GAC Mitsubishi Motors Co., Ltd. (GMMC) joint venture between GAC Motors and Mitsubishi based in China, recently unveiled a new vehicle at the 2021 Auto Guangzhou Motor Show. The car is named the Airtrek, and it’s a crossover that was built on the idea of an “e-cruising SUV.”
The Mitsubishi Airtrek for the Chinese market
That “e” in e-cruising stands for multiple other concepts. But essentially, it was built as a spacious and comfortable family car that’s efficient, while maintaining the unique look and feel of a Mitsubishi.
Style-wise, its front end generally mirrors the looks of contemporary Mitsubishi models as it features the brand’s signature Dynamic Shield Grille. From the side and the rear, it then assumes an understated but contemporary form that is seen on other modern crossover models.
These design characteristics include a two-tone body color scheme, black plastic cladding on the wheel arches, an expansive rear door, roof rails, and LED front and rear lighting elements.
Check out the Airtrek's rear end
When we look inside it, it also shows that Mitsubishi and GAC made the effort to ensure that it is airy, roomy, and futuristic. It has soft-touch surfaces, and the horizontally themed instrument panel was arranged to provide optimum forward visibility.
For power, the Mitsubishi Airtrek uses a 70-kWh battery that offers up to 520 kilometers of range. The said battery is then positioned in the center of the floor of the car in order to ensure a low center of gravity. Likewise, the motor, inverter, and reduction drive have been packaged into a single lightweight unit. The result, as Mitsubishi and GAC claims, is a smooth and stable ride with some nimbleness on corners.
Inside the Airtrek EV
Regarding power figures, sources say that this EV crossover can make up to 221 horsepower and 350 Nm of torque. Power is then sent to the front wheels. Mitsubishi however, is yet to share charging times, but GMMC did say that it can take 43 minutes to get from 30 percent battery levels to 80 percent when using a DC charger.
It also gets a 12.3-inch touchscreen headunit, a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, automatic emergency braking, a 360-degree camera, traffic jam assist, a power liftgate, among others.
Of note, this new Airtrek is not related to the old, first-generation Outlander model that assumed the same name. Instead, it uses a whole new platform, which it shares with the GAC Aion EV.
A view of the Airtrek's interior from another angle
The Mitsubishi Airtrek will reportedly be on sale next year in China starting at 210,000 Yuan. In Philippine pesos, that’s around Php 1.6 million before taxes and shipping costs.
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