INDIANAPOLIS - Mitsubishi Fuso Truck of America, Inc. (MFTA) introduced its new Canter FE/FG Series trucks, introduced in North America for the first time, at the NTEA Work Truck Show in Indianapolis, Ind.

The new lineup of 2012-model Mitsubishi Fuso cabovers come in five models, covering weight ratings from class 3 through class 5, for vocational needs from dry freight, refrigerated delivery, landscaping and delicate cargo transport to auto recovery, municipal roadwork, and snow plowing.

The line includes standard chassis designs for class 3 through class 5 — the Canter FE125, Canter FE160 and Canter FE180, but also extends to a 7-passenger crew cab model, the Canter FE160CC, and the only 4-wheel-drive medium duty cabover in the industry, the FG4X4.

This video shows the Mitsubishi Fuso press conference at NTEA.

“This is the most extensive redesign we’ve undertaken in seven years,” says Todd Bloom, president and CEO of Mitsubishi Fuso Truck of America, Inc. (MFTA). “We had to develop new drivetrains to meet EPA 2010 regulations, of course. But we asked our designers and engineers to go beyond that, and to put everything they’ve learned about powertrain technology and efficiency into the new Canter FE/FG series of commercial trucks. The resulting trucks don't just represent an incremental improvement over our previous models. The 2012 models represent a new approach to the technology of transporting goods by truck, and they are specifically designed to deliver lower cost of ownership."

The company’s new 4P10 dual-overhead-cam, dual-balance-shaft, turbocharged, intercooled 4-cylinder diesel engine is coupled to an advanced Mitsubishi Fuso Duonic 6-speed, dual-clutch automated manual transmission — the only dual-clutch transmission available in a commercial truck, according to the company.

Adoption of Daimler Commercial Truck's BlueTec SCR (selective catalytic reduction) emissions technology has brought the new drivetrain into EPA 2010 compliance. Yet because the BlueTec system treats emissions in the downstream exhaust rather than in the engine, the engine can be tuned for optimum performance and fuel economy.

“We believe the drivetrain philosophy expressed in our 2012 FE and FG models will help define the future of transport technology,” said Leighton Good, MFTA manager, product & applications. “Our goal has been to maximize efficiency and lower the cost of ownership for our trucks as much as practical. With the combination of the 4P10 engine, Duonic transmission and BlueTec emissions control, these new FUSOs are the smoothest-running, easiest-to-drive cabovers we’ve ever offered, and they boast the highest operating efficiency, as well. A 300-percent increase in the length of the service interval also contributes significantly to lower cost of ownership.”

For 2012, the standard-width 33.5-inch straight ladder frame has been designed with patterned holes at regular intervals along its length and height to make body mounting easier and to save weight without loss of strength. Made with 56,565 psi-yield-strength steel, this new frame provides comparable chassis stiffness and body-fitting ease as the previous FE models, at a substantially lighter weight.

Mitsubishi Fuso engineers used wind tunnel testing to improve the aesthetic profiles of the 2012 models, reduce aerodynamic drag, and improve stability. Compact halogen headlamps allow sculpted corner profiles, which enhance aesthetic appeal while the lamps themselves improve nighttime visibility and boost potential for improved driver safety. Smooth frontal surfaces, combined with faired character lines around the doors, reduce wind noise, so the cabin is quieter, which may help to reduce driver fatigue.

The new 2012 FUSO Canters feature roomy, fully trimmed cabs that provide ample space for the driver plus two passengers to ride in comfort. The parking brake is located between the driver’s seat and the adjacent passenger seat. The transmission shifter is mounted on the dash, with a well-defined shift pattern label, and the FG4X4’s transfer case range-selector lever is mounted at dashboard height, to the left of the steering wheel, so the floor area is clear of obstructions. This allows the driver and passengers to easily exit the vehicle on the curb side.

Mitsubishi Fuso’s offset door hinges open to 70 degrees then pushes forward several inches to provide full access for driver and passengers, while limiting the extension of the doors into traffic or curbside obstructions.

Turning diameter for the Canter FE models with 110.2-inch wheelbase is a tight 34.1 ft. — shorter than the turning diameter of a MINI Cooper (35.1') — so maneuvering through a crowded job site or navigating tight urban streets is no problem for these new Canter FEs.

The Canter FEs also feature dual-caliper hydraulic disc service brakes with vacuum servo assist and ABS on all four wheels, while the FG4X4 uses hydraulic drum service brakes with ABS all around. All models include an electronic brake override system for added safety.

All of the 2012 models include instrumentation designed to be easy to read, day or night, with the information panel located in direct line of sight. Cycling through the digital displays provides the driver with up-to-the-minute status on a wide variety of truck systems, fluid levels, and performance parameters.

Power windows and door locks are standard, with one-touch up and down on the driver-side window. The window drive mechanism immediately stops the window’s upward travel if it encounters an obstacle. Doors also include a crush bar, to help increase frontal impact protection. The collapsible steering column offers both tilt and telescoping adjustments via one control.

The center and right-hand seats fold down to form a work area for the driver, and extra storage compartments have been added in the cab area. Models are available in five cab colors — Natural White, Arcadia Silver, Jupiter Green, Mars Red and Shannon Blue, while blue seat cloth is furnished standard on all models.

The full line of Canter FEs and FGs include a 3-year/unlimited mileage bumper-to-bumper warranty, a 4-year/unlimited mileage rust-through warranty, and a 5-year/175,000-mile powertrain limited warranty. The 5-year warranty includes most bolt-on components as well as wetted driveline components, the company stated.