Mitsubishi used to offer its first-gen Outlander SUV under the name ‘Airtrek’ in Japan in the 2000s, but now, the name will be assigned to a different all-electric crossover.
China-based joint enterprise GAC Mitsubishi Motors shared these photos to announce pre-production tests of the car. Technologically, the model will be identical to the Aion V SUV that debuted last year, although the styling will be different. The Aion V – which you can catch a glimpse of in the attached video – is 4,586 mm long and starts from U.S. $28,000, making it a modern premium vehicle by Chinese market standards.
Judging by the photos alone, the Airtrek will be getting its own headlights and bumpers, as well as (likely) certain interior revisions. Unless something changes in the powertrain before production, it will ship with a single electric motor good for 184 PS (181 hp / 135 kW) and 350 Nm (258 lb-ft) of torque. NEDC-rated driving range will amount to around 600 kilometers (373 miles), and all-wheel drive will not be available even as an option.
As for the premiere, it might take place at the Chongqing International Auto Industry Fair set to open on June 12, 2021. Other countries are unlikely to ever see the new Airtrek on their roads.