Mitsubishi minicab

Mitsubishi minicab
Manufacturer:	Mitsubishi
Production period:	1966 – today
Previous model:	Mitsubishi 360 (platform truck only)
Successor:	none

The Mitsubishi Minicab is a pickup truck in the Japanese kei car class, as a panel van, minibus or flatbed of Mitsubishi Motors produced since 1966th The predecessor of the minicab as a pickup truck was the 360 , which was first introduced in 1961 by Shin Mitsubishi Heavy Industries , one of three regional automobile companies belonging to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries , which were later merged into Mitsubishi Motors. The cars were intended for the lowest tax class within the kei cars and were therefore equipped with an engine with a displacement of just 356 cm ³ . The minicab has been sold on the home market by Nissan since 2011 using badge engineering , and older generations of the minicab are still being produced by other manufacturers.

Minicab I 1966–1972, II 1972–1977

Minicab 1st generation

The minicab pickup was introduced in 1966 as the successor to the 360 ​​pickup. It had the same engine as the 360, an air-cooled two-stroke engine with 359 cm ³ and drop sides that could be folded down on three sides, which made loading and unloading easier. In 1971 the minicab was revised for the first time: the Mitsubishi EL offered a new interior and a longer bed. The road holding improved thanks to the suspension of the front wheels on wishbones and the rear wheels on coil springs. In 1972 a closed delivery van was added and the Minicab W also had a new engine.

Minicab third generation / L100 (1977–1984)

Minicab 3rd generation

In 1977 the third generation of the minicab was introduced. In some export markets it was also offered as the L100. He also held the limitations of the Japanese tax laws, but fell as a minicab Wide 55 longer and wider and had an engine with 471 cm ³ capacity. It also had new equipment details, such as defroster vents for the windshield, a center console and a central fan. In 1981 Mitsubishi dropped the "Wide 55" designation as the market had meanwhile accepted the larger minicab. The rear window wiper and electrically lockable tailgate were introduced, as was a brake booster, and in 1983 the flat-bottom van was given a double wall construction, resulting in a flat, open cargo space.

Minicab fourth generation / L100 (1984–1991)

4th generation

The Minicab was further developed in parallel with the Minica and in 1984 the fourth generation was introduced. Again, the model was also offered as the L100, in Japan this was the cheapest version. There were also improvements to the use of the minicab as a delivery van, but most of the changes were aimed at a minicab as a recreational vehicle. Rectangular, slanted headlights played an important role in the styling, as did larger windows for better all-round visibility. Mitsubishi offered fifteen front-wheel drive and all-wheel-drive versions as a van or panel van and ten different flatbed trucks. The fourth generation of the minicab contained many equipment details that were leading in this class, such as self-locking freewheel hubs on all four-wheel drive models or a turning circle of just 3.7 m on the rear-wheel drive versions. The station wagons had the first sunroof in their class. From 1987 the minicab was the first kei car to be offered with a turbo engine.

Mitsubishi Varica / CMC Varica

In Taiwan , the China Motor Corporation is producing the 4th generation minicab for the local market as CMC Varica and for China as Mitsubishi Varica. The 1st generation was equipped with the Mitsubishi 3G82 gasoline engine with 1061 cm³ and 43 kW (58 PS). It reached a top speed of 115 km / h. Meanwhile, there were two facelifts with modified engine 4A32 1198 cc in the second generation and the 4G13 with 1299 cc capacity at the current, the design of the 6th generation customized version. The length here is 3645 mm and the width 1475 mm and the engine power is 56 kW (76 PS).

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  Varica I

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  Varica II

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  Varica III

Minicab fifth generation / L100 (1991–1999)

5th generation

Facelift version

The 5th generation followed in 1991. Again, the model was exported and in the domestic market as the L100. It was powered by a revised three-cylinder gasoline engine type 3G83 with a displacement of 660 cm³. For the first time, there were now 12-inch wheels and front disc brakes for the van and minivan versions. From 1993 they had a five-speed manual transmission as standard .

In 1994 there was a facelift with now rectangular headlights and a new dashboard with electronic odometer. A V30 Special Edition followed in 1996 on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Minicab. Production ended in 1999, with the minicab minivan continued to be produced by Indian vehicle manufacturer Premier as Premier Sigma, but with a PSA-XU diesel engine built under license from the Peugeot 309 .

Minicab 6th generation (since 1999) Nissan Clipper NV100 / NT100 (since 2003)

Minicab U61V / 62V U61T / 62T
Mitsubishi Minicab VI
Production period:	1999 – today
Designs:	Flatbed trucks , panel vans , minibuses
Engines:	Petrol engines : 0.66 liters (35–47 kW)
Length:	3395 mm
Width:	1475 mm
Height:	1785-1940 mm
Wheelbase:	2200-2390 mm

In February 1999 the 6th generation started (U61V / 62V U61T / 62T), which in turn are available as pickups, panel vans or minibuses. The curb weight is given as 700-1030 kg. The minivan was superseded by the Town Box and the name L100 was no longer used. The model has an enlarged crumple zone in the area of ​​the front axle. In addition, there was now a driver airbag as standard. The engine used is a revised version of the 3G83 with a 5-speed manual transmission or an optional 4-speed automatic transmission.

In October 2003, the Nissan Clipper U71V was launched as a panel van or minibus and the U71T as a pickup using badge engineering . From 2004, the passenger airbag was also part of the standard equipment.

In May 2006 a special edition of the minicab was published for the 40th anniversary. From December 2006, some improvements followed, such as revised side mirrors and a chassis with differently tuned shock absorbers. In October 2007 a bi-fuel version appeared that can be operated with gasoline as well as with natural gas (CNG). The range of this version is 840 km. There was also a redesigned grille and improved seat belts on the rear seats. Since December 2009, the grille has had the same color as the body. The dashboard was renewed and the standard equipment expanded. Since then there has also been the option of operating with liquid gas (LPG) with a range of around 500 km. In August 2010, the friction in the engine was revised with a reduction in emissions and improved fuel efficiency. In addition, the inspection interval has been extended to 24 months. In November 2011, Nissan changed the names of its models to Clipper NV100 for vans and minibuses, and Clipper NT100 for pickups.

Due to the changes in crash safety, there have been improved door locks that are easier to open after a crash and revised seat belt tensioners since July 2012.

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  Nissan Clipper NV100

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  Nissan Clipper NT100

Minicab MiEV (since 2011)

The Minicab MiEV has been available since December 2011. He uses the technology of the Mitsubishi i-MiEV .

Two types of batteries with a capacity of 16 kWh (range approx. 150 km) and 10.5 kWh (range approx. 100 km) are installed in the minicab. The vehicle weight is about 200 kg more than that of vehicles with a gasoline engine. The dashboard is similar to that of the i-MiEV.

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Mitsubishi Bravo II since 2011

Bravo

The minivan version of the minicab was named Mitsubishi Bravo in the domestic market from 1989 to 1999 . In 1999 it became the Mitsubishi Town Box for all markets. As part of the revision of the Minicab 2011, the Town Box has now become Bravo again.

Web links and sources

Commons : Mitsubishi Minicab  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

• History of the Mitsubishi Kei Jidosha (English)
• Mitsubishi Minicab Official Website (Japanese)
• The history of the Mitsubishi Minicab at Mitsubishi-motors.co.za (English)
• Nissan press release Clipper from Mitsubishi (Japanese)
• Official website of the Nissan Clipper NV100 (Japanese)