Five Things Mitsubishi Has Now Confirmed for the ASX VR-e

The ASX VR-e Is More Than an Electric ASX: Five Things Mitsubishi Has Now Confirmed

When Mitsubishi first confirmed the ASX VR-e for Australia, some of its most important numbers were still missing.

We knew four grades were coming, but Mitsubishi hadn't yet revealed the Australian model's power outputs, battery capacity, charging capability, drivetrain configurations or GSR performance. Our first look at the ASX VR-e covered what Mitsubishi had confirmed at the time.

Now, we know a lot more.

The latest details reveal three rear-wheel-drive variants, a seriously powerful dual-motor GSR, a 57.7kWh LFP battery and much more about how Mitsubishi's new EV will actually work.

Here are the five biggest developments...

1. We now know what's underneath the ASX VR-e

We've previously covered the story behind the ASX VR-e, including its relationship with Foxtron, its international development and Mitsubishi's Australian testing and tuning.

So, rather than going over all of that again, here's the important bit:

This isn't the petrol ASX with an electric drivetrain.

The ASX VR-e is based on dedicated electric-vehicle architecture sourced through Mitsubishi's partnership with Foxtron, with Mitsubishi undertaking Australian testing and suspension tuning.

For more on how the ASX VR-e came together, you can read our original ASX VR-e breakdown.

2. LS, Aspire and Exceed get 171kW and rear-wheel drive

This is one of the biggest pieces of new information.

The LS, Aspire and Exceed are set to use a single electric motor driving the rear wheels, producing 171kW and 350Nm.

Mitsubishi claims these models can accelerate from 0–100km/h in 6.8 seconds.

Rear-wheel drive also gives the mainstream ASX VR-e range an interesting point of difference.

Rather than requiring buyers to step up to the flagship for the rear-driven layout, it forms the basis of three of the four grades.

That also creates a very clear split within the range:

LS / Aspire / Exceed 171kW | 350Nm | Rear-wheel drive | Claimed 6.8 sec 0–100km/h

GSR 342kW | 700Nm | Dual-motor AWD | Claimed 3.9 sec 0–100km/h

And that GSR is where things get much more interesting.

4. We finally have battery and charging details

This was another major unknown when the ASX VR-e was first announced.

All four variants are now reported to use a 57.7kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery.

The latest specifications also report:

• Up to 134kW DC fast charging
• Up to 6.6kW AC charging
• Vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability
• Five levels of regenerative braking
• One-pedal driving capability
• Eco, Comfort and Sport drive modes
• Light, Standard and Heavy steering settings

This gives us a much better idea of what living with the ASX VR-e could look like.

V2L is particularly interesting because it allows compatible external electrical equipment to draw energy from the vehicle's battery via the charging system.

The multiple regenerative braking settings should also give drivers more control over how strongly the vehicle slows when lifting off the accelerator, including the option of one-pedal-style driving.

The GSR goes a step further again. Its Sport mode can alter the torque distribution to provide a more rear-biased set-up under specified conditions.

There are still some charging questions to answer, however. Mitsubishi hasn't yet announced an official Australian 10–80 per cent charging time, so overseas figures for related Foxtron models shouldn't be treated as ASX VR-e specifications.

5. Two of the most important numbers are still missing

We've learnt considerably more about the ASX VR-e, but there are still two numbers we'd argue matter most to Australian buyers:

How much will it cost?

Australian pricing hasn't been officially announced.

How far will it travel?

An official Australian driving range hasn't been announced either.

And that's an important distinction.

You may see range figures online for related Foxtron vehicles sold overseas, but those aren't Australian ASX VR-e specifications.

Different vehicles and testing standards can produce different published range results, so we're holding off putting a range figure against the ASX VR-e until Mitsubishi confirms one specifically for Australia.

The same applies to pricing.

Until Mitsubishi announces the local range, we think it's more useful to focus on what's actually confirmed instead of trying to fill in the blanks.

A familiar name with a very different character

The ASX VR-e may carry one of Mitsubishi’s most recognisable badges, but its architecture, drivetrain and performance place it well beyond the idea of an “electric ASX”.

For existing Mitsubishi owners, it introduces quiet electric motoring, rear-wheel drive in the mainstream range and a different ownership routine centred around home and public charging. At the other end of the scale, the GSR demonstrates how far electric performance can extend within the same model family.

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