New York show: Mitsubishi smoothes ASX

MITSUBISHI designers have given the botox treatment to the ASX small SUV in minor facelift due in Australia in August, edging it subtly towards the new design direction best represented by the all-new Outlander due in Australia late this year.

Revealed in the United States where the ASX goes under the name of Outlander Sport, the latest version of the baby of the four-model Mitsubishi SUV line-up has fewer lines and creases across its front fascia, although only true believers will notice.

The Japanese company describes the softer outline as a “solid, safe, simple engineering-driven look”.

Among the clues are chrome surrounds wrapping partly around the foglight recessions in the bumper.

Mitsubishi Motors Australia has confirmed that the updated model will arrive in showrooms in August, retaining the same powertrain options – the petrol 2.0-litre four-cylinder with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and turbo diesel 1.8-litre four-cylinder with six-speed manual transmission.

The ASX has been one of Mitsubishi’s success stories in Australia, with sales jumping 57.8 per cent in the first quarter.

Last month, ASX had its biggest month since it was launched in July 2010, its 748 sales making it the fourth best-selling small SUV behind the Subaru XV, Nissan Dualis and Hyundai ix35.

The ASX will be joined in December by the new Outlander that made its debut at the recent Geneva motor show.

Meanwhile, Peugeot is getting set to introduce its version of the ASX, the 4008, in June in Australia.