— Mitsubishi Motors Corporation will be exhibiting five vehicles at the 38th Tokyo Motor Show to be held from November 2-7 at the Makuhari Messe (Nippon Convention Center) just outside Tokyo to a "Commercial & Barrier-free Vehicles 2004" theme. Mitsubishi Motors exhibits include the Colt Plus Swivel & Slide Seat model from the Colt Plus series, recently launched on October 25, and other models from the company's range of user-friendly and barrier-free cars.
Mitsubishi Motors will be encouraging visitors to experience for themselves the utility and comfortable ride that are defining features of its barrier-free models. The company will be demonstrating these features using four vehicles at its stand in the East Hall, and will be giving visitors the opportunity to test ride the Townbox Transporter model (with kneeling rear suspension) in the outdoor Test-ride Arena.
Driven by its corporate stance of wishing to make the convenience, comfort and fun of car travel available to as many people as possible, Mitsubishi Motors brought its first Hearty Run series of barrier-free vehicles to market in 1991. Today, the company's lineup of these user-friendly models includes wheelchair transporter, assisted entry/egress and adapted control versions of current production cars that are tailored to provide different degrees of assistance to match individual users' needs.
To provide customers the opportunity to view and test ride the Hearty Run lineup all year round, Mitsubishi Motors has established permanent Barrier-free Vehicle Lounges in Tokyo (Tamagawa) and in Osaka. The company also stages barrier-free vehicle fairs and demonstrations throughout Japan on a regular basis.
- MMC exhibits at 38th Tokyo Motor Show
-
| Model name |
Features |
Number exhibited |
| Townbox |
Wheelchair transporter
(with kneeling rear suspension) |
Two: one on display in East Hall;
one at Test-ride Arena |
| Colt Plus |
Swivel & slide seat |
One on display in East Hall |
| Grandis |
Swivel, slide & lower
passenger seat |
One on display in East Hall |
| Lancer |
Self-transporter model |
One on display in East Hall |
Mitsubishi Motors barrier-free models
- Townbox Transporter (with kneeling rear suspension)
This model enables a wheelchair user to enter or leave the vehicle while seated in his/her wheelchair by means of a folding tailgate ramp. When the tailgate is opened and rear bumper unlatched, the kneeling rear suspension automatically lowers the floor to reduce the slope of the ramp and facilitate wheelchair access.
- Colt Plus Swivel & Slide Seat
In a simple operation, at the pull of a lever the front passenger seat swivels round to face the door and then slides outward to facilitate entry and egress.
The Colt Plus Swivel & Slide Seat model incorporates a mechanism that moves the axis of rotation of the seat forwards or backwards as required to maintain maximum leg and foot space while the seat is swiveling around.
- Grandis Automated Swivel, Slide & Lower Seat
In a fully-powered operation, the front passenger seat on this barrier-free Grandis model swivels around, then slides outward and down in a simple and safe process that facilitates entry to and exit from the car.
The computer-controlled system reclines the seatback slightly to increase headroom and regulates the axis of rotation to maintain maximum foot space while swiveling the seat outward or inward.
The seat also features power reclining and power slide adjustment for maximum occupant comfort.
- Lancer Self-transporter
Enabling wheelchair users to drive themselves, this Lancer model features a barrier-free driver's seat and automated loader that stows the wheelchair away behind the driver's seat.
The driver's barrier-free seat features power reclining, power slide adjustment and a flexible seatback to allow the driver to obtain optimum location, support and comfort. It also uses a collapsible side bolster that facilitates movement between wheelchair and seat.
The Lancer Self-transporter also features a remotely controlled loading system, which operates the sliding right side rear door and an automated loader that folds and stows the wheelchair away behind the driver's seat.
