Mitsubishi ASX VR-e to carry Lancer Evo and Ralliart heritage

Key highlights:

• Mitsubishi may expand its performance range if the ASX VR-e succeeds
• Mitsubishi ASX VR-e GSR accelerates from 0–100km/h in 3.9 seconds
• Dual motors deliver 342kW and all-wheel drive in the GSR trim

Mitsubishi is preparing to launch its quickest-accelerating Australian model yet: the all-electric ASX VR-e and its top-spec GSR variant pairs two electric motors with all-wheel drive and can sprint from 0–100km/h in just 3.9 seconds.

But there’s more to this electric crossover than straight-line speed. Mitsubishi is drawing on its rally heritage, reviving familiar names from the Galant VR-4 and Lancer Evolution eras. It isn’t bringing back the Evo just yet, though the ASX VR-e could help keep that performance legacy alive. The electric compact SUV arrives here in November.

Mitsubishi ASX VR-e draws on Evo and Galant heritage

The ASX VR-e isn’t a successor to the Lancer Evolution. Instead, Mitsubishi is borrowing elements of its rally-racing history to give its new performance-focused electric crossover a connection to the brand’s past.

The name carries two notable references.

• VR-e: The initials recall the Mitsubishi Galant VR-4, a rally-bred model that established its own performance reputation before Mitsubishi moved towards a smaller body with the Lancer.
• GSR: The name returns on the ASX VR-e’s high-performance grade, echoing GSR variants offered across several generations of the Lancer Evolution.

Mitsubishi knows enthusiasts still care about the Evo name. Shunichi Kihara, chief executive of Mitsubishi Motors Australia, told Australian automotive media that the company would preserve its Evolution heritage “in some shape or form”.

For now, that means references to the brand’s performance history rather than a direct revival of the legendary model.

Mitsubishi ASX VR-e: Performance and specifications

The ASX VR-e will arrive in several grades, with the GSR sitting at the top of the range. While lower variants will use a single electric motor, the GSR gets a dual-motor setup that drives all four wheels.

The GSR’s performance makes it the fastest-accelerating model in Mitsubishi’s modern Australian lineup, and its two motors also allow the company to adjust the torque split between the front and rear axles. 

In normal mode, the split sits at 50:50. Switch to Sport mode, and it changes to 30:70, sending more torque to the rear wheels.

Mitsubishi Australia product manager Tim Clarke said the change aims to make the crossover more fun and exciting to drive.

Also read: Mitsubishi Australia eyes off-road Outlander after US Diamond Trail Edition reveal

Could Mitsubishi revive the Evolution badge?

Mitsubishi hasn’t ruled out bringing back the Evo badge if the ASX VR-e succeeds and buyers show enough interest in a performance model. Tim Clarke said the company remains focused on establishing its core range, describing the ASX VR-e as a new product in a space that is quite different for Mitsubishi.

He added that Mitsubishi needs to get the fundamentals right first, and if the model succeeds, the company could then build on it and expand the range. Kihara has also acknowledged the demand for a performance revival, while Mitsubishi fans in Japan have been discussing the possibility.

The company’s interest in its performance heritage also extends to its leadership in Japan. In June 2026, Mitsubishi president and chief operating officer Keisuke Kishiura said the company wanted to build another great car using the formula that made the Lancer Evolution successful.

SUVs remain Mitsubishi’s immediate priority

Despite the growing interest in a performance comeback, Mitsubishi will continue concentrating on SUVs for now. A new model that takes up the Evolution mantle could still be some time away.

The ASX VR-e offers a way to reconnect with that history while the company focuses on its current product range. Whether it leads to something more ambitious will depend, at least in part, on how well the electric crossover performs in the market.

For now, Mitsubishi is giving enthusiasts a taste of its past through familiar names, rally-inspired references and the quickest acceleration in its modern Australian lineup.