Click photo for a gallery of the Mitsubishi Delica D:5 ROADEST
Friends, Mitsubishi Japan has given us a new adjective, and we love it. More on that in a minute. The automaker expanded its JDM Delica D:5 range by adding a 2WD variant of the 7-passenger minivan, which until now was only available with power driving all four wheels. (The 4WD Delica D:5 was one of the support vehicles for Mitsubishi's Dakar effort.)
The regular 2WD D:5 has been dubbed the C2, and it's easily differentiated from its 4WD sibling by its monochrome paint scheme and lower ride height. Not content to just have the C2, Mitsu added a fully tricked version called the ROADEST. And really, it's definitely the roadest minivan we've ever laid eyes on, with its fly 17" wheels, exclusive grille, full ground effects, and perfectly and bizarrely Japanese "ROAR Complete" badging. There's a market in Japan for models like this -- Nissan does it too, with Autech Rider versions of just about everything it sells.
We can't help it. We love this. ROADEST, indeed!
[Source: Mitsubishi]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
AMcA @ May 22nd 2007 8:18PM
Will they be using the Delica Space Gear name again?
Alex Nunez @ May 22nd 2007 8:22PM
I don't think so, unfortunately. If it was called the Mitsubishi Delica D:5 Space Gear ROADEST ROAR Complete, it would easily eclipse the Subaru Impreza WRX STi Spec C Type RA-R as most fun name currently in use on a Japanese vehicle.
Larry Fine @ May 22nd 2007 9:45PM
Finally a friend for the Scion bread-box to play with...
jgp @ May 22nd 2007 9:59PM
Ooh...I love Japanese vans. They have a quirky style to them that vans from other countries don't have.
Small Semi-Bonneted Vans like this one, luxury vans (Nissan Elgrand and Honda Elysion come to mind), forward-control beasts (I _love_ the new Toyota Hiace). All are awesome. Europe may make the best cars, but Japan makes the best vans.
As for this particular van, I'd say this easily beats the Nissan Serena as Japan's coolest small Semi-Bonneted Van.
Bryan @ May 22nd 2007 10:21PM
Wow exciting! Not. Yawn.
robz4 @ May 22nd 2007 11:23PM
Hey # 3...I heard they also invited the Honda Element to the party too.
Tom Design @ May 22nd 2007 11:57PM
Ewww...another box on wheels. Where's the optional Domino's sign on the top.
K @ May 23rd 2007 12:21AM
#3 & #6 - you guys are so WAY behind the times. You make yourselves sound like typical Yanks who don't know nothing and are missing out. No offense.
Scion's box and the Honda Elements are almost like "leftover" pieces of all the cool vans that Japan has had for many many years.
Viv @ May 23rd 2007 1:03AM
I like the new look of autoblog.
David @ May 23rd 2007 1:03AM
I still like the Toyota Alphard more.. But this Mitsu is more street than executive, so I guess it appeals to a different crowd.
3cubedminus3squared @ May 23rd 2007 1:15AM
I like the new look too. It makes it look more well done than before.
John Neff @ May 23rd 2007 1:22AM
Hey all, as of this moment they're still pushing the new design through, so you all are the first to see it! Congrats and thanks for reading the site!
ohhh, bacon @ May 23rd 2007 1:41AM
Holy redesign, what no tire tracks?
I think I may like it.....maybe
blogsmith @ May 23rd 2007 5:05AM
grill and headlamps brought to you in part by the new Ford Focus.
Doug @ May 23rd 2007 8:39AM
Looks like they borrowed the headlights of the upcoming US Focus.
blitzkrieg79 @ May 23rd 2007 8:54AM
How could this Delica borrow headlights from the upcoming Ford Focus when this Delica has been out for at least a year in Japan. I think that American designers copied the headlights from Mitsubishi and not the other way around.
speedball3 @ May 23rd 2007 12:36PM
I like it! It's way better looking than a lot of the vans out there. It's like a Chevy Astro van, but cooler. I say bring it! The US could use cooler looking vans.