Mitsubishi Airtrek all-electric SUV unveiled

Mitsubishi’s electrified future is previewed today with the unveiling of the new Airtrek all-electric compact SUV. Jointly developed with Mitsubishi’s vehicle production and sales joint venture in China, GAC, the brand’s first EV compact crossover will initially cater exclusively for the Chinese domestic market.

According to Mitsubishi, the Airtrek was inspired by the concept of an “e-cruising SUV,” with “e” representing the three keywords of “electric” (electric vehicle), “expanding” (expanding life with a car), and “expressive” (expressing the brand’s uniqueness). Its styling presents Mitsubishi’s design identity throughout, from the Dynamic Shield front face to the hexagon motif of the tailgate, embodying both the “maneuverability and high stability that characterize Mitsubishi vehicles”.

The interior design is open and spacious, featuring a horizontally-themed instrument panel that offers a broad field of vision. Soft padding is introduced for the parts that passengers touch, and stitches are used in every detail. The Airtrek has seating for five passengers.

As its EV component, the Airtrek comes equipped with a large capacity 70-kilowatt (kWh) drive battery, good a maximum driving range of approximately 520 kilometers. For optimum front to rear weight distribution and a low centre of gravity, the drive battery is installed in the centre of the passenger compartment floor. The motor, inverter, and reduction drive have been integrated into a single lightweight, compact unit, combined with a driving system that promises high output and torque inside a lightweight, high-rigidity body for optimum ride and handling balance.

While a Chinese-market only proposition for now, the Airtrek is likely to be introduced in other global markets as part of Mitsubishi’s electrification roadmap, in which the company aims to have electric vehicles constituting 50 per cent of its total vehicle sales.