2023 Mitsubishi ASX: A European model launched with the name of the improved Renault Captur

After 12 long years there will be a Mitsubishi ASXBut three-diamond fans shouldn’t pop their champagne cork yet.

According to the company’s French division, ASX was revealed overnight as “specially designed for the European market”.

It remains unclear what Mitsubishi plans to have for the ASX/RVR/Outlander Sport model to go on sale in the rest of the world. Launched in 2010, the car we know as the ASX has so far undergone four upgrades.

If the new Euro ASX looks familiar, it’s because it’s been so lightly reworked Renault Captur.

At the front, the key change is a new grille with vron-like styling details alongside the Mitsubishi badging.

The headlights have been moved from Captur, and thanks to the L-shaped headlight hook, Mitsubishi can confirm that the new ASX retains the company’s signature Dynamic Shield design.

For the lower bumpers at both ends, Mitsubishi opted for black plastic instead of Renault’s silver trim. The plug-in hybrid models have badges that look like they were tested straight from the Outlander.

At the rear, the reversing camera is no longer obscured by the Renault badge, while the Captur wording has been replaced with the word Mitsubishi.

Inside the modifications appear to be limited to the revised badges and (possibly) infotainment graphics.

Like the Captur, the Euro ASX will be available with a 7.0-inch horizontal or 9.3-inch portrait infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.

Depending on trim level, the instrument cluster has analog dials with 4.2 or 7.0-inch displays, or a fully digital 10.0-inch gauge display.

Under the bonnet, there are at least four powertrain choices: a 1.0-liter three-cylinder, a 1.3-liter turbo mild-hybrid, a 1.6-liter hybrid and a 1.6-liter plug-in hybrid with 10.5kWh battery.

The new Euro ASX will be built in conjunction with the Captur in Renault’s plant in Valladolid, Spain.

Today’s ASX is not the first and won’t be the last Mitsubishi to come from Renault. Australia got to know the act in 2020 when Mitsubishi launched the Express, a badge design Renault Trafic. It was not a success, and the truck malfunctioned earlier this year.

Europeans can expect a new Colt next year, which will be a slim disguised version of the Renault Clio hatchback.

Is a part of ‘leader-follower’ model launched for the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance in 2020, the three automakers have chosen the markets and areas of expertise where each must lead and the others should follow.

Under this plan, Mitsubishi will focus on developing economies and markets in Southeast Asia, such as Australia and Indonesia, which have a large market presence.

With its core technical expertise in plug-in hybrids, as opposed to pure electric vehicles, Mitsubishi Motors has announced it is withdrawing from the UK and Europe.

The company quickly turned around, announcing it would stay in Europe – but not the UK – and soon launch two new Renault-built models.

The Captur-based ASX marks a reversal of the role of the Mitsubishi ASX, sold for five years by Renault’s French rivals PSA Group, such as the Citroen C4 Aircross and the Peugeot 4008.

These two models have been the crux as PSA Group grapples with its financial problems and works to identify its meager cross-services.

These two cars share showroom space with the Peugeot iOn and Citroen C-Zero, badge-making versions of the Mitsubishi i-MiEV electric hatch.

THAN: Everything Mitsubishi ASX