MITSUBISHI Motors Philippines Corp. (MMPC) recently unveiled its new roster of Fuso Canter light-duty trucks.
Now equipped with stronger and much-cleaner Euro 4 engine, these new commercial vehicles are also packed with improved features, as well as a redesigned exterior and interior layout. As a popular preference for business owners due to its known durability and cost efficiency, the introduction of the new models also manifests the manufacturer’s commitment in the pursuit for innovation and providing customers with reliable transport solutions.
Gracing the event was none other than MMPC President and CEO Mutsuhiro Oshikiri, along with EVP for Marketing Shigeru Ogura. Also present was General Manager for Daimler Regional Center Commercial Vehicles Southeast Asia Tomohiro Suzuki, who represented Mitsubishi Fuso Trucks and Bus Corp. “Light-duty trucks like the Canter stir economies at the grassroots, making sure goods are accessible to the people. Without these vehicles, our markets would be sad, empty spaces. That is why it gives us much honor to have this product in our lineup,” Oshikiri said, stressing on the importance of trucks in our local communities.
The new lineup comes with 4.4, 6.5 and 8.2-ton Gross Vehicle Weight model options. All these versions boast the refreshed body design, highlighting upgraded bumpers, painted grille, color-keyed windshield area and the distinguished Fuso logo on the front panel. The new cabin layout, meantime, now have silver-accented dashboard, in-dash gear shifter, tilt/telescopic steering wheel, plus meter cluster trimmed with silver molding and black dial plate. Even the easy-to-move driver and passenger seats now have new shape and color.
Safety-wise, the new cab design is strengthened with Fuso’s Realized Impact Safety Evolution consisting of side impact beams, box-structured front and doors, as well as reinforced cab floor main sill. The galvanized parts, on the other hand, are electrically zinc-painted in order to extremely resist corrosions and even coated with additional four layers, including the final paint work.
Meanwhile, the newly fitted Euro 4-compliant, in-line four-cylinder with direct injection, turbocharged diesel motors are made more robust. Propelling the 10-footer FE71 is a 3.0-liter 4M42-3AT2 generating 123 hp at 3,200 rpm and 294 N-m of maximum torque at 1,700 rpm mated to a five-speed manual gearbox. The longer 16-footer and six-wheeler FE84, meantime, is fitted with a 3.0-liter 4M42-3AT4 dishing higher output of 143 hp at 3,200 rpm and 362 N-m of maximum torque at 1,700 rpm. As for the longest 18-footer and six-wheeler FE85, it is powered by a bigger 4.9-liter 4M50-5AT5 motor capable of producing 177 hp at 2,700 rpm and a massive 530 N-m of maximum torque at 1,600 rpm. Both FE84 and FE 85 mills are paired with six-speed manual transmissions.
With the government putting emphasis on transport modernization and infrastructure development, trucks are expected to play a central role in the execution of this master plan, and rolling out the new light-duty models is part of MMPC’s response to this call for inclusive growth. The new Canters are now available in all Mitsubishi and Fuso dealerships nationwide, starting at P1.315 million for the FE71, P1.481 million for the FE84, and P1.580 million for the FE85 cab and chassis base variants.
Image credits: Randy S. Peregrino