All-electric Mitsubishi Airtrek unwrapped

The drapes have come off the all-new Mitsubishi Airtrek at the 2021 Guangzhou motor show in China, revealing a pure-electric SUV that will take the fight up to the Volkswagen ID.4 and Tesla Model Y when it goes on sale overseas early next year.

Initially, the 2022 Mitsubishi Airtrek, which is produced as part of a joint-venture by GAC Motors and Mitsubishi Motors, will only be available in China.

However, future overseas exports, including importing it to Australia, have not been ruled out.

Measuring in at 4600mm long, 1910mm wide and standing 1690mm tall, the new Airtrek is around 80mm shorter than the current Mitsubishi Outlander, but 50mm wider.

Being part of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance, it would be fair to assume the new SUV is based on the group's latest CMF-EV architecture, sharing powertrains with the latest Renault Megane E-Tech.

But there are indications the Airtrek is closely related to the Aion V SUV that is produced by a subsidiary of Mitsubishi's Chinese partner, GAC Motors.

Side-by-side, the Airtrek actually looks like a reskinned version of its Chinese sibling, sharing the same distinct silhouette as the Aion V, but it does have its own split LED headlights, with the lower cluster shaped like a '7'.

It also has the latest take on an enclosed version of Mitsubishi's trademark Dynamic Shield grille, plus the addition of a large radar or sensor unit in the lower half of the bumper and a camera below the grille badge.

Other points of interest include pop-out exterior door handles, a black roof, black protective wheelarch cladding and wraparound T-shaped tail-lights.

Under the skin, the Airtrek has been introduced with a 70kWh battery that provides for a range of up to 520km.

Said to mount the batteries low in the platform, the new electric Mitsubishi is claimed to have "ideal weight distribution".

There's still no word on what electric motors the Airtrek will employ, but if the Aion V is any guide it will be offered with power outputs ranging from 163-200kW.

Reducing weight, the power units encase the motor inverter and reduction drive transmission into a single module.

Inside, there should be space equivalent to a larger petrol or diesel-powered SUV. Despite not revealing the entire interior, the SUV is set to come with a huge 15.6-inch infotainment system and a full digital instrument cluster.

It's unclear if the Airtrek will benefit from the same Android-based IVI system that was launched with the Renault Megane E-Tech and developed in partnership with Korean electronics giant LG.

More details of the Mitsubishi Airtrek, including pricing, are expected in preparation for the 2022 launch that's expected to take place in China around April.