Mitsubishi DST Concept Previews New 7-Seater SUV for ASEAN

The all-new Mitsubishi DST Concept previews the brand’s upcoming 7-seater SUV special for the ASEAN market.

Mitsubishi is going through a serious transition of late. Aside from launching its new subcompact SUV model, the Xforce, and a brand-new midsize pick-up truck, the sixth-gen Triton, the Three Diamond marque is also slated to launch a new 7-seater SUV model, which will be based on this new concept model.

Unveiled at the ongoing Philippine International Motor Show 2024, the new Mitsubishi DST Concept will spawn an entirely new production model, which will be specifically developed for the ASEAN regional market.

Although not many details were shared regarding this new 7-seater SUV, Mitsubishi insisted that the upcoming model based on the DST Concept will join the marque’s current SUV crossover lineup in the ASEAN region, which includes the aforementioned Xforce, the Pajero Sport, and the Xpander Cross—the latter is essentially a lifted version of the Xpander MPV.

The Mitsubishi DST Concept looks pretty similar to the Xforce, featuring the same design cues albeit in a larger and more aggressive form.

On the design front, the DST Concept boasts a pretty similar design to the Xforce, albeit featuring a boxier and larger proportion compared to the subcompact SUV. Known as the “Gravitas & Dynamism,” this design concept adds several Xforce-inspired T-shaped design cues, notably on both its headlights and taillights.

Apart from the lighting units, the DST Concept also gets its own iteration of Mitsubishi’s “Dynamic Shield” front grille design. Adding some muscular stance to this large SUV are the flared-out square fenders, which bode really well with the DST Concept’s boxy SUV silhouette.

Typical fashion of most concept cars of late, the DST Concept is also primed with side-view cameras instead of the conventional side mirrors, although we’re certain that its production doppelganger will get the latter.

On board, the DST Concept appears to be more upmarket than the current crop of Mitsubishi models, featuring tons of soft touch materials and tech amenities. Key highlights include a fully digital cockpit featuring a dual-display setup, a futuristic central console with a jet fighter-style gear shifter, a two-spoke steering wheel, and more.

The rear passenger compartment of the DST Concept is also brimmed with amenities, with rear passengers getting their own dedicated climate control panel and vents, although the third row seems to be quite tight for adult occupants.

Unlike the Pajero Sport SUV, the DST Concept underpins a unibody platform, possibly using a stretched-out version of the Xforce’s underpinnings. As a refresher, the Xforce is powered by a 1.5-litre 4-cyl nat-asp petrol mill that produces 103 HP and 141 NM. Power is sent to the front wheels (FWD) via a CVT automatic gearbox.

Given the DST Concept’s larger stature, we can expect its production twin to get a larger and peppier powertrain setup, possibly adopting the new Triton’s 4N16 2.4-litre turbodiesel mill. One thing’s for certain is that the DST Concept will have an FWD drivetrain setup, while at the same time offering several off-road driving modes just like the Xforce.

The production version of the Mitsubishi DST Concept is slated to hit the ASEAN market as early as 2025. We can expect to learn more about this upcoming 7-seater SUV as we get closer to its launch date.