Barely three years ago there were still plans in Japan to take Mitsubishi off the German car market.
The small car Space Star and the SUV Eclipse Cross, introduced in 2018, sold well, only the other series Outlander, ASX and the pick-up L200 were a bit outdated.
But Mitsubishi remains, and now the successor to the ASX is being announced, which should come in early 2023.
We already know its pointed bow and the distinctive light units, they adorn the Captur, Renault's smallest SUV.
The ASX is closely related to it.
Externally and technically, both are like twins, only the lettering on the rear and the brand logo identify the ASX as a Mitsubishi.
The model policy is based on an alliance with Renault-Nissan, which the Japanese brand joined six years ago.
In this way, high costs for in-house development were avoided.
The new ASX measures 4.23 meters and is around 15 centimeters shorter than its predecessor.
It has grown to 1.80 meters in width and shrunk by seven centimeters in height.
The entry-level engine is a three-cylinder turbo petrol engine with a displacement of one liter and 91 hp.
The next level of performance is represented by a 140 hp mild hybrid four-cylinder with a volume of 1.3 liters, the more powerful version of which has 168 hp.
The 1.6-liter petrol engine is also available as a hybrid variant with 143 hp or as a plug-in hybrid with a 10.5 kWh battery, which is intended to provide a good 60 kilometers of electric range in urban areas.
The system output is 159 hp.
There will no longer be an all-wheel drive variant, but there will be various variants with automatic transmission.
Inside, too, the ASX is exactly like the Captur, with Mitsubishi taking over the Frenchman's cockpit and furniture.
The instruments are displayed digitally, the 10.25-inch screen hangs vertically on the dashboard and responds to touch.
395 to 1334 liters fit in the trunk, the plug-in hybrid offers only 309 to 1259 liters because of the battery installed in the floor.
At the end of 2023, another joint effort will strengthen Mitsubishi's portfolio when the traditional Colt model is revived.
You can already see that today, because Renault sells it as a Clio.