Mitsubishi Motors Corporation announces the launch of the New-generation Fuso Canter (2-ton class) and Canter Guts (1.5-ton class) series of light-duty trucks. After the first full-fledged redesign in 8 years and 7 months, two-wheel drive Canter and Canter Guts series models will go on sale on 18 June and four-wheel drives in mid July at Fuso dealerships and at certain Galant dealerships throughout Japan.

After the launch of the original T720-series in 1963, the Fuso Canter range of light-duty trucks quickly gained customer trust and confidence for its very-low cargo floor, wide-cab and other advanced automotive engineering features and for the wide range of bodies that met owner light-duty truck requirements.

MMC has shipped half of all Canter trucks produced over the years to a total of more than 150 countries where outstanding durability and reliability of this light-duty truck series have enabled it to establish itself as an internationally-appraised product that truly delivers the goods. In recent years, MMC started to produce the Fuso Canter in Portugal in 1996, and in 2001 the company started to sell the light-duty truck in Europe through the DaimlerChrysler sales network.

I . New Canter and Canter Guts series: principal features

1. Consolidation of internationally appraised product status
   
   
   1. "Global Fit" concept powers new global-standard light-duty truck
      
      Since its introduction, the cab-over Canter series has received high recognition in Japan and in overseas markets both for its outstanding payload capacity, stemming from packaging that seeks the highest levels of payload efficiency in high-density urban traffic arena, as well as for its outstanding durability and reliability. Building on and consolidating this reputation, the new Canter and Canter Guts series announced today have been developed to a "Global Fit" concept.
      
      The new Canter and Canter Guts series have been developed to set a new global standard for light-duty trucks. To that end, they offer roomier interior space, better traversability between driver and assistant seats, improved comfort and safety performance and better environmental performance.
   
   
   
   2. "Round cubic design" Fuso family identity
      
      
      
      
      
      The design keynote to the new Canter and Canter Guts series is the "round cubic form" that identifies the Fuso family. Other elements stamping the series with the same Fuso family identity seen in the Super Great heavy-duty and Fighter medium-duty truck series include: the inverted trapezoid grille, forward-sloping side windows, and character line that runs down the side from the front corner. Headlamps of new models are fully redesigned and for more powerful Canter models, distinctively styled xenon gas-discharge headlamps that throw a high-intensity beam for improved safety at night, are equipped as standard.
   
   
   
   3. Dash-mounted shift easier to operate: world-first in cab-over truck
      
      The new Canter and Canter Guts series employ a dash-mounted shift - a world-first for a cab-over truck. The shift has been designed for optimum operability in terms of location, stroke length, operating effort and shifting feel. As a result, and despite its short-stroke action, the dash-mounted shift is a joy to use: requiring less effort than the manual shift on the new series' predecessor, and offering a light, but reassuring solid touch.
      
      DX and Custom trim levels feature a central fold-down armrest, also a class-first, that further enhances the operability of the dash-mounted shift.
      
      
   
   
   4. Roomiest in class with improved smoother cross-seat access
      
      The dash-mounted shift is one element of the optimized layout that offers a significant increase in roominess as well as facilitating movement between driver's and assistant's seats.
      
      A central stow-away parking brake lever that, once engaged, parks below the height of the seat squabs further contributes to the roominess and traversability* of the new Canter series cab.
   
   
   
   5. Roomiest in class with improved entry and exit
      
      A more upright A-pillar and a more waisted side tumble in the cab design contribute toward class-topping interior space. On wide-cab models, cab length has been extended forward 100mm and roof height raised 20mm, giving more legroom and head clearance for both driver and assistant. The steering column can be adjusted through a wider tilt arc and longer telescope and the seat features a longer slide travel, thereby enabling the driver to select his optimum position. Together with the optimized pedal layout, these features help to minimize vehicle operating fatigue.
      
      Wide-cab models feature a longer step that enables the driver to enter and exit his vehicle in an upright posture.
      
