For many years, the Mitsubishi Delica has confirmed itself a rugged, dependable base van for mini-camper vans and pint-sized journey vans. So when Mitsubishi launched the even smaller, adorably bulldog-inspired Delica Mini three years in the past, it appeared solely a matter of time earlier than that, too, began constructing a micro-RVing resume. And it is truly Mitsubishi itself that exhibits the primary Delica Mini camper van we have come throughout, an lovely kei pop-up idea able to roam the Japanese mountains and shoreline.
The minute we realized Mitsubishi was creating a kei-size model of its already small, cult-classic Delica van, we knew it had micro-camping potential like few different debut automobiles in historical past. The Delica established itself a long time in the past as one of many all-time greats of tiny tenting and journey, so an excellent smaller model of the nameplate appeared a natural-born adventurer, no less than for the Japanese home market by which kei vehicles (and kei campers) roam.
Mitsubishi Motors
Mitsubishi was clearly on the identical web page from the get-go, picturing the little kei van on the campground from its very first teasers. A pair months later, it adopted up with a number of present Minis, one in all which was developed in collaboration with Coleman, the ever-present American tenting gear maker that has lengthy had a powerful market presence in Japan.
Mitsubishi
Time flies, and three years after the Delica Mini’s world premiere, we nonetheless hadn’t seen a full-blown camper van model by the shut of 2025.
Fortunately, that adjustments for the brand new yr and comes straight from the nice people at Mitsubishi itself. Following a minor refresh in October 2025, the Delica Mini is now formally a camper van – or an idea camper van, no less than.
One amongst a sequence of present vans Mitsubishi has developed for a “Delica Pageant” celebration on the upcoming Tokyo Auto Salon is the Delica Mini Energetic Camper, aka Delica Mini Pop – the primary Delica Mini camper to make its manner onto the worldwide stage, if not the primary Delica Mini camper, interval.
Mitsubishi Motors
After a fast preliminary look on the Mini Energetic Camper photograph Mitsubishi launched forward of this week’s debut, we thought the automaker had phoned it in by merely planting a rooftop tent aboard a fundamental Mini van. Mitsubishi calls it a pop-up roof, nonetheless, which makes it a full-time camper van – or no less than, sleeper van – with an higher mattress that is all the time prepared for an overnighter, with out the necessity to mount or take away a standalone roof tent.
Different upgrades embrace an ARB awning, front-mounted auxiliary gentle bar and entrance skid safety. That accent set, together with the extra-knobby tires, means that the Delica Mini on the coronary heart of the idea is supplied with the obtainable 4WD system. In that case, that will put its whole floor clearance at 185 mm (7.3 in) because of the 25-mm suspension elevate included on the idea.
Mitsubishi Motors
As you in all probability do not recall from previous debuts (no less than we did not), each 2WD and 4WD variants come powered by a turbocharged 659cc three-cylinder fuel engine that places out a completely valuable 51 to 63 hp (38 to 47 kW) and 44 to 74 lb-ft of torque (60 to 100 Nm), relying on trim. The 134-in-long (340-cm) four-seater rides on a 98.4-in (250-cm) wheelbase.
In fact, one idea camper doesn’t a “pageant” make, and the Mini Delica Energetic Camper can be accompanied by a critical of different fun-loving and outdoorsy ideas, of each Mini and customary Delica origin. In truth, the Delica D:5, which was refreshed simply a few short weeks ago will put on Energetic Camper guise of its personal for the present.
Mitsubishi Motors
There isn’t any pop-up roof on the full-size Delica camper, so it presumably has some kind of inside camper configuration with fold-down seats. In any other case, hypothetical campers should mount their very own rooftop tent on the platform rack carrying the awning. Confirmed as a 4WD, Mitsubishi developed this one in collaboration with Japanese tenting and out of doors model Logos.
Sadly, the primary Delica Mini camper van is however an idea, and even when it had been an actual product, it might be restricted to the Japanese market. That mentioned, the annual Japanese Tenting Automobile follows only a few weeks after the Tokyo Auto Salon on the similar Makuhari Messe simply exterior Tokyo in Chiba. Now that the primary Delica Mini camper is on the market, we’ll hold a detailed eye out for added conversions.
Within the meantime, you’ll be able to see the opposite “Delica Pageant” version present automobiles within the gallery, forward of their debut. The Tokyo Auto Salon opens up on Friday, January 9.
Supply: Mitsubishi
