Mitsubishi Motor Corporation and Mitsubishi Motors
Krama Yudha Sales Indonesia (MMKSI) have unveiled the Mitsubishi Expander in
Indonesia. The MPV has not officially been christened as Expander and is
referred to by the company as the “Next Generation MPV”. The commercial name
could be revealed at GIIAS 2017 in Jakarta that kicks off on 10 August where
the crossover MPV makes its public debut.
Consistent with the teasers and leaked images, the
new MPV features a nose styled based on the Mitsubishi’s ‘Dynamic Shield’
philosophy. It features a rather unusual setup wherein the headlamps and turn
indicators occupy space in the front bumper. The triple-slat chrome grille is
flanked by LED pilot lamps on either side.
At the back, there are L-shape tail light clusters
with LED detailing. The Expander has been given a floating roof effect thanks
to the semi-darkened C-pillar. Other highlights include a chrome strip that
runs across the window sill and dual tone split spoke 16-inch alloy wheels.
Compared to the flashy exterior, the dashboard
design of the Mitsubishi Expander is sedated. It is finished in a dual tone
black and beige combination with faux wood inserts. The touchscreen display for
the infotainment unit does not sit flush with the centre console. Below the
display are circular aircon controls. Silver highlights adorn the aircon vents,
centre console and the three-spoke steering wheel. The instrument cluster
houses the analogue dial and a digital MID screen in the middle. The cabin can
accommodate up to 7 passengers, and a width of 1,410 mm allows for easy
sideways movement of the second-row seats. The folding middle row is a 60:40
split while the third-row seats are 50:50 split.
As reported earlier, powering the Mitsubishi MPV will
be a 1.5 MIVEC petrol engine that comes with either a 5-speed manual or a
4-speed automatic transmission. The Expander is 4,475 mm long, 1,750 mm wide
and 1,700 mm tall making it larger than rivals. It has a ground clearance of
205 mm.
The Next Generation MPV from Mitsubishi will go on
sale at the GIIAS 2017 at an estimated price of 189 million to 246 million
Rupiah.
