Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross will be reborn as an EV, but it's unlikely for Australia

7NEWS

15-05-2025

The petrol and plug-in hybrid Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is being replaced by a new, electric-only small SUV, but questions remain as to where it will be sold.
Teased ahead of its September debut, the new Eclipse Cross has been developed for Europe where it'll be built by Renault.
Not only will it be built by Renault in France, but it's also expected to become a restyled Scenic E-Tech – though this isn't obvious from the teasers, which show little more than the vehicle's badging and grille insert.
Mitsubishi's Renault-based models have been largely limited to Europe, though the Trafic -based Express van was briefly offered in Australia and the Captur -based ASX small SUV is coming to Australia this year.
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'The Eclipse Cross announced is presently only for the European market,' said a spokesperson for Mitsubishi Australia.
'Naturally as part of our ongoing discussions with the Alliance, we would consider it if that changes.'
Mitsubishi Motors Europe says the Eclipse Cross will be available with a 'long-range' variant from the start of deliveries in the fourth quarter (October-December) of 2025, with a 'mid-range' version to follow in 2026.
The company has promised the Eclipse Cross will offer 'advanced ADAS technology and cutting-edge connectivity with Google built-in'.
It'll be sold alongside the recently teased Grandis, which will rival the Qashqai from Alliance partner Nissan but be heavily based on the Symbioz from Mitsubishi's other Alliance partner Renault.
While the Eclipse Cross will be electric-only, the Grandis will be offered only with combustion and hybrid powertrains. It's set to be revealed in July.
Mitsubishi says the new vehicles are part of a renewed strategy in that market to 'maximise coverage of Europe's core segments with an SUV-focused range', offering combustion, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric power.
That European lineup, however, almost entirely consists of lightly restyled Renaults: only the Outlander exists as a vehicle developed as a Mitsubishi, with the Colt hatch and ASX, Grandis and Eclipse Cross SUVs all being Renaults.
Mitsubishi does say, however, that the Eclipse Cross' design was developed 'under the supervision of Mitsubishi Motors Europe Design based near Frankfurt am Main in Germany and incorporates the next generation of Mitsubishi Motors signature 'Dynamic Shield' front face'.
Other Renault-based Mitsubishis have been distinguished by little more than a restyled grille.
The Scenic E-Tech was revealed in 2023 as an electric SUV to replace the French brand's long-running, petrol-powered small people mover.
Sharing its CMF-EV platform with the Renault Megane E-Tech and Nissan Ariya electric SUVs, it measures 4470mm long, 1864mm wide and 1571mm tall on a 2785mm wheelbase.
That makes it 75mm shorter, 59mm wider and 114mm lower than the outgoing Eclipse Cross on a 115mm longer wheelbase.
The Scenic E-Tech offers a choice of two electric motor outputs and two different lithium-ion batteries.
The base 60kWh battery powers a 125kW/280Nm electric motor and offers 430km of electric range under the WLTP cycle, while the 87kWh battery powers a 160kW/300Nm electric motor and offers 625km of range.
The new Eclipse Cross would appear to overlap with Mitsubishi's upcoming electric SUV based on the Nissan Leaf, which will be offered in North America.
For context, the outgoing Leaf was produced in the US, UK and Japan, though Nissan hasn't detailed full production plans for the new-generation model.
'The Leaf-based future BEV… was also listed as a possibility for Oceania, and we are also discussing that vehicle and if it could fit in Australia,' said the Mitsubishi Australia spokesperson.
'From a BEV perspective, the Foxtron collaboration is the primary Australian focus.'
Mitsubishi will introduce an EV sourced from Foxtron, manufactured in Taiwan by Yulon Motor, during the second half of 2026.
It's expected to be based on the Model B, a 4.3m-long small hatchback/crossover similar in size to the Renault Megane E-Tech and offering 500km of NEDC range from a 60kWh battery pack.
Mitsubishi Australia was forced to withdraw the outgoing Eclipse Cross, as well as the ASX and Pajero Sport large SUV, as they didn't meet Australian Design Rule 98/00, which outlines specific performance requirements for autonomous emergency braking (AEB) systems.
There's still stock of these vehicles available, since they were complied before March 1.
A new ASX is due this year and a new Pajero Sport is expected at some point, with Mitsubishi having confirmed it plans to continue to have a presence in each segment it currently competes in.
The outgoing Eclipse Cross continues to be built for sale in markets such as Japan and North America, among others.