Commercial car manufacturer Mitsubishi Fuso, not to be confused with the Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, is presenting a substantially renewed version of its Canter in Japan.
The Mitsubishi Fuso Canter is a commercial vehicle or light truck according to a classic Japanese recipe. A solid diesel powertrain and a truck-like cabin with a straight nose and a driver’s seat on the front axle are parts of that recipe. The Canter is sold worldwide and can also be seen regularly in Europe, among other things as a loyal workhorse of many park services, growers and gardeners.
The eighth generation of the Canter – the line has been running since the 1960s – appeared in 2010. Since then nothing has changed substantially, but that is about to change. For the home market, Mitsubishi Fuso has launched a substantially renewed version. The mini-truck will have a smoother front facade. A large area under the windshield is finished in high-gloss black, as is a trim panel directly above the grille. That panel connects seamlessly with newly designed light units, which are of course equipped with LED lamps. The grille itself is also new, as is the front bumper.
The result is a bit like the electric Mitsubishi eCanter (photo 3), which has had a similar ‘black belt’ since last year. However, the renewed Japanese Canter goes a step further, including with its new LED headlights.
Dead angle sensor
In honor of the renewal round, Mitsubishi is also granting the Canter new technology. For a distribution vehicle that is mainly used in the city, safety systems are extra important. That is why the car is equipped with Active Sideguard Assist (Photo 2), which monitors the blind spot with sensors. With the Japanese Canter, the ‘eye’ is on the left, but with a possible left-hand drive export model, this will of course be different.
Lane assistance and an automatic emergency braking system with pedestrian recognition were already present at the Japanese Canter. Users are given extra comfort with a keyless entry system, which can be a solution especially for delivery drivers.
The future will have to tell whether the renewed Fuso will also come to Europe. Mitsubishi Fuso is also active in the Netherlands. Just as Volvo Trucks has little to do with Volvo passenger cars, Mitsubishi Fuso should not be confused with the Mitsubishi of the passenger car world. The two were once connected, but now Mitsubishi’s commercial vehicle branch is almost entirely in the hands of Daimler Trucks. The Fuso is more or less regarded as the successor to the Mercedes-Benz Vario, a workhorse that was retired in 2013.