Mitsubishi PH Lends 2 Additional L300 Units for COVID-19 Response

To help further boost the transportation needs for the city’s front liners, Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation (MMPC) extended its assistance to the local government of Santa Rosa City, Laguna by lending two L300 units.

The L300 vehicles were personally handed over to Santa Rosa City Mayor Arlene Arcillas. The units will be utilized as a shuttle service for the front liners to and from their respective destinations within the boundaries of Santa Rosa City during the enhanced community quarantine period. This brings the total units lent by MMPC to four after an initial lend out last March.

In her message, Mayor Arcillas shared, “The City of Santa Rosa would like to thank Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation for lending us two Mitsubishi L300 units to be used during this time of need, when all the resources not only of the LGUs, of the national government but of the private groups as well are really very important… the said units are now being used to shuttle people and goods that we distribute to our constituents who are home quarantined…we truly appreciate all the help and support of MMPC to the City of Santa Rosa not only now but ever since the Corporation has chosen the City to be their home… again, to MMPC, maraming, maraming salamat po!”

MMPC President and CEO Mutsuhiro Oshikiri, on the other hand, also expressed his gratitude to the city’s front liners, “Mitsubishi Motors Philippines is one with the city government of Santa Rosa in the fight against this virus. We our deeply thankful and grateful for all the sacrifice being done by our front liners to keep this wonderful city safe. We will remain your partner in these trying times. ” With the extension of the enhanced community quarantine, MMPC shall also extend the lend out of the units.

Mitsubishi PH Helps Santa Rosa's COVID-19 Efforts

As its way of recognizing the efforts of Filipinos, particularly at its hometown of Santa Rosa City, Laguna, Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation (MMPC) lent out L300 shuttle units through the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

These two L300 units were provided to DOTr to assist in the servicing of health workers, support staff, and other front liners from Sta. Rosa City in Laguna to Muntinlupa City and vice versa during the Enhance Community Quarantine period.

An additional two L300 units were lent to the local government of Sta. Rosa City to transport the city’s front liners within the area.

Each unit will be allowed to carry 10 passengers, including the driver, to observe the social distancing rule being implemented.

“Mitsubishi Motors acknowledges the sacrifice being done by our frontliners. From the people in the medical field, our uniformed personnel, food and service crew, security guards and other support personnel, we salute your bravery, selflessness and dedication in protecting our communities from this virus.” as shared by MMPC President and CEO, Mr. Mutsuhiro Oshikiri

Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Chooses Mitsubishi for Its Fleet Needs

Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Corporation (PMFTC) recently acquired 96 brand new units of fleet vehicles from Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation (MMPC). The recent purchase comprised of 48 units of L300, 46 units of Montero Sport, and 2 units of Pajero. The acquisition of these units is part of PMFTC fleet expansion.

These units were delivered by MMPC’s dealers Citimotors Inc., Makati and Diamond Motor Corp. - Quezon Avenue. According to PMFTC the units will be utilize for various business operations all over the country.

When asked what made them choose Mitsubishi as their preferred brand, PMFTC representatives shared that Mitsubishi vehicles are reliable, has innovative features and are easy to maintain with its affordable cost of ownership. They also shared that these vehicles have an excellent record of accomplishment over the past years.

Through continuous coordination and collaboration, MMPC and PMFTC remain committed to deliver the best for its customers.

Mitsubishi PH Delivers L300, Xpander Units Through Government's Transparent Procurement System

Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation (MMPC) recently delivered L300s and Xpander units to the Department of Health (DOH) through the Procurement Service, an attached agency of the Department of Budget and Management.

With the Procurement Service, government agencies can order the vehicles via online and have it delivered to the agency doorstep after validation and payment of request. This initiative aims to further streamline the process of procuring motor vehicles while maintaining the principles of economy, efficiency, and check and balances.

The total number of approved units to be delivered by Mitsubishi through the system are 232 units of the L300 Euro 4 with FB Body and 33 units of the Xpander GLX Plus AT through CitiMotors Makati and Diamond Motors Fairview, respectively.

