Mitsubishi has built an electric hot hatch that finally feels like a Lancer Evo successor, and Electrek says it out-muscles any gas Evo that came before it. If you live in North America, Electrek doesn't expect you'll be able to buy one, and the company building it isn't the one you'd guess.
The ASX VR-e comes from Foxconn, the electronics giant best known for assembling phones and TVs. It's built in Taiwan under Foxconn's Foxtron car brand. Electrek's Jo Borrás says a cynic will see one more badge-engineered car. A romantic, he argues, will see a fair heir to the Galant VR-4 and the Evo. He also reminds readers that plenty of beloved cars were built by someone else, from Mercedes' G-Wagen (Magna Steyr) to the original Eclipse (Diamond Star Motors).
What makes it quick
Two electric motors and all-wheel drive give it roughly 459 hp, and Electrek reports 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in under 4 seconds. The battery is a modest 57.7 kWh pack, which keeps weight down. The best gas Evo, the UK-only Evo X FQ-440 MR, made 440 hp and had far less torque. The comparison is on power, and these are Electrek's figures. We haven't seen a Mitsubishi or Foxconn spec sheet, independent testing, or anything on how it handles next to an Evo.
Where you can get one
The car is on sale in Taiwan and Australia. As with the Lancers of old, there are softer versions with less power and more range, and the fast one is the one enthusiasts will want. Electrek doesn't expect any of them to reach North America. We found no statement from Mitsubishi or Foxconn about a US or Canadian plan, either way. Pricing and range for the quick version weren't given.
Borrás points out that Mitsubishi's North American lineup has been aging and badge-engineered for years, which makes the gap with what's offered overseas look stark.
What to watch: whether Mitsubishi says anything about a performance EV for North American showrooms. Would a Foxconn-built Evo successor still feel like a real Mitsubishi to you?
Sources
Reported by the WattsUpNext desk from the sources linked below. Spot an error? Tell us at corrections@wattsupnext.com.
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