Mitsubishi is Headed to the Tokyo Auto Salon
By the looks of it, Mitsubishi has plans to kick off the next model year (2019) with a bang as the automaker is taking its talents to the Tokyo Auto Salon next month (January 2019). In late November of this year (2018), Mitsubishi revealed a new generation D:5 Delica, a concept-car-turned-real that looks as if a crossover and a minivan had a baby – a sort of van-SUV mashup if you will. The Japanese automaker is slated to showcase a rugged and amped up version of the model that industry experts are already hoping will reach mass production.
For those unfamiliar with the nameplate, the automaker already offers a rugged six-seat people-hauler with the same Delica moniker that’s currently sold in Japan, Indonesia, Taiwan, and other Southeast Asian markets. What’s completely new in this case is that Mitsubishi has crafted this spin-off vehicle as a mashup with bold new design cues and advanced technologies. The D:5 Delica mashup offers aggressive styling with three rows of lights – fog lamps at the very bottom, with daytime running lamps that follow, and LED headlights at the top. On the back of this concept are the signature RR Combi lights as Mitsubishi calls them – taillights in the shape of the letter R.
As we mentioned earlier, the new D:5 Delica offers a six-seat layout in the form of six individual chairs paired up in three rows. A massive tablet dominates the center console and makes up the concept’s dashboard, while the controls for the A/C, the drive mode selector, and the gear shift all rest below. Mitsubishi placed a 2.2-liter turbodiesel engine capable of generating 170 horsepower and up to 290 lb-ft of torque under the hood of the D:5 Delica and mated it to a new eight-speed automatic transmission.
The Urban Gear trim (one of the two available trims) comes with full plastic body cladding for additional protection and aluminum elements that adorn the front bumper. Additional guard bars, mudflaps, and a heavy-duty roof carrier with two integrated LED lighting bars at the top all give the latest prototype an adventure-ready look. Speaking of adventure, the D:5 Delica is capable of handling light to medium off-roading thanks to its standard all-wheel-drive system that offers three different modes – 2WD, 4WD, and Lock. Mitsubishi has yet to provide any additional details about the interior of the car or the name of the other trim, but industry experts expect that perks such as electric front leather seats and a power tailgate will both be standard.
Mitsubishi will also be showing off other vehicles from their lineup outfitted with their Street Sport package. The Outlander PHEV Street Sport features a two-tone titanium grey metallic exterior complete with black mica inserts, black mirrors, striped pattern graphics, and yellow accents on the front spoiler and on the wheels. The brand’s latest crossover, the Eclipse Cross, will also be outfitted with the Street Sport package and will have yellow accents on the edges of the front spoiler and on the side skirts, a tailgate spoiler, side and rear corner extensions, 20-inch HOMURA wheels with an all-black multi-spoke design, and a front and rear bumper garnish.
We’ll have to wait until the Tokyo Auto Salon opens in a few weeks (January 11 – January 13) to get a good look at these vehicles, and we’ll possibly have to wait even longer for the D:5 and Street Sport packages to make their way to the U.S. This may feel like a bummer for U.S.-based brand enthusiasts, but it’s not all bad when we consider just how much progress Mitsubishi has made in the market these past two years after joining the Renault-Nissan alliance. We can only hope the brand continues to flourish thanks to their fearless approach for innovative and efficient design. Follow University Mitsubishi on social media to stay up to date with the latest Mitsubishi news.
