1985 Mitsubishi Starion Reviews

Toyota's first plug-in hybrid model for Australia is on track to arrive locally by the first half of 2026 following the sixth-generation RAV4's reveal.

Mitsubishi is updating its petrol-powered Outlander family SUV range.

Mitsubishi plans to launch a new three-row SUV during the next 12 months, but if you’re expecting it to be a new Pajero or Pajero Sport, think again.

Mitsubishi has confirmed it will unveil a new-generation Eclipse Cross in September, though it’ll be a big departure from the current car.This new Eclipse Cross will be an all-electric SUV that will compete in the European C-SUV segment. This means it’ll be a similar size to the Nissan Qashqai, Hyundai Tucson and Volkswagen Tiguan.The Japanese carmaker said this new Eclipse Cross EV will sit alongside the new Grandis and Outlander PHEV in its European lineup.It’ll be built in Europe by Renault Group at its Ampere ElectriCity plant in Douai, France. This essentially confirms the Eclipse Cross EV will be a rebadged Renault.This plant currently produces the Renault Megane E-Tech, 5 E-Tech, as well as the Scenic E-Tech. It’s expected the latter will form the basis of the new Eclipse Cross.This is further confirmed thanks to the short 11-second teaser video Mitsubishi Motors Europe uploaded to social media. It shows the Eclipse Cross EV has the same door handles as the Renault.Mitsubishi has confirmed it will offer two versions of the Eclipse Cross EV. A long-range variant will launch in Europe in the fourth quarter of 2025, followed by a mid-range version in 2026.The Renault Scenic E-Tech is currently available with two electric powertrain and battery configurations.The standard range version has a single electric motor that produces 125kW and 280Nm and is fed by a 60kWh battery. WLTP claimed range for this variant is 420km.The extended range version has a more powerful 160kW/300Nm electric motor and is fed by a larger 87kWh battery pack. WLTP claimed range for this variant is over 620km.Mitsubishi has confirmed it’ll have a “cutting-edge” multimedia system with Google Built-in, as well as the “latest suite” of advanced driver assist systems (ADAS).Although the new Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross EV has been confirmed for Europe, it’s unclear if it will come to Australia.The outgoing Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, along with the current ASX and Pajero Sport were recently axed in Australia as they don’t meet Australian Design Rule (ADR) 98/00, which mandates specific technical requirements for autonomous emergency braking (AEB).The Japanese carmaker has confirmed it’ll launch a new-generation ASX, a rebadged Renault Captur, in Australia at some point.Mitsubishi Australia also recently announced it signed a memorandum of understanding with Taiwanese manufacturer Foxtronn to co-develop and sell an EV exclusively for the Australian and New Zealand markets. It’s set to launch in the second half of 2026.Even if the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross EV doesn’t come to Australia, given it’ll likely be based on Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance’s AmpR Medium (previously CMF-EV) platform, there are already cars on sale locally that are based on it.This includes the Renault Megane E-Tech, and will soon include the Nissan Ariya as this is set to go on sale in Australia later in 2025.

Mitsubishi has signed a memorandum of understanding with Taiwanese manufacturer Foxtron to co-develop and sell an EV exclusively for the Australian and New Zealand markets.The announcement confirms an earlier report by CarsGuide that Foxtron, the EV division of major iPhone manufacturer Foxconn and Taiwanese carmaker Yulon, would offer its catalogue of electric cars to Mitsubishi for the local market.It’s unclear at this stage which Foxtron model will be developed by Mitsubishi for the Australian market, though the brand has confirmed it will launch in the second half of 2026.The most likely candidate is the Pininfarina-designed Foxtron Model B, a Mitsubishi ASX-sized SUV, which debuted at the Geneva Motor Show in 2024 as a prospective competitor to the Volkswagen ID.3, Jeep Avenger and Kia Niro.Driving range is estimated to top 500km under the NEDC cycle thanks to a 60kWh traction battery, while single-motor and dual-motor drivetrains are anticipated.Foxconn has said it aims to crowdsource its EVs to car brands rather than sell them directly. In addition to the Foxtron Model B, Foxconn’s line-up includes a larger Tesla Model Y-sized SUV, a pick up, a bus, a sedan and a van.Mitsubishi doesn’t currently offer an electric model in Australia, despite the brand being the first to offer a highway-capable mass-market EV for the global market, known as the iMiEV, in 2009.More recently, the brand has chosen to focus its attention on its plug-in hybrid capabilities with the Outlander PHEV and Eclipse Cross PHEV. The former is one of Australia’s best-selling PHEV models next to the BYD Sealion 6.The decision to partner with Foxconn is likely to shore up its electrification credentials as the New Vehicle Efficiency Standards (NVES) comes into effect.The scheme imposes penalties on car brands that don’t comply with emissions standards, which are progressively tightened each year. Car brands can earn credits for meeting or exceeding their emissions targets, which they can then sell to other brands.Mitsubishi’s Australia CEO, Shaun Westcott, said the brand was excited to be partnering with Foxtron on its future EV model.“Mitsubishi Motors Australia welcomes confirmation of this exciting partnership between Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) and Foxtron and we are looking forward to working closely to deliver a great product for Australian customers,” said Westcott.“This pure EV model is the latest step in our Momentum 2030 plan and offers another string to our multi-powertrain bow that will see us through to the next decade.”

Nissan made an impact at the Shanghai motor show with the surprise reveal of the new HiLux-sized plug-in hybrid Frontier Pro ute.

There are some states where the very existence of unmarked police cars seems almost as illogical as it is cruel, while in others, like Victoria, it’s a surprise that every second vehicle isn’t a cop car in disguise.

