Mitsubishi is one of the pioneers of the plug-in hybrid SUV, yet they're also one of the last companies to release a full electric vehicle (EV). Say hello to the Mitsubishi Airtrek, which just made its global debut at the 2021 Guangzhou Auto Show.

The Airtrek name was first used in the Japanese-market Outlander in the early 2000s, but this new electric SUV shares nothing in common with the Outlander we've come to be familiar with. As a matter of fact, the Airtrek was not entirely developed by Mitsubishi.

That's because the Airtrek is the result of a joint venture between Mitsubishi and Chinese automaker GAC Motor. As per standard practice in the Chinese car market, foreign car brands often release vehicles that were developed together by their joint venture partners. In this case, the Mitsubishi Airtrek shares the same bones as the Aion V, which is from GAC Motor's Aion electric sub-brand.

The relationship between the Mitsubishi Airtrek and Aion V is apparent from its sheet metal, wherein the two EVs share the same striking side profile design and pop-out door handles. Apart from that, Mitsubishi differentiates the Airtrek from the Aion V with its dynamic shield front fascia, boomerang-shaped LED head and taillights, unique front and rear bumpers, as well as a dose of more chrome on the sides compared to its Aion sibling. You can also get the Airtrek with a contrasting black roof, which is likewise not available in the Aion V.

As for the interior, Mitsubishi gave the Airtrek a horizontal dash design with plenty of soft padded materials for a premium feel. There's also a clear lack of buttons due to the design focusing on minimalism. Mitsubishi also claims that the Airtrek has excellent interior space thanks to its long wheelbase and wide dimensions.

Mitsubishi also managed to bake in a number of cool features ito the Airtrek. The augmented reality navigation feature displays a camera feed of the road ahead via the digital gauges and then the system superimposes navigation directions as if they were laid down on the road. There's also a 360-degree camera system, a large touch screen infotainment system, and even a CN95 cabin filter for the air conditioning system.

The Mitsubishi Airtrek is powered by a single electric motor that drives the front wheels, which produces 224 horsepower and 350 Nm (258 lb-ft) of torque. It won't beat a Tesla Model Y in a drag race, but the numbers are still good enough for most people's needs.

With its 70 kWh battery pack, the Mitsubishi Airtrek is able to travel up to 520 kilometers (around 323 miles) when fully charged. And because this rides on a bespoke EV platform, the batteries are laid flat into the structure for a low center of gravity.

The Mitsubishi Airtrek will go on sale in China in the spring of 2022, with prices ranging from 210,000 to 240,000 Chinese yuan (around $32,918 to $37,620). Do you wish for Mitsubishi to offer the Airtrek in the North American market?