INDIANAPOLIS – Introduced here at the Work Truck Show, the all new Canter FE/FG Series of cabover models from Mitsubishi Fuso feature the 4P10 turbocharged diesel engine, Duonic 6-speed automated manual transmission featuring the industry’s only double-clutch technology, and Daimler’s BlueTec SCR emissions control. Mitsubishi Fuso is 90 percent owned by the German giant.

Long successful in Japan and doing well in Europe, with a hybrid model in the range, the Canter brand is new to North America, though its arrival here has been anticipated for some time.

There are five Canter models covering weight ratings from class 3 through class 5, addressing virtually every vocational need. There are standard chassis designs — the FE125, FE160 and FE180 — but also a 7-passenger crew cab model, the FE160CC, and the only 4-wheel-drive medium-duty cabover in the industry, the FG4X4. No hybrid model yet. 

The FG4X4 is the only four wheel drive
medium-duty cabover in the industry

The 4P10 turbocharged engine is newly minted. It sports dual overhead cams and dual balance shafts. Among the improvements over previous models, its service interval is 18,000 miles, up from 6,000.

For these 2012 models, the standard-width 33.5-in. 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 is said to offer comparable chassis stiffness and body-fitting ease as previous FE models at a substantially lighter weight. The company claims this gives the new FE a payload advantage of as much as 2,200 lb over competitive models.

The Canter FEs feature hydraulic disc brakes with ABS on all four wheels, while the FG4X4 uses hydraulic drums with ABS all around. All models include an electronic brake override system for added safety.

On the inside, the new Canters offer space for the driver plus two passengers. The transmission shifter is mounted on the dash, 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.

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

Power windows and door locks are standard, with one-touch up and down on the driver-side window. 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.

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 latter covