MPV with 1.5-litre MIVEC engine will enter Indonesian market first before end of this year
You don’t have to use a lot of brain power to figure out why Mitsubishi chose the on-going GAIKINDO Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS) in Jakarta as venue for the global reveal of the XPANDER. This is an MPV after all, and this 7-seater configuration inside a rather compact construction is wildly popular throughout the country; a nation that last year recorded up to 854,000 units sold in the passenger vehicle segment.
[The XPANDER made its first global appearance at the same show in the form of the XM Concept. Read about it here]
The XPANDER certainly looks sharp, the front end almost successfully retaining its original Concept look when in fact MMC has already decided that its production will be based at the company’s new factory in the Bekasi Prefecture, West Java province. The plan is for an annual production of 80,000 units, and it will go on sale in Indonesia within a few months with plans to ship it to other ASEAN countries – plus others (although not indicating which markets exactly) – from early 2018.
Length, width and height is 4,475mm, 1,750mm, and 1,700mm respectively with a ground clearance of 205mm (the latter for models with 16 inch rims). The front grille’s ‘Dynamic Shield’ design is already seen in the current Outlander PHEV, Pajero Sport, and Eclipse Cross, as a way to express to passengers that the vehicle offers protection to them.
Other design cues include sharply flared wheel arches, LED position lights that are located high up in the engine hood in order to make the XPANDER more visible. Mitsubishi claims a largest-in-segment cabin space plus with generous luggage space. Second and third row seats can be folded 60:40 and 50:50 respectively to offer a large storage area with a flat floor. The number of bottle holders available is probably not high up in what you want to know about the MPV, but just to mess with you, there are 16 of em’ inside the MPV.
Other things we know: outside noise is kept out of the cabin by using soundproof glass, there is a concealed storage box in the dashboard, rear passengers get their own air-cond blower, internet connectivity for the entertainment unit is possible via Bluetooth connection, the XPANDER has keyless operation, and each seat has its own smartphone tray.
Mitsubishi claims a high level of ride comfort and driving stability from a lightweight and high strength body. Brake Assist, ABS, Active Stability Control, Hill Start Assist, two airbags, and Emergency Stop Signal system are standard safety features.
The XPANDER is powered by a petrol-burning 16-valve 1.5-litre MIVEC that makes 105ps that is connected to a choice of 5-speed manual or 4-speed auto gearbox. Front-wheel drive, of course.
There are a total of five grades made available in Indonesia with price that starts at 189,050,000Rp, or roughly RM60,900. The top-spec Ultimate trim is expected to reach 245,350,000Rp (RM80,000).
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