Even towards the end of its life cycle, the Mitsubishi Delica still has a lot of tricks up its sleeve. Perhaps it’s the boxy aesthetic, but it has served as a solid blank canvas for the aftermarket crowd.
Mitsubishi is well aware of this. Which is why the Japanese automaker is showing off yet another rad concept for the upcoming Tokyo Auto Salon 2025.
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It’s called the Active Seeker and it plays to the Delica’s strengths, namely it’s the only all-wheel drive van of its kind in Japan…or anywhere else in the world. As such, the Active Seeker is equipped with goodies that make it at home in the great outdoors.
For starters, the body is lifted and it rides on unique alloy wheels shod in all-terrain tires. There’s also a steel nudge bar at the front and a pair of auxiliary driving lights by the base of the front pillars. Steel tube step boards are also added, although we wouldn’t double them as rock sliders when the trail gets tougher.
As for the overlanding bits, there’s a sizable roof basket up top, making every inch of available space up there. It also comes with more driving lights for even more visibility in the dark. Oh, and that roof basket is actually the pop up tent, a must have for any outdoor adventurer. Capping off the changes are mountain-themed graphics that resemble, in Mitsubishi’s words, the topography of Tokachi, Hokkaido. It also happens to be the location of the company’s proving grounds.
There was no interior changes mentioned in Mitsubishi’s brief, but there are likely to be a few. Also, it’s possible that the powertrain is the same as the standard Delica. That means a 2.4-liter MIVEC gas engine with 168hp and 232 Nm or a 2.3-liter turbodiesel that makes 146hp and 380Nm.
As for the next-gen Mitsubishi Delica, it’s expected to arrive before the end of the decade. For now, the company isn’t saying exactly when, but it has been hinted that it will also be offered to left-hand drive markets. Watch this space.