Aside from DOH, MMPC is set to deliver more units to various agencies with vehicle requirements from PS-DBM in the coming months.

As one of the partners of the Procurement Service, MMPC supports the government’s thrust to reform the government procurement system and ensure transparency, efficiency, and economic use of tax payer’s money.

2019 Isuzu Traviz vs Mitsubishi L300 vs Hyundai H-100 vs Kia K2500

With the launch of the 2019 Traviz, Isuzu Philippines Corporation now wants to provide their own version of a “last-mile” mobility solution. And while it fits perfectly into Isuzu’s existing line-up of trucks and commercial vehicles, the Traviz finds itself in heavy competition from both Japanese and Korean quarters.

Since the Traviz is the newcomer in its segment, it’s going against the Hyundai H-100 (currently the segment’s best-seller), its mechanical twin, the Kia K2500 Karga, and the re-born Mitsubishi L300 Euro 4. It’s time to pit these four in a spec showdown.

Right off the bat, the L300 has the advantage thanks to its low retail price. However, surprisingly, the Kia isn’t that far off—at just P 6,000 more than the Mitsubishi. The Traviz is the biggest loser here since it’s the most expensive offering. Despite its high price tag though, the Traviz is definitely the “toughest” one here boasting a 1.6-ton payload capacity. The Hyundai comes second, and it’s a whopping 320 kilograms down versus the Isuzu.

In terms of outright power though, both Japanese offerings here are shadowed by their Korean counterparts. Both the Hyundai H-100 and Kia K2500 offer 130 horsepower and 128 horsepower respectively, while the Traviz comes as the weakest with just 78 horsepower. It’s the same story with torque with the H-100 and K2500 having 255 Nm of torque, while the Traviz is also the weakest at 176 Nm. The story is the same with the accompanying gearbox with both Japanese trucks having just five forward gears to the Korean’s 6-speed manuals. And with just a brand-new heart, the L300, unsurprisingly is the only one here with an old-school nut & bolt steering system; the rest offer a more advanced rack & pinion system.

For ownership, all of these light-duty trucks offer impressive warranties, but the Hyundai stands out with their 5-year / unlimited mileage warranty.

You can check out the full comparison below and pass judgement yourself.

2020 Mitsubishi L300 vs Hyundai H-100 vs Kia K2500

The loss of the Fuso brand to newly-minted distributor Sojitz Fuso Corporation early this year was a blow to Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, considering the demand for light-duty trucks is growing locally. The resurrection of the L300 softens that blow though, giving MMPC the chance once more to fight back and gain market share once more.

The two-year absence of the L300 though is enough to change the game for Mitsubishi. As the Japanese carmaker developed a clean diesel powertrain for their 32-year old commercial vehicle, the Koreans—Hyundai and Kia—beefed up their own light truck offerings, quickly updating their H-100 and K2500. While neither has yet to become a household name, they did chip away some of the L300’s luster by offering a Euro-4 compliant powertrain first.

But now that the L300’s back, will the tide change? It’s time to see how their specs match up (the chart is high-res).

Part of the L300’s charm was its low price tag. Critically, the L300 remains the most affordable truck in this three-way battle, but its advantage isn’t by much—just P 6,000 more affordable than the K2500.

Glancing at the spec sheet, it’s clear that the Mitsubishi’s price jump was fueled mainly by its all-new engine (the rest of its specs read like a true 90s remnant). Yet, its much-hyped powerplant still makes considerably lower power (up to 31 horsepower) and torque (55 Nm) than both of its Korean counterparts. It’s also bound to be less efficient on the highway with its 5-speed manual (vs 6-speed manual in its rivals); a problem exacerbated by its smaller fuel tank (55 liters vs up to 65 liters in the Hyundai).

For those planning to fill their light trucks to the brim, it’s worth noting that the L300 loses in maximum payload capacity to the Hyundai H-100 (1,335 kilograms vs 1,085 kilograms), but surprisingly beats out the K2500 by 85 kilograms—the weight of about one plump Filipino adult.

