The domestic car market may be receiving a new small-sized SUV model in early 2023 from the Mitsubishi, competing against Hyundai Creta, KIA Seltos or Honda HR-V.

On October 19 in Ho Chi Minh City, the global launch event of the Mitsubishi XFC Concept took place. This is the first time Mitsubishi has chosen Vietnam as the venue for a global car launch event.

XFC Concept is positioned by Japanese car manufacturers in the low-cost small SUV segment along with the likes of Hyundai Creta, KIA Seltos or Honda HR-V in Vietnam.

A representative of Mitsubishi Motors said that although it is a concept, XFC is being studied to accelerate the development of commercial version and will officially launch in Southeast Asia, including Vietnam in the fiscal year 2023 (after March 2023).

The company has conducted testing at the research and development center in Japan to ensure the performance, features, as well as quality of the vehicle. In Vietnam, Mitsubishi has experimented with driving over 4,000 km, and is testing their product in many different terrains.

Not much information has been released regarding specifications, equipment, or price of the Mitsubishi XFC Concept, but it is likely that this is a fairly new and larger-sized model compared to competitors in the same segment.

The front end still retains the Dynamic Shield design language but has been refreshed compared to current models in the Mitsubishi family. The front light cluster has a large T-shaped design combined with hexagonal underbody LED lights.

The body is shaped with angular blocks and embossed ribs to bring strength and sturdiness. Large 20-inch wheels on this concept model both help the car have a large ground clearance and create a strong impression.

Its interior is rather spacious with the highlight of the center console being designed to spread horizontally. This concept is equipped with a panoramic sunroof, but it is likely that the commercial version will only have a normal sunroof.

According to experts, for this model to compete with rivals that have quite good sales, in addition to competitive prices, it is also necessary to have breakthroughs in technology as well as engine.

Currently, the small MPV segment in Vietnam is quite crowded with names like Hyundai Creta (620-730 million VND), KIA Seltos (639-729 million VND), Honda HR-V (826-871 million VND), and Mazda CX-3 (649-729 million). Sales of this segment are about 50-60 thousand vehicles/year.

Source: vietnamnet.vn