GENEVA MOTOR SHOW: Mitsubishi's next ASX

Mitsubishi has released full details of its futuristic XR-PHEV II concept, which is believed to be an accurate preview of the replacement for its smallest SUV, the ASX.

First teased a month ago ahead of its world debut at next week's Geneva motor show, the show car is a follow-up to the original XR-PHEV revealed at last year's Tokyo show.

The new concept features a less busy exterior, with revised bumpers, headlights, grille, A-pillar, side skirts and wheels making it more production-feasible.

And while this concept actually wears exterior mirrors, the production version's will be much larger than the ones seen here, although the 2016 ASX should emerge with the same wedge-shape profile and chunky rear quarters when it hits showrooms next year.

Bigger changes have occurred inside, where the original XR-PHEV's cockpit-style dashboard has been swapped for a more traditional symmetrical one, but it's still pretty futuristic and it remains to be seen whether the control panels on the roof and centre console remain.

Confirming Mitsubishi's intention to spread the plug-in hybrid technology first seen in its mid-size Outlander across its range, the smaller XR-PHEV II is powered by a new PHEV system driving the front wheels.

It comprises an unspecified small combustion engine, a 120kW electric motor and a 12kWh battery pack to consume less than 1.7L/100km and emit less than 40g/km of CO2, says Mitsubishi.

Like the Outlander PHEV, it's capable of running in all-electric, parallel hybrid and series hybrid modes.

Riding on a 2670mm wheelbase, the XR-PHEV measures 4490mm long, 1890mm wide and 1620mm high, making it almost 200mm longer, more than 100mm wider and 5mm lower than the current ASX.

Mitsubishi will also use the Geneva show to reveal the European version of its redesigned Triton ute known as the L200 in Europe.

First revealed in Thailand in November, the new Triton goes on sale here by mid-year, powered by a new 2.4-litre four-cylinder MIVEC turbo-diesel, which Mitsubishi now says will be among the most efficient in its class, emitting just 169g/km of CO2 in Euro-spec.