Mitsubishi is working on a new version of its long-running, strong-selling ASX SUV.
As part of its renewed push into the European market, Mitsubishi says it will develop the next ASX on the same platform as a popular Renault model.
It’s likely the ASX will share its underpinnings with the Renault Captur and Nissan Juke, riding on what’s known as the CMF-B platform within the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance.
Mitsubishi also confirmed the new ASX would be made at a Renault plant in Europe, and sales would begin on that continent in 2023.
The current ASX debuted in 2010, but is built on the same platform as the now-defunct Lancer that was revealed in 2007. It’s been treated to numerous facelifts since then, but is at its core a 15 year-old car.
Sales in Australia have remained strong throughout the car’s life, despite its age. In 2021, it was Australia’s second-best selling in the small SUV class behind the MG ZS range and ahead of the Mazda CX-30.
The question yet to be answered is what the ASX’s future in Australia looks like. The current model is made in Japan, and moving to European sourcing would make the car more expensive Down Under.
It’s not yet clear if the new ASX being prepared for Europe will be built in Japan for markets such as Australia.
“It’s currently too early to provide any local commentary in relation to the new European-market ASX and connected technology news, but these announcements point to an exciting future for the Mitsubishi brand and its role in the Alliance,” A Mitsubishi Australia spokesperson told CarExpert.
Mitsubishi has previously signposted a new ASX is coming, but what form it would take wasn’t clear.
The ASX in 2015 guise
“Absolutely positive, we already know that the new ASX will appear in early 2023,” Mitsubishi PR manager in Czechia, Marek Vodička, told Auto.cz (translated) during 2021.
Mitsubishi has previously indicated it’ll launch two new cars based on Renault platforms in 2023 for “selected markets” in Europe, which will be sold there alongside the recently launched Eclipse Cross PHEV.
While one is expected to replace the ASX, the other may be a replacement for the Space Star (aka Mirage).
The plan to introduce these models on Alliance platforms was announced in 2021, a complete reversal of Mitsubishi’s 2020 announcement it’d withdraw from the European market in 2022 to focus on markets like southeast Asia.
The Renault-based models will have “differentiations that reflect the Mitsubishi brand’s DNA” according to Mitsubishi, however it’s unclear just how differentiated they’ll be.
