Mitsubishi’s VR Badge Is Back, This Time on a Pininfarina-Styled EV

The VR Name Returns

VR isn’t just a couple of random letters in Mitsubishi-speak. The badge first showed up on the Galant VR-4, a car that made its name with a performance edge and the Viscous Realtime 4WD system.

Now, the VR name is back – but don’t expect another rally-bred sedan or fire-breathing performance car. This time, it’s slapped on the back of an electric crossover.

Meet the ASX VR-e, Mitsubishi’s first new EV for Australia and New Zealand in over a decade. Underneath, it’s basically a Foxtron Bria – one of Foxconn’s car projects – wrapped in a suit designed by Pininfarina.

What to Expect From the ASX VR-e

Mitsubishi is keeping specs under wraps for now, but the Foxtron Bria gives us a decent idea of what’s lurking underneath. Don’t expect a classic 4WD system here. Instead, you get a choice: a single rear motor with 229 hp, or a dual-motor setup pushing out around 399 hp. The fast one can apparently hit 62 mph in 3.9 seconds, while the rear-drive version takes a more leisurely 6.8 seconds.

Both versions run on a 57.5-kWh lithium-iron-phosphate battery. Foxtron claims up to 321 miles of range (NEDC) for the rear-drive, or 290 miles if you go all-wheel-drive. Of course, those numbers drop to about 267 and 249 miles on the tougher WLTP test. Fast charging? You can juice up from 10-80% in about half an hour at 134 kW.

Size-wise, the ASX VR-e is about 170 inches long, 74 wide, and 60 tall, with a 110-inch wheelbase. Inside, it’s expected to get a massive 15.6-inch infotainment screen, 9.2-inch digital cluster, power seats, 360-degree camera, glass roof, and mood lighting.

Australia First

Mitsubishi Motors New Zealand and Australia have confirmed the ASX VR-e is arriving toward the latter part of the year. No official price yet for Australia, but word is it’ll land around AU$40,000. That’s about $28,000, putting it right in the mix with a bunch of Chinese EVs already on sale there.

Probably the biggest question now is: will the ASX VR-e ever make it to the US? The ASX badge never showed up stateside – the gas version was called the Outlander Sport. So far, Mitsubishi isn’t saying anything about bringing the new EV to America.

If that ever changes, the ASX VR-e would join the Eclipse Sportback EV (which is basically a Nissan Leaf in disguise) as Mitsubishi’s other electric option. For now, though, it’s Australia and New Zealand that will be first to enjoy the VR’s sort-of comeback.