Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. hopes to boost its market share in the competitive truck segment with the introduction of the seventh-generation Fuso Canter models.
The new Fuso Canter, developed by Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corp. and one of the leading commercial vehicles in Asia, now runs with enhanced safety, functionality, comfort, reliability, and economy.
"(We) are certain that it will meet our customers' expectation levels for their light duty truck requirements," said Masahiko Ueki, Mitsubishi Motors Philippines president and chief executive. "We look forward to the success of the all-new Fuso Canter and expect that this introduction will bring additional positive growth in terms of sales commensurate to the continuing economic recovery of the country."
According to Froilan Dytianquin, Mitsubishi Philippines' assistant vice-president for marketing services, the significant changes the all-new Fuso Canter has over its previous generation.
"The in-cabin ergonomics of the all-new Fuso Canter has been improved over that of the previous generation," Dytianquin said. "Almost everything is now in reach of the driver. The seats have been improved, the steering wheel, the dashboard; even the gear lever is now mounted on the dashboard making it easier for the driver to reach and shift gears, not on the floor like in the older Fuso Canters."
Dytianquin also said the all-new Fuso Canter's cab and chassis have benefited from Mitsubishi's patented safety body construction system known as RISE (Realized Impact Safety Evolution) and that its engines, besides being more powerful than that of the previous-generation's, are now Euro 2 compliant.
The Fuso Canter is powered by two engines, with the four-wheeler FE71 and six-wheeler FE83 variants receiving a turbocharged and intercooled 4D34-2AT5 diesel engine that has an output of 108hp and 275Nm of torque. The six-wheeler FE85, meanwhile, has the 4D34-2AT4 diesel engine and it churns out 134hp and 370Nm of torque.
Prices for the all-new Fuso Canter are P1.120 million for the four-wheeler FE71, P1.255 million for the six-wheeler FE83, and P1.355 million for the more powerful FE85 six-wheeler.
