A New Electric Crossover
Mitsubishi is almost ready to launch its newest and quickest model to date, the ASX VR-e, an all-electric crossover that will be the quickest-accelerating vehicle in the Japanese brand’s stable in Australia.
The pre-launch details show that Mitsubishi’s planned top-spec GSR trim level for the ASX VR-e will be capable of accelerating from 0 to 62 miles per hour in just 3.9 seconds, making it the fastest-accelerating car in the brand’s modern lineup. It achieves this with a set pair of motors, one in the front and one in the back, effectively making the ASX VR-e all-wheel-drive and giving Mitsubishi license to bring up the (still dead) Evolution heritage.
Mitsubishi
No, this is not an Evo Crossover
Fortunately or unfortunately, the Evo hasn’t made a comeback yet, but Mitsubishi knows the company and its fans haven’t forgotten the legendary performance line after all these years. Mitsubishi Motors Australia’s Chief Executive, Shunichi Kihara, said the company will keep its Evo heritage “in some shape or form,” he told Australian automotive media, including Drive.
That “shape or form” will be the ASX VR-e, and Mitsubishi is pulling a few bits of heritage from the past. Before we write this off as Mitsubishi ruining a nostalgic name, this is not a successor to the Lancer Evolution. Instead, the brand is taking a few bits and pieces from its rally-racing archives, plus a few key acronyms and names from its historic nomenclature, to build a story around what will become the highest-performing vehicle in the modern Mitsubishi lineup.
Take, for instance, the “VR-e” in the name. Sounds familiar? Remember the Mitsubishi Galant VR-4? Before the Lancer, Mitsubishi had the Galant, and it was also a rally legend in its own right up until a smaller body was needed. Digging a little deeper reveals a trim level called the “GSR,” which will be the high-performance variant in the lineup. This calls back to the Lancer Evolution GSR variants present throughout several Evo generations.
Furthermore, the brand has noted that the ASX VR-e GSR’s torque split changes in sport mode. From 50:50 under normal mode to 30:70 in sport mode. The intent here is to make things fun and exciting, as noted by Tim Clarke, Mitsubishi Australia’s product manager. Clarke also pointed out the connection between the ASX VR-e’s name and the Galant VR-4.
Also of note, more affordable ASX VR-e models will be sold, and the lower variants will have a single electric motor and produce 229 horsepower and 258 ft-lbs of torque. Meanwhile, the GSR trim will make 458 horsepower and 516 ft-lbs of torque. The battery pack will be 57.7 kWh and can DC fast charge at a peak rate of 134 kW.
Mitsubishi
EV-olution?
If the ASX VR-e proves successful and demand for a performance version emerges, Mitsubishi is not against reviving the Evo badge. Tim Clarke also mentioned that “at the moment, we’re focused on the core model range. This is a new space for us, a new product, quite different.”
Clarke continued, saying that “we need to make sure we get the fundamentals right for that product, and if it is a success, then we obviously look to build on that and expand it.” Mitsubishi Australia’s CEO, Kihara, also said the company has noticed demand for a performance revival. Japanese Mitsubishi fans are also commenting on that matter.
Back in Japan, in June 2026, Mitsubishi’s current president and COO, Keisuke Kishiura, said the company wants to build another great car, following the formula that made the Lancer Evolution great, and called the Evo and Galant “treasures.”
Before that can happen, Mitsubishi will continue to focus on SUVs in the meantime. It might take a while before we see the next model that will take up the Evolution mantle. Until then, the brand will keep feeding its fans bits and pieces.
Mitsubishi
