Mitsubishi Minicab

The Mitsubishi Minicab is a kei truck and microvan built and sold in Japan by the Japanese automaker Mitsubishi Motors since 1966. In Japan, it was sold at a specific retail chain called "Galant Shop". An all-electric model of the Minicab, called the Minicab MiEV, is sold in the Japanese market since December 2011. It was also sold by China Motor Corporation (CMC) in Taiwan as the CMC Verica, starting in 1985. Since February 2014, the Mitsubishi Minicab is a rebadged Suzuki Carry and Every.
First generation.
The Minicab cab-over pickup truck was launched in 1966 to replace the 360 trucklet, which by this time had adopted the same model name as the Minica sedan. Codenamed LT30 it shared the sedan's air cooled two-stroke 359 cc ME24 engine, and was available with cargo gates on three sides to simplify loading and unloading. A van version was introduced in 1968, available in four different equipment levels. The T30 truck was replaced in 1971 by the new Minicab EL, but the van was kept in production (now also called the "Minicab EL") and updated with a dummy grille and headlight surround. The air-cooled T30V with its engine was kept in production until 1976, with no further modifications except a 1974 adjustment to fit larger license plates. The better equipped Super Deluxe version received a version of the ME24 engine with . 224,766 first generation Minicabs were built.
Second generation.
In 1971 the Minicab underwent its first model change, with the Minicab EL offering a new interior and a longer cargo bed. Called the T130 it was only available in truck form, with the old LT30 van soldiering on until the third generation was introduced in 1976. The ME24 engine produced in all T130 versions, which included a standard bed and a dropside bed with either Standard, DeLuxe, or Super DeLuxe equipment. Ride quality was improved with the adoption of a front wishbone and rear leaf spring suspension. The EL received all new bodywork with tiny rectangular headlamps.
A panel van was added to the Minicab truck lineup in 1972, when it also became the Minicab W with the new water-cooled 2G10 engine (hence the W). This model carries the T131 chassis code and is easily identified by its reworked front end, reverting to round headlights. It also carries a prominent "W" on the front, beneath the left headlight. The grille was altered and the headlights made larger yet in 1973, with the "W" replaced by a "Minicab" script. For 1975 the Minicab received an emissions cleaned engine using Mitsubishi MCA technology, still with . 209,774 second generation Minicabs were built, making it the slowest selling generation. The third generation, however, was mostly a heavily modified T130.
Third generation.
In April 1976, the third generation Minicab was introduced. In keeping with the changes in vehicle tax regulations, the Minicab 5 (L012) featured an increase in length, and adopted the enlarged 471 cc Vulcan S engine from the car line, still with the same max power as the 360. It also incorporated new features like a windscreen defroster, a central console box and a central ventilation system. This engine did not take full advantage of the new regulations, which allowed up to 550 cc, and was only used in a short-lived group of interim models.
It was modified again in April 1977, when it was widened and received a full 546 cc engine and the new name "Minicab Wide 55" (L013). Power was increased marginally to . It continued until 1979, when the grille was altered and power was increased by two horsepower. For some export markets, such as Chile, this version was known as Mitsubishi L100, correlating with the L200 truck and L300 vans. This model was thoroughly updated in 1981, when the engine was changed to the timing belt-equipped G23B, producing the same as the version it replaced. At the same time, the name was changed back to simply "Minicab", dropping "Wide 55" from the name as the market was now considered to be aware of the increase in body size and engine capacity. At the same time, the chassis code was switched to L015. Beginning in November 1981 the export-market L100 received the 2G24, a 644 cc version of the new engine. These cars received small "650" badging at the front.
In 1982 the flat-floor Van model adopted a double-walled construction to offer a flat, open cargo area. The 4WD model was also introduced in 1982, when the range received a minor facelift. Overall, 768,393 third generation Minicabs (L012, L013, L015) were built.
In China the third generation was built and sold as both the "Shenwei SYW 1010", the "Wuling LZW 6330" for the passenger variant and as the "Liuzhou Wuling LZ 110". The LZ 110 was available as a van or as a truck, and had Mitsubishi's larger 800 cc engine as fitted to certain other Mitsubishi export versions. Production ran from 1990 to 2009 for 2010 model year.
Fourth generation.
Further model range updates have been in parallel with the Minica. In June 1984 the range was updated, becoming the fourth generation U11/12 series (2WD/4WD). Although improvements were made to enhance the Minicab's commercial applications, the most noticeable changes were made to support personal leisure activities. Angular headlamps played an important role in the Minicab's styling, along with larger windows to improve visibility. A rear window wiper, electronic locking rear gate and power brakes were adopted. Mitsubishi offered fifteen front- and four-wheel drive van model variations and ten truck variations. This was also when the "Bravo" name was added to better equipped van models. This generation (collectively referred to as the U10) was built until November 1990, eventually reaching the U19 chassis code. In total, 707,348 fourth generation Minicabs were built.