In 2025 branding means way more than a hot iron mark scorched into a steer’s backside.It’s about a brand’s personality, reputation and your interactions with it. What it says about you. What it delivers. How it makes you feel. A visual identity, a design style… and a million other things.   And there are automotive brands in the Australian new-car market that have strategically built solid brand equity over many decades.Current market leader, Toyota began dipping its corporate toe into global export waters by shipping cars here in the late 1950s. And other Japanese makers like Honda, Mazda and Nissan followed it in conquering initial hesitancy by steadily investing in strong retail networks, pushing product improvement and focusing on a positive customer experience.Ford has built its global brand around everything from the Model T and its revolutionary assembly line to pumped up muscle cars and victory at Le Mans. While here it embedded itself in the local landscape via a manufacturing presence spanning close to a century and regular victory at Mount Panorama.And more recently, relative newcomers like Hyundai and Kia have moved rapidly from cheap and (mostly) cheerful to innovators that repositioned the concept of value and quality in the local market.All of which led to large pockets of ‘rusted on’ brand loyalty. The concept of ‘Ford and Holden families’ started to diminish from the moment the latter departed the scene in 2020 (if not before), but Toyota’s reputation for value, durability and affordable ownership has seen it maintain a legion of never-say-die fans.Same for Ford, Mazda, Mitsubishi and others. But I'd argue a turning point was when, after an initial false start through a private importer in 2013, MG set up as a direct subsidiary in 2017.Great Wall had landed as the first Chinese car brand in the Aussie market in 2009, but MG 2.0 was different. Even if its ‘Since 1924’ positioning stretched credulity, its products were better than expected and pricing was ultra sharp.Sharp enough to encourage budget-focused new-car buyers, even used-car prospects, to give the brand a go.With the introduction of new-generation products in the early 2020s sales took off like a rocket, and it’s here that my ‘That’s a good idea’ theory kicks in.I reckon executives at rival Chinese car brands, keeping an eye on MG’s increasing success Down Under, all had the same ‘good idea’ at the same time. Namely, let’s get into Australia and grab a piece of that action. Hence the subsequent arrival of Chery in 2023, itself a factory-backed restart after an initial import-distribution arrangement broke down back in 2011. Followed by the flood gates opening, with BYD, Deepal, Geely, a ramped up GWM, JAC, LDV, Leapmotor, Smart, Jaecoo, XPeng and Zeekr all jumping in with Aion, Avatar, Jetour, Lynk & Co, Skyworth and others waiting in the wings.Doesn’t matter which category you’re talking about - white goods, sporting equipment, hi-fi - if one fresh competitor enters a mature market, it’s likely to be met with reluctance, even contempt by existing brand loyalists.But if near enough to 20 newcomers blaze into market at the same time, clearly something seismic is going on and it feels like you’d be missing a trick if you didn’t at least investigate the rapidly changing competitive landscape.Give them the benefit of 20/20 hindsight as well as a time machine and it’s not certain all the new brands above would currently be making an Aussie entrance.But multiple triggers have been pulled with retail network deals done, head office staff recruited, parts warehousing set up, service and sales training completed and marketing campaigns launched. So, in a mature market, early movers like MG, Chery and GWM have the advantage and more recent arrivals will need to find a way to win over buyers… fast. And it’s a fair bet the ever-impactful lever marked price will be pulled on a regular basis.Some of the newcomers as well as more than a few existing legacy brands will be forced into a price war. Like it or not, loyalty comes under pressure when the incentive is enticing enough and with a cut-price cage fight likely to take place sooner rather than later not everyone will leave the octagon alive.Stand by for new-car buyers tempted en masse into ‘unbeatable deals’ that mean brand loyalties will be stretched beyond breaking point. The shake out from this looming war of attrition will be huge. 

One of the country’s most popular mid-size SUVs, the Mitsubishi Outlander, has come in for a substantial update including extra in-cabin tech, upgraded multimedia (including audio) and an Australia-specific suspension and steering tune.Scheduled to arrive here in the third quarter of this year, the 2025 model year Outlander’s exterior design has been tweaked around the lower part of the front grille and rear diffuser panel while new alloy wheel designs have also been introduced.The five- and '5+2'-seater’s interior now includes a 12.3-inch multimedia display managing multiple functions including wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and in the top-spec Exceed Tourer, a new ‘Dynamic Sound Yamaha Premium’ audio system.But arguably the biggest change is an Australian-specific suspension and steering tune, which according to Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited is part of a collaborative program which has elevated it to ‘core market’ status with Mitsubishi Motors Corporation.Feedback from Australian customers and media fed into the process as well as “early local development drives on-road and at Victoria’s Lang Lang proving ground”.Mitsubishi Australia R&D Engineer Tony Dorrington subsequently spent several weeks on the ground in Japan to finalise the set-up with the MMC team at its Okazaki proving ground. According to Mitsubishi, the aim is “a greater connection for the driver and greater occupant comfort”.MMAL GM of Product Strategy Bruce Hampel said, “As a core market for Mitsubishi Motors globally, Australian market feedback played a significant role in further improving the updated Outlander’s steering, ride and handling, tuning it to further suit Australian conditions and buyer requirements with a new tyre specification.”So far in 2025 the Outlander is running second in medium SUV sales to the all-conquering Toyota RAV4, with the Kia Sportage and Mazda CX-5 in hot pursuit.Mitsubishi says further detail on pricing and final specification will be confirmed closer to the launch date.

In nearly 140 years of the motor vehicle, history records only two Australian cars that truly left their mark on the world – even to this day.