      
   
   
   6. Magneto-rheological damping for driver's seat reduces fatigue
      
      Both driver and assistant seats feature integral head restraints, longer slide travel and more generous reclining angle range. The two-tone seat upholstery design accents the spacious look to the interior.
      
      Custom trim level wide-cab models feature a driver's seat with magneto-rheological damping, a class first. Utilizing the mutual repulsion between the North and South poles of a permanent magnet, the non-linear spring characteristics of MR damping delivers a relaxing comfortable ride with excellent shock isolation. (Pacemakers are not affected by magnetism).
      
      
   
   
   7. "Fuso-Rise" impact safety technology improves crashworthiness
      
      The new Canter and Canter Guts series announced today incorporate advanced "Fuso-Rise" impact safety technology, realizing a significant increase in crashworthiness. This technology has been developed by MMC after extensive computer simulation and on-road testing to provide occupants with a safety space and to absorb and dissipate impact energy in the cab-over type of vehicle with its restricted space up front.
      
      The front main sills supporting the high-rigidity cab are designed to deform rationally and efficiently absorb impact energy, thereby maintaining occupant leg space integrity. The cab doors use a parallel-cross structure that incorporates the side beams to provide greater occupant protection. The use of closed-section front chassis rails effectively improve the body's ability to absorb and dissipate crash energy.
   
   
   
   8. Power-ABS; disc brakes on all wheels
      
      More powerful models in the new Canter and Canter Guts series are fitted as standard with Power-ABS which brings brake pedal power assistance to the anti-lock braking system. In emergency braking situations, or when fully laden or descending a gradient and other times when maximum braking power is required, the Power-ABS system utilizes the ABS motor pump to boost brake fluid pressure. Power-ABS also incorporates a mechanism that apportions braking force to individual wheels according to front and rear axle loads.
      
      In another class first, disc brakes all round on more powerful Canter and Canter Guts models deliver a further improvement in braking performance.
   
   
   
   9. Independent front suspension takes evolutionary step
      
      MMC has further evolved the Canter's highly-appraised independent front suspension. Now fitted to a much larger number of models in the series, with its simple design the independent suspension has been optimized to deliver the ideal balance between handling stability and ride comfort.
   
   
   
2. Environmental performance
   
   
   1. Conformity with Japanese 2000/2001 noise regulations
      
      Additional noise insulation covers for the engine and transmission and the use on certain models of quieter mufflers to reduce exhaust emission noise mean that all models in the new Canter and Canter Guts series now meet Japanese 2000/2001 Noise Regulations.
      
      
   2. Low emission engines
      
      The new Canter and Canter Guts series are now in the process for certification to meet the criteria laid down in the 7LG LEV^*1 and the 6LG^*2 LEV Certification Systems.
      
      

      *1	Seven local governments in the Kanto region: The prefectures of Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama and Chiba, and the cities of Yokohama, Kawasaki and Chiba
      *2	Six local governments in the Kansai region: The prefectures of Kyoto, Osaka and Hyogo, and the cities of Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe.

      
      The new Canter and Canter Guts series also comply with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's "Improve the Urban Environment and Protect the Health of Citizens" Ordinance, the provisions of which are expected to become more stringent in the future. MMC also plans to add CNG and LPG Canter and Canter Guts models in the very near future.
   
   
   
   3. Recyclability tops 90%
      
      The new Canter and Canter Guts series achieve a greater than 90% recyclability rate for parts and components (as measured by MMC). They do so by retaining the aluminum radiators and R34a air conditioning refrigerant used in the previous series, as well as through the wider use of recycled materials and of alternatives for environmental-load substances.
   
   
   
3. High brand quality
   
   
   1. Fuso Quality Gate system
      
      
      The new Canter and Canter Guts series are the first MMC commercial vehicles to be produced under the checks and controls of the Fuso Quality Gate system. This stringent and extensive quality management system is designed to assure the highest levels of quality, with 15 Check Gates strategically located at each stage from conception and design, through development and manufacture and right up to after-sales service.

II . Monthly sales target

Canter series: 3,700 units