The new Mitsubishi Xforce is on its way to South Africa at full speed, with the crossover scheduled to appear in local dealerships in the second half of 2024, hopefully before the end of September, Mitsubishi Motors South Africa (MMSA) confirmed to TopAuto.
At this point in time, the new Xforce is looking to be the replacement for the popular ASX in the local market, but this is not yet set in stone.
MMSA said that the recently-updated ASX, which is a badge-engineered version of the Renault Captur as a result of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance, “may be something we look to in the future” if it’s a viable opportunity.
Therefore, it’s not yet confirmed whether the Xforce will replace the current-generation ASX, or slot in alongside the new one.
Similarly, the newcomer may have a completely different name when it eventually hits our roads, possibly something that is neither ASX nor Xforce, but again, this will only be revealed closer to its domestic debut, said MMSA.
2023 Mitsubishi ASX
A new kind of Mitsubishi
The Xforce marks the automaker’s first step towards revitalizing the design aesthetic of the Mitsubishi brand, as it was “strategically tailored to resonate with a broader spectrum of audiences,” said MMSA.
The famous automotive designer Alessandro Dambrosio – who influenced the look of legends such as the Alfa Romeo 159, Audi A4/A5, Bentley Bentayga, Maserati MC, and VW Polo to name but a few – had a hand in crafting the distinctive look of the new crossover, which is a stark departure from Mitsubishis of old.
The stout Xforce incorporates a revamped “Dynamic Shield” grille with unique T-shaped LED headlights and daytime running lights, whereas the body which clocks in at 4,390mm (L), 1,810mm (W), and 1,660mm (H) has been designed to appear muscular and futuristic to suit both the city and the great outdoors, according to the company.
With the South African launch still around one year away, the local specifications of the new Mitsubishi are still under discussion and have not yet been finalised, said MMSA.
However, for a reasonable picture of what we can expect the Xforce to offer, we can look towards the Indonesian market where it is already available in two trim levels.
In this region, both versions of the crossover are equipped with a 1.5-litre, petrol motor with a maximum potential of 77kW and 141Nm, similar to the Xpander MPV’s underpinnings.
Drive is exclusively channeled to the front axle through a continuously variable transmission (CVT), and depending on the variant, the powertrain offers Normal, Gravel, Mud, and Wet settings.
Standard kit on the Indonesian Xforce comprises synthetic leather seats, dual-zone climate control, cruise control, a cooled centre console, a digital driver’s display of either 4.2 or 8 inches, and a central media system of 8 or 12.3 inches with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Additionally, the range comes with hill-start assist, blind-spot warnings, rear cross-traffic alert, a rear-view camera, as well as two front airbags.
The top-end model is then differentiated through an eight-speaker Yamaha sound system, ambient lighting, a tyre-pressure monitor, a wireless charger, and the Nanoe X air purification system.
Keep in mind that these fitments are only for the Xforce in Indonesia, as the local “naming convention and specification are to be confirmed closer to launch,” said MMSA.
Mitsubishi Xforce
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