In terms of convenience features, not much separates all three, but in the Hyundai, the audio system is optional (so is air conditioning). The biggest shock though is that the L300 may be using a brand-new engine, but it still uses an archaic ball-and-nut steering vs the rack-and-pinion steering on the other two. This would mean that the L300’s steering is more prone to wearing, requires more steering effort, and may have the tendency to whip and vibrate at high speed.

Warranty is another area where the L300 loses. While its 3-year/100,000-kilometer warranty is generous, it’s no match for the Kia’ 3-year/110,000-kilometer warranty much less Hyundai’s 5-year/unlimited mileage warranty. A caveat though: in both the Hyundai and Kia’s cases, this warranty is applicable for non-public conveyance use.

10 Things That are Younger Than the Mitsubishi L300

The Mitsubishi L300 is officially back. After being put into cryogenic storage in 2017, the venerable workhorse is back two years later sporting a brand-new heart. Despite its cleaner and more powerful 4N14 heart, the basic platform dates back to 1987. This makes the L300 an unprecedented 32 years old this year (well, 30 if you include the break).

You can check the full details and specs of the 2020 L300 here, but for now, let’s play a little game. Here are 10 things which are actually younger than the Mitsubishi L300.

1. Nokia 2110: Launched in 1993

While not exactly the oldest GSM mobile phone, the Nokia 2110 is the first that’s fondly remembered by a lot of people. Its features included text sending/receiving capability, a list of 10 dialled/missed/received calls, and it was “revolutionary” for its two-key user interface. Extra bit of trivia—the first mass-produced GSM phone, the Nokia 1011 was launched in 1992 making it even younger than the L300.

2. Apple’s First Laptop: Launched in 1989

Look around a coffee shop and chances are, almost everyone is sporting an Apple Macbook. It’s hard to imagine that when the L300 came out, Apple didn’t even have anything portable then. When they did launch the Macintosh Portable, it cost a whopping USD 7,300 in 1987 money and its features included 1MB of RAM, a 640x400 display, and a 40 MB hard drive.

3. Sega Mega Drive: Launched in 1988

How’s this for a holy shit moment? Sega’s been busying tugging at nostalgia with the release of the Genesis Mini that it comes as a surprise that the original Genesis aka Mega Drive came out of the market in 1988. Sega’s most successful home gaming console, the Mega Drive ushered in the “console wars” with Nintento and their Super Famicom / Super NES which itself came out in 1991.

4. Casio G-Shock Frogman: Launched in 1993

Though Casio’s G-Shock line was introduced in 1983, it took the watchmaker a full decade to come up with their flagship Frogman line. When the G-Shock Frogman was released, it quickly became popular as a diving watch thanks to its then-spectacular 200-m water resistant rating.

5. Starbucks Frappuccino: Launched in 1995

Starbs without the Frapp? WTF?! Well, that’s right. Despite being synonymous with the coffee chain, everyone’s first foray into coffee was introduced eight years after Mitsubishi started bringing kids to school. Of course, mixing espresso, ice, cream, and a whole lot of sugary crap doesn’t really fall into hardcore coffee, but it did start the caffeine addiction that most still crave today.

5. Calvin Klein Eternity: Launched in 1988

It seems almost forever that the Calvin Klein’s Eternity was the go-to scent of high school chick boys. Hard to think that this was launched a year after the L300 first hit the road—and this was the women’s version, mind you. Eternity of Men only came out two years later in 1990.

6. George Foreman Grill: Launched in 1994

Officially known as, “George Foreman Lean Mean Fat-Reducing Grilling Machine,” it’s a staple in your tita and your tita’s tita’s kitchen. It’s surprising to find out that George’s only been grilling stuff the “healthy way” since 1994.

7. Splenda: Launched in 1999

Yet another arsenal in your tita’s kitchen, the artificial sweetener brand Splenda came out just 20 years ago. This sucralose-based sweetener enabled your cake-loving tita to create cakes that are “healthy” because they’re “sugar-free.”