Additional models went on sale in February 1985, and it received a small facelift in September of that year. In February 1986 the van range received two additions: a 2WD automatic and a dual-range, five-speed 4WD model. In June 1987, a more thorough change took place as the two-cylinder Vulcan-II engine was replaced with the three-cylinder Cyclone (3G81). A supercharged model was added to the lineup, which was now called U14/U15. In August 1988 there was a facelift, and in April 1989 the NX and Bravo AX models were added (both with four-wheel drive). In January 1990, naturally aspirated models were upgraded to the 657 cc 3G83 engine (U18/U19), as a result of new regulations, while a minor facelift with bigger front and rear bumpers increased the length marginally. Vans were now long, while trucks were . The car did not take full advantage of the new rules, as it was a rather short-lived interim model, and supercharged versions continued to use the smaller engine until they were discontinued in 1990. Those received a "G" at the end of the chassis codes, meaning that a four-wheel-drive supercharged van would now be the U15VG and so on.
The fourth generation Minicab incorporated many class-leading features such as an automatic free-wheel hub adopted on all four-wheel drive models, while two-wheel drive models had a turning radius of . The estate models featured the first sliding sunroof in their class. In 1987, the Minicab became the first manufacturer to offer a supercharged kei truck. It was also marketed in the United States for off-road purposes only, where it was sold as the "Mighty Mits."
Mitsubishi Jetstar.
From 1986 until 1989 a wider version with a longer rear end was built and sold in Indonesia as the "Jetstar". Rumor said, the name of "Jetstar" came from the combination of "jet" (Daihatsu Hijet) and "star" (Mitsubishi's three-diamond emblem that looks like a star).
This Indonesian built Minicab was powered by a 993 cc three-cylinder Daihatsu engine (CB20) from the Daihatsu Hijet. This occurred because in 1981, the government declared that no engine built in Indonesia was to be of less than one liter displacement by 1985. As the result, manufacturers of local microvans and trucks scrambled to install larger engines. But unfortunately, at that time, Mitsubishi didn't have one liter engine and instead used an engine from Daihatsu. In 1991, it was replaced by eight generation Suzuki Carry-based Mitsubishi Colt T120SS.
CMC Varica and CMC Veryca.
In Taiwan, long wheelbase iterations of the fourth generation Minicab were also available with a variety of bodywork. The Taiwanese version (built by CMC, China Motor Corporation) was called the CMC Varica (中華威利, "Zhōnghuá Wēi Lì") and was available with a 1061 cc 4G82 engine with . Overall length was up to , with a wheelbase lengthened to right in front of the rear axle. Top speed was . The Varica's nose was also extended somewhat.
Fifth generation.
A larger and completely redesigned Minicab (U40-series) was released in 1991 to take advantage of tax regulations allowing for increased dimensions and engine capacity of kei cars. Three new 660cc engines were introduced: a 4-valve SOHC unit, a 5-valve DOHC unit and a 2-valve SOHC unit. Across the range, there was a total of 66 possible model variations. This included a new variant, the retro-styled "Bravo Route 66", however, one previous variant, the high-roof truck, was discontinued. 723,772 fifth generation Minicabs were built.
Sixth generation.
The sixth generation Minicab (U60-series) was introduced in 1999 now sporting a new semi-front design. By April 1999, a "wagon" version called the Town Box was introduced. 419,070 petrol-engined U60s were built, but the Minicab MiEV remains in production as of 2020.
Minicab MiEV.
Mitsubishi began testing of the Minicab MiEV in Japan in October 2010. In January 2011, Mitsubishi announced that it would add an electric version of Minicab, Minicab MiEV, for sale in Japan in the third quarter of 2011. Mitsubishi later announced a December 2011 launch.
Mitsubishi picked up early orders for 100 units from major delivery company Yamato Transport in May of that year. The commercial use electric vehicle is estimated to have a range of with a full charge, which is lower than that of i-MiEV, in a bid to reduce costs. The price is aimed for less than (about ) after subsidies.
The Minicab MiEV was released in the domestic market in December 2011, and a total of 4,544 units have been sold in Japan through October 2013. A truck version of the Minicab MiEV was launched in January 2013, and sales totaled 536 units through October 2013.
Nissan Clipper.
Mitsubishi also manufactured a badge-engineered version of the Minicab pickup on behalf of Nissan, who sold it as the Nissan Clipper (a badge originally used on a larger range of Prince and Nissan trucks). The trucks were called "NT100 Clipper", vans "NV100." The Minicab/Clipper competed in the Japanese market with the Honda Acty, Subaru Sambar, Daihatsu Hijet, and the Suzuki Carry. The Minicab and Clipper were both facelifted in July 2012, to meet new safety regulations. Following Mitsubishi's announcement that they would stop manufacturing their own kei trucks for 2014, Nissan stopped selling the rebadged Minicab in November 2013. Since then, both Mitsubishi and Nissan rely on the Suzuki Carry/Every range for their entry in the "keitora" class.
Seventh generation.
The seventh generation Mitsubishi Minicab is a rebadged Suzuki Carry and Every. It was introduced in February 2014. The vans (DS64V) were available for only one year, as the Every on which they were based was just about to be replaced. Mitsubishi also offered the more passenger-oriented Suzuki Every Wagon (same chassis code), differing mostly in terms of equipment and engines but with a redesigned rear, reviving the Mitsubishi Town Box badge which had lain dormant for a couple of years. The truck range (chassis code DS16T) remains in production as a result of Suzuki deciding to let the two model lines diverge.
Eighth generation.
The eighth generation Mitsubishi Minicab (DS17V, van only) was introduced in March 2015, and is also a rebadged Suzuki Every. The Every Wagon-based Town Box was changed simultaneously.