Happy campers! There’s a new all-wheel drive Mitsubishi Delica

Mitsubishi may have exited stage left from the UK back in 2021, but that doesn’t mean we’ve stopped keeping an eye on what it’s up to. And of course, in its home market of Japan it’s doing some excellent stuff. Just look at the excellent new Delica D:5!

Unveiled as a prototype at the Tokyo Mobility Show, there isn’t a huge amount of detail available yet on the “all-around minivan” but it certainly seems as though it’s more of a facelift than an all-new generation. That’s on top of a 2019 facelift by the way, which came 12 years after the fifth generation Delica was first launched in 2007. Been around a while, then.

Still, if it ain’t broke, right? We’re told the D:5 has ‘evolved’ with “enhanced steering stability, improved road handling and more robust styling”. The new look includes a bold, upright front grille while the rear is cleaned up with fewer lights and repositioned Delica branding across the back. There are new arches too for a more aggressive off-roady look, and fresh 18in wheels fill the gaps underneath. Mitsubishi apparently wanted to give it the “impression of a higher centre of gravity, expressing high off-road capability”. Yeah, we love lifted vans.

Inside there’s an updated interior with a new digital dial display and fresh leather/suede for the water-resistant seats. There’s apparently khaki stitching too and some new USB-C ports. Fancy.

Mitsubishi has also been fiddling with the all-wheel drive system, so it now uses its S-AWC (Super-All Wheel Control) system to individually drive and brake each wheel to maximise traction. No word on the powertrain, so assume it’s still the same 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine and eight-speed auto gearbox.

What a brilliant thing. As is the teeny Delica Mini kei car pictured with it. That was unveiled earlier this year, but orders officially opened for that at the show in Tokyo.

“Even in an age of advanced technologies, we remain committed to the pure joy of driving and aim to inspire a mobility experience that awakens the sense of adventure,” said Takao Kato, Mitsubishi Motors boss.

Perfect two-car garage, no?