed by a company with deep roots in New Zealand and the experience, infrastructure and commitment to support them well into the future.”

The exterior design of the ASX VR-e emphasises aerodynamic performance. Key features include an S-Duct, which channels airflow from the centre of the front bumper over the hood surface, and active grille shutters, which help reduce aerodynamic drag according to driving conditions.

Horizontal stripe motifs have been incorporated into the front and rear lighting signatures, rear pillars, and dedicated wheel design to create a unified and modern appearance.

Horizontal LED lighting and dynamic welcome lights further enhance the vehicle’s advanced styling, while the stripe pattern on the C-pillar contributes to a cohesive design identity, the local distributor claims.