Mitsubishi is looking at whether it could bring the rugged Delica van to Australia.
The brand has confirmed it has a current-generation Delica in Australia to better understand how the “concept” could work locally.
It has also confirmed the Delica that would come to Australia, were it to be locked in, would be a next-generation car due to be revealed globally over the coming five years.
A spokesperson for Mitsubishi said the brand is aware of the strength of the Delica brand in Australia, which has a “strong following as a used adventure vehicle”.
The current model is called the Delica D:5, with power from a 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engine mated with all-wheel drive and a six-speed automatic transmission. It makes 107kW of power and 380Nm of torque.
Under the skin, it shares its bones with the ASX – which in turn traces its origins back to the last Lancer, debuted in 2006.
At 4800mm long and 1795mm wide, the Delica is a similar size to a Volkswagen Caddy SWB. In Japan you can have it with a choice of seven or eight seats, and in off-road ready Delica guise or city-focused Delica Urban Gear trim.
It’s the more off-road focused Delica that appears of interest to Mitusbishi Australia, as it combines elements of a people mover with aspects of a reasonably capable soft-roader in a way nothing else does.
Were it to come Down Under, the next Delica wouldn’t be the first van of its kind to grace local Mitsubishi dealers – the L300 Express was sold in Australia following the formation of Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited (MMAL) as we know it today in 1980.
