Is this mysterious Mitsubishi our first look at the next ASX?

Mitsubishi has released a teaser of its future US-market model lineup, and one of the vehicles shown in the shadows could be the next-generation Outlander Sport, previously sold here as the ASX.

The lone teaser image shows six vehicles. Beyond the new Eclipse Sportback, a rebadged Nissan Leaf for the US market, and the existing Outlander, we can spy a new variant of the Outlander; a new ute based on a Nissan model; and two mysterious SUVs.

One in the far background could be the next-generation Pajero, which has been tipped to return to the US market where it would likely resurrect its old Montero nameplate, though Mitsubishi said in its US release that no decision has been made yet regarding a US introduction of this model. The new Pajero will be revealed on Wednesday, September 2.

The final SUV, seen on the far right of the image, could be the next-generation Outlander Sport.

Though Mitsubishi Australia launched a new ASX in 2025 based on the Renault Captur, the old model – which dates back to 2010 – lives on in the US as the Outlander Sport.

Mitsubishi has reportedly been working on a new Japanese-built ASX, and this could potentially be a new global model for the Japanese brand.

This could also bring to an end the piecemeal arrangement Mitsubishi has for this segment, where the Renault Captur-based ASX is sold in Europe and Australia; the ancient first-generation ASX lives on in markets like New Zealand and the US; and the Southeast Asian Xforce is sold in markets such as New Zealand and Mexico, where it’s also known as the Outlander Sport.

The new model could also replace not only the outgoing Japanese-built Outlander Sport/ASX, but also the (ageing but not quite as old) petrol-powered Eclipse Cross.

Nikkei Asia reported in April that Mitsubishi will commence production of a hybrid-powered replacement for the RVR, as the first-generation ASX is known in Japan, as early as 2028.

In June, Automotive News reported US dealers were shown a new-generation Outlander Sport which was described as being noticeably larger, with more rugged, off-road-focused styling featuring slim LED headlights and a “protruding, muscular” grille.

Dealer sources told the publication it would be a completely new vehicle from the ground up, moving to a new platform.

Given the current Outlander Sport and Eclipse Cross don’t appear in the new US teaser image, this shadowy SUV could therefore be a replacement for both models.

If it’s produced in right-hand drive in Japan like the current model, it would therefore appear likely for an Australian berth.

Late in 2025, CarExpert asked Mitsubishi Australia’s general manager of product strategy, Bruce Hampel, why a Japanese replacement ASX wasn’t in development sooner – or if there was perhaps a stillborn project which has never seen the light of day.

“I can’t really speak [to it] – but you’re on the money,” Mr Hampel told CarExpert.

“In terms of like, yeah, [the new Captur-based ASX] was filling a need to have an offering in this space until we can develop probably the true replacement of ASX.”

The Captur-based ASX may still be new on the Australian market, but the Renault it’s based on was launched in Europe back in 2019, suggesting it’s near the end of its lifecycle given Renault doesn’t typically keep its models in production as long as its Alliance partner Mitsubishi.

“We needed a product in the small SUV space and we needed one that met the requirements that the European ASX… that Europe had already engineered [to our standards] was the logical choice for us, just to make sure we had a consistent flow, or presence, in the small SUV space,” Mr Hampel explained.

“Where we want to be with that space three to five years from the future I guess is still under debate.

“But you’re correct in terms of your timeframes, right? We’re in those discussions now. What is the longer term view going to be in our small SUV space?”

MORE: Explore the Mitsubishi ASX showroom