Mitsubishi Taps Foxconn's Foxtron for a Right-Hand-Drive Electric Hatchback Down Under

Mitsubishi's badge-engineering playbook keeps expanding into new territory. While European buyers have been getting rebadged Renault electric models and American customers have seen Nissan-based Mitsubishis, the automaker has now found a fresh partner for the Australian and New Zealand markets: Taiwanese tech giant Foxconn, through its vehicle brand Foxtron.

The partnership between the two companies was first announced back in May of last year, and the first tangible result has now been revealed. It's called the Mitsubishi ASX VR-e, an all-electric hatchback derived directly from the Foxtron Bria.

The family resemblance is impossible to miss. Aside from Mitsubishi badging, model nameplates, and a few cosmetic touches - like a different pattern on the rear roof pillars - the ASX VR-e is essentially identical to the Pininfarina-designed Foxtron Bria. Mitsubishi hasn't published official dimensions yet, but given the shared body and sheet metal, expect figures close to the Bria's 4,315 mm length, 1,885 mm width, 1,535 mm height, and 2,800 mm wheelbase. Wheel sizes are expected to range from 18 to 20 inches.

Inside, the biggest difference is the steering wheel position - the ASX VR-e gets right-hand drive to comply with Australian and New Zealand regulations. The cabin features a compact 9.2-inch digital instrument cluster paired with a 15.6-inch touchscreen for infotainment, with a shelf and physical buttons positioned below. There's no traditional center tunnel; instead, buyers get a storage compartment and a separate armrest box with cup holders. Cargo capacity stands at 320 liters, expanding to 1,043 liters with the rear seats folded.

Mitsubishi hasn't disclosed powertrain specifications for the ASX VR-e, but the underlying Foxtron Bria offers some clues. Built on the 400-volt MIH platform with MacPherson strut front suspension and a multi-link rear setup, the base rear-wheel-drive version produces 233 hp and 350 Nm, hitting 100 km/h in 6.8 seconds. A dual-motor all-wheel-drive flagship variant pushes output to 407 hp and 700 Nm, cutting the sprint time to just 3.9 seconds. Both versions top out at 180 km/h. Power comes from a 57.7 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery capable of accepting up to 134 kW of DC fast charging, delivering a WLTP range of 430 km for the single-motor version and 400 km for the dual-motor variant.

Mitsubishi's Australian division has already confirmed the ASX VR-e will launch in four trim levels - LS, Aspire, Exceed, and GSR - though pricing and equipment details remain under wraps for now. A full reveal, along with those specifics, is expected in the coming months as the model heads toward production.