Mitsubishi’s new EV spotted Down Under ahead of Australian launch

Mitsubishi’s upcoming electric SUV has been spotted on New Zealand roads for the first time, ahead of its Australian launch later this year.

A keen-eyed CarExpert reader spotted the Mitsubishi ASX VR-e on a Wellington motorway and shared these images with us. The electric vehicle (EV) was reportedly heading into Wellington CBD, not far from Mitsubishi Motors New Zealand (MMNZ) head office in Porirua.

The vehicle was wearing dealer plates, meaning it’s not yet clear whether the example is a pre-production assessment vehicle or a production-specification model being used ahead of the ASX VR-e’s local launch.

Interestingly, the example spotted in Wellington was finished in the same shade of green shown in Mitsubishi’s official images when the new ASX VR-e nameplate was revealed earlier this month.

The ASX VR-e is due to arrive in Australia in the fourth quarter of 2026, becoming Mitsubishi’s first new EV here in more than a decade.

The brand previously sold the Mitsubishi i-MiEV in Australia from 2010 to 2012, but has since focused its electrification efforts on plug-in hybrid models like the Outlander PHEV and Eclipse Cross PHEV.

The ASX VR-e is based on a platform developed by Taiwanese automaker Foxtron, with Mitsubishi applying its own exterior design, interior trim, equipment and chassis tuning.

A related Foxtron vehicle, the Bria, is already sold in Taiwan, but Mitsubishi says the ASX VR-e is more than simply a rebadged version of that vehicle.

The company has previously confirmed its Australian and global teams have been involved in testing and development, including local road testing intended to improve ride and handling for Australasian conditions.

Mitsubishi has yet to reveal the final Australian specifications, including battery capacity, power outputs, range and charging performance.

The related Foxtron Bria is offered in Taiwan with a 57.7kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery and a rear-mounted electric motor producing 171kW, while a dual-motor all-wheel drive version produces 299kW. NEDC range figures are 516km and 466km respectively.

Foxtron claims DC fast-charging at up to 134kW allows a 10-80 per cent recharge in around 30 minutes. None of these figures are confirmed for the Mitsubishi, however.

The Bria measures 4315mm long, 1885mm wide and 1535mm tall on a 2800mm wheelbase. That makes it 5mm longer, 35mm wider and 35mm lower than a Kia EV3 on a 120mm longer wheelbase.

The Australian-market ASX VR-e will be offered in four grades – LS, Aspire, Exceed and flagship GSR – although pricing and equipment details are still to be announced.

Mitsubishi says the VR-e name pays homage to the Galant VR-4, the high-performance all-wheel drive sedan introduced in Australia in 1990 and a predecessor to the Lancer Evolution.

The ASX VR-e is completely unrelated to the existing ASX, a lightly restyled Renault Captur.

The electric SUV will be one of two significant new Mitsubishi models arriving in Australia before the end of 2026.

It will be joined by the Triton-based Pajero, which will revive Mitsubishi’s famous off-road nameplate.

The two models will expand Mitsubishi’s electrified and SUV offerings significantly, with the ASX VR-e representing the brand’s return to the fully electric market after a 14-year absence.

Mitsubishi Australia is expected to reveal further details, including pricing and specifications, in the coming months, ahead of the ASX VR-e's arrival in local dealerships before the end of the year.

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