Mitsubishi ASX Aspire

Mitsubishi's new ASX has no association with the Australian sharemarket, but the model is aiming to make dividends for the car company by trading in the bullish compact soft-roader market.

The vehicle shares its foundations with the Lancer small car and bigger Outlander and is designed to be an urban-focused SUV that bridges those models.

The ASX - or Active Smart Crossover - features the same wheelbase as the Outlander. Significantly shorter front and rear overhangs, however, reduce the ASX's length by 375 millimetres to make it just a touch longer than a Volkswagen Golf.

The snub-nosed ASX bears another link to the Lancer and Outlander with its expansive, aggressive-looking grille and slightly inverted front end.