Mitsubishi has officially named its long-awaited new electric vehicle for Australia the ASX VR-e, confirming the Taiwanese-built EV will arrive in the fourth quarter of 2026.
The announcement finally puts an official name and more precise launch timing on the car EV Central has been following since early 2025, when it emerged Mitsubishi would source an electric vehicle from Taiwanese electronics manufacturing giant Foxconn and its automotive offshoot Foxtron.
It also confirms Mitsubishi will attempt to give its EV newcomer some familiar local identity, adopting not only the long-running ASX badge, but also the VR name associated with some of the Japanese brand’s best-known performance cars.
READ MORE: Evo reborn? Taiwan-made 2026 Mitsubishi Australia EV to spin off 300kW hot hatch!
READ MORE: More details of Mitsubishi’s Aussie EV outed!
READ MORE: Confirmed! Mitsubishi’s new EV is being made in Taiwan by iPhone-maker Foxconn and it’s in Australia in 2026
The ASX VR-e will be offered in four grades in Australia – LS, Aspire, Exceed and GSR – although Mitsubishi has yet to reveal pricing, battery capacity, driving range, charging speeds or final Australian powertrain specifications.
The new EV is expected to be closely related to the Foxtron Bria launched in Taiwan, itself the production evolution of the Pininfarina-designed Foxtron Model B.
Mitsubishi has now confirmed the ASX VR-e uses a Pininfarina-designed vehicle platform, but says it will receive its own Mitsubishi styling treatment for the front and rear fascias, wheels and interior trim.
Aerodynamic features include an S-Duct that directs air from the centre of the front bumper over the bonnet, along with active grille shutters that open and close depending on driving conditions.
Mitsubishi also says the ASX VR-e has undergone extensive local testing and tuning by its global and regional engineering teams, with the company claiming the work has focused on delivering sporty performance and responsive handling.
That backs up previous information obtained by EV Central that Australian engineers would be involved in suspension and software development for the car rather than Mitsubishi simply rebadging the Taiwanese EV.
Mitsubishi says the VR-e nme is a deliberate reference to the Galant VR-4, the turbocharged all-wheel drive performance sedan that helped establish the company’s rally credentials before the arrival of the Lancer Evolution.
Previous trademark filings had pointed towards either ASX VR-e or ASX GT-e being used for the new electric model.
The connection becomes even more interesting because Foxtron already offers a high-performance version of the related Bria.
In Taiwan, entry and mid-level Bria models use a 171kW rear-mounted electric motor, while the dual-motor all-wheel drive Bria Pioneer produces 298kW and is claimed to accelerate from 0-100km/h in 3.9 seconds.
Both use a 57.5kWh lithium iron phosphate battery, with claimed NEDC driving ranges of up to 516km for the rear-drive model and 466km for the AWD flagship. DC charging peaks at 134kW.
However, Mitsubishi has not confirmed those specifications for the Australian ASX VR-e, nor whether the GSR will adopt the Bria’s near-300kW dual-motor drivetrain.
EV Central previously reported the high-output version was a potential candidate for Mitsubishi’s revived performance aspirations, potentially giving the company its hottest road car in years.
The Foxtron Bria measures 4315mm long, 1885mm wide and 1535mm tall and rides on a lengthy 2800mm wheelbase, placing the ASX VR-e closer to a small crossover or high-riding hatch than a conventional SUV.
The new electric ASX is also unrelated to the combustion-engined ASX Mitsubishi introduced to Australia in late 2025, which is based on the Renault Captur.
The ASX VR-e will be Mitsubishi Australia’s first BEV since the pioneering i-MiEV, which became Australia’s first series-production electric vehicle but disappeared from local showrooms more than a decade ago.
“ASX VR-e marks a significant milestone in our refreshed Mitsubishi range as the first BEV since the i-MiEV – Australia’s first mass-produced electric vehicle,” said Mitsubishi Motors Australia CEO Shunichi Kihara.
“It joins an evolving multi-powertrain vehicle lineup designed and tuned with Australian lifestyles in mind as part of our Momentum 2030 plan – which will see the electrification of new models in the years to come.”
Pricing and full Australian specifications for the Mitsubishi ASX VR-e are expected to be announced closer to its Q4 2026 launch.