8. STAR Tollway: Opened in 2001

So how did you get to your beach house in Batangas then? In yet another hard to imagine moment, the now 42-kilometer toll road that connects Metro Manila to the Southern Tagalog region didn’t exist until 2001. And for a while, it was the go-to place for unregulated high-speed runs until traffic took hold. Now, it’s a jam-packed highway, just like anywhere else.

9. True Faith: Formed in 1991

While Side A and The Dawn are both older than the L300, the new wave band, True Faith was actually formed in 1991 making it younger than Mitsubishi’s very own resurgent van. Additional trivia: the L300 is also older than Smokey Mountain, Parokya ni Edgar, and Moonstar 88.

10. SM Megamall: Opened in 1991

Yup, the second largest mall in the Philippines wasn’t around when the L300 first hit Mitsubishi showroom floors. This likely meant that the L300 was actually delivering construction materials or workers to the sprawling construction site for 4 years. Interestingly enough, the L300 also predates the already prehistoric-looking Robinsons Galleria. In other words, if you wanted to hang out with your L300, your only options then? COD in Cubao.

UPDATED: The 2020 Mitsubishi L300 Euro-4 is More Powerful But More Expensive (w/ Specs, Brochure)

Update: Mitsubishi Philippines just released the official power figures. Article as been updated (8/27).

Just like what they’ve done with the Lancer “box-type” in the 1980s, Mitsubishi Motors Philippines is about to mark the comeback of one of its most beloved icons: the L300. Discontinued last year due to the country’s shift to Euro 4 emission regulations, the L300 is back, this time sporting a cleaner, more powerful engine, and sadly a hefty price jump.

Mitsubishi dealers across the country is now accepting reservations for the L300 Euro 4. In order to comply with the new emissions standards, the Japanese carmaker has successfully shoehorned the 2.2-liter 4N14, an engine also used in the ASX, Eclipse Cross, Delica, and Outlander. Though MMPC has yet to reveal any official power and torque figures, they do promise “40 percent more torque and power and 10 percent more fuel efficiency” compared to the pre-CRDi L300. The sole transmission is a 5-speed manual. (UPDATE: an updated flyer now indicates the official power figures as: 99 horsepower @ 3,500 rpm and 200 Nm of torque @ 1,000-1,500 rpm.

Along with the new engine, Mitsubishi has increased the cab height of the L300 by 100 millimeters for improved visibility. Ground clearance remains the same at 195 mm.

Initially available in the “Exceed” body style, the L300 Euro 4 has bigger taillights, new sliding windows, re-contoured side panels, and a gutter-less roof design. Inside, it has a dual A/C system and a 17-seater seating capacity. It also features spray-on lining in the passenger compartment for easy upkeep, too.

The 2019 L300 Euro 4 Exceed is now being offered at P 998,000, a hefty increase from the previous model (P 806,000).  Yet, it puts it equal with the Kia Karga (P 998,000), but still cheaper than the Hyundai H-100 Shuttle (P 1,230,000).

2019 Mitsubishi L300 Exceed Euro 4 Specifications:

• Overall Length: 4,260 mm
• Overall Width: 1,695 mm
• Overall Height: 1,895 mm
• Wheelbase: 2,350 mm
• Ground Clearance: 195 mm
• Maximum Gross Vehicle Weight: 2,345 kg
• Curb Weight: 1,200 kg
• Payload: 1,145 kg
• Engine: 2.2 4N14 Euro 4 Compliant
• Maximum Power: 99 horsepower @ 3,500 rpm
• Maximum Torque: 200 Nm @ 1,000-3,500 rpm
• Fuel System: Electronic Common Rail Direct Injection
• Fuel Tank: 55 liters
• Front Suspension: Independent, Double Wishbone
• Rear Suspension: Semi-Elliptic Leaf Spring
• Front Brakes: 10-inch Ventilated Disc
• Rear Brakes: 10-inch Leading and Trailing Drums
• Steering: Ball-and-Nut Gear Type, Power Steering
• Steering Wheel: 2-spoke Polypropylene
• Tires: 185R14C-8PR
• Wheels: 14 x 5.0 J Steel Rims