If Nissan could benefit from a re-badged Xpander, why wouldn’t a re-badged Urvan work for Mitsubishi? Buried in Nissan’s Re:Nissan turnaround plan is confirmation that Nissan will be working on a van, specifically for Mitsubishi Motors in the Philippines.
Based on the presentation (see slide below), Nissan will work with Mitsubishi for an “OEM-out” project for a van, specific to the Philippine market. No details have been revealed except that it’ll be due out sometime in 2025.
Another “OEM-out” project is being considered for an EV.
Currently, Nissan has several vans in their line-up for a possible Mitsubishi conversion. However, the best bet is the current NV350 or better known locally as the Urvan. In Japan, it’s already available with Mitsubishi’s 4N16 diesel engine coupled with a 7-speed automatic.
If it does make it to the Philippines, it might use the name, Delica. Delica refers to Mitsubishi’s line of cabover vans and trucks, and while Mitsubishi also sells the Delica D:5 in Japan (see above), it’s completely unrelated to any Nissan product whatsoever.
I think it will still be powered by the YD25 here in the Philippines. Since the whole purpose of this badge engineering exercise is to save costs, I do not see Mitsubishi spending the resources to homologate a more expensive engine (4N16) plus spending even more adapting it to local fuel standards (Japan-spec NV350 with the 4N16 uses adblue, btw). The 4N16 variant of the NV350 also doesn't come with a manual which is the preferred transmission choice of local business owners; which means that if they were to use the Mitsubishi engine, they would have to develop a manual transmission for it. Using the existing Nissan engine makes much more sense from a financial standpoint.
ReplyDeleteKahit 4n15 lang na detuned ilagay nila magiging swak na yun. Pero yung 4n16 pwede naman eh since yun na engine ng bagong triton dito. Too old at agricultural na ang yd25 if ever na yun parin.
DeleteCorrect
DeleteSo the Nissan NV350 uses Mitsubishi engine (at least in other regions) while the Mitsubishi version will use Nissan engine. Sayang, the YD25 in the Urvan could still be massively improved in terms of performance and refinement, which the 4N16 is already a big leap forward if the current Navara vs Triton is used as reference.
DeleteIf we're talking about the NV350, the Fuso division of Mitsubishi already had a version of it for the Middle Eastern market back in 2014 named Mitsubishi Fuso Canter Van. Perhaps the van could go the same way with modifications.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.mitsubishi-fuso.com/oa/en/press/141003/141003.html
The current Urvan is rough, has poor ride quality and noise insulation compared to the Hiace. It needs to improve a lot to become competitive against Toyota.
ReplyDeleteMitsubishi L350
ReplyDeleteMore interesting to me is to hope that Mitsu would assemble that new van in PH.
ReplyDeleteUnlikely to happen due to cost of production issues
DeleteRode the current urban and past gen hiace. Gaspang ng urban. Needs the Mitsubishi engine. A rebadged urban w mitsu engine will sell well here
ReplyDeleteMitsubishi van based on the Nissan NV350 Urvan is just fine as Mitsubishi Motors Philippines wants to expand its small vehicle lineup offerings.
ReplyDeleteNissan Livina based on the Mitsubishi Xpander beaten the Nissan Kicks and Almera sales numbers wise in the Philippine market last year
Pamahal ng pamahal mga sasakyan sasakyan ngayon..make sure yung delica na gagawiw nyo kaya mka akyat ng bundok
ReplyDeleteNissan Urvan after that SCTEX toll plaza accident is a scrap. Safety issues of Nissan and Kia mini SUV in question
ReplyDeleteYou're talking about the 1980's to 1990's box type Nissan Urvan you fool
DeleteI'd prefer it to called it an L350 (L300+NV350)
ReplyDeleteDelicia D5 exists in Japan so they wouldn't call it Delica here. Would be nothing like a D5 anyway
ReplyDeleteMy favourite car i drove in japan bukod sa bagong Toyota Voxy. Napaka taas ng view sa driver side ng Toyota Voxy and Delica, almost no Blindspot.
ReplyDeleteThe chassis of the current Nissan Urvan is not good and the engine is also rough. The combination is terrible like a 1980s vehicle. If Mitsu will use same combination, they should not bother launching it. With a 4N16 engine, smoothness will be better and with less vibration and noise. It still won't be as good as a Hiace since the 4N engine has less pulling performance.
ReplyDeleteChassis and engine of the Nissan NV350 Urvan is way better than the 21 year old box type Toyota Hiace that Toyota still continues to produce and sell.
DeleteJust saying na magaspang sa urvan. Our company has both of them. Same year same base model variant. Hiace rides better. Your body doesn't care about the age of the design it is all about the ride
ReplyDelete