The Mitsubishi XFC Concept which debuted at the 2022 Vietnam Motor Show previews the Three Diamondsâ upcoming entry in the hotly contested B-segment SUV market but there is a possibility that the XFC name would remain on the concept. The production version could have an entirely different name and it might not be the revival of the ASX on this side of the world.
Mitsubishi XFC Concept shown
Instead, there are speculations from Indonesian media that the upcoming Honda HR-V and Proton X50 rival could be called the Mitsubishi Destinator based on information found in Indonesiaâs Intellectual Property Database (Pangkalan Data Kekayaan Intelektual, PDKI).
Based on the publicly accessible records, the Destinator name was trademarked by âMitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaishaâ which is the romanised version of Mitsubishi Motors Corporationâs name in Japanese. The name was registered on 30-March 2023 under the application number DID2022051408.
A quick search on the World Intellectual Property Organisationâs (WIPO) database shows that the Destinator name was also trademarked by Mitsubishi in a handful of countries including Japan, Brunei, Mexico, France, and Malaysia.
According to public access records, the name was registered at the Malaysian Intellectual Property Office (MyIPO) on 18-January 2023 under the registration number TM2022017102. The name is classified under Class 12 which is for âautomobiles and structural parts therefor, excluding tyresâ.
When OtoDriver asked a representative of PT Mitsubishi Motors Krama Yudha Sales Indonesia (MMKSI) which distributes the Three Diamonds in the archipelago, they werenât willing to disclose anything further, stating âStay tuned for its arrival in August.â
The yet-to-be-named SUV has already been spotted in Vietnam and in Indonesia where the SUV was covered in camouflage. Comparisons between the spied units and the concept show that both SUVs share similar design elements.
MMKSI previously told our Indonesian colleagues at AutoFun ID that the production version of the XFC Concept would be at least 80% similar in terms of design. The SUV has been opened for bookings in the archipelago while it would be making its global debut at the upcoming 2023 Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS) which will be held in August.
Traded advertising for a career that fits his passion for cars. Enjoys spotting cars during his free time and has a soft spot for Japanese Kei cars but drives a thirsty manual sedan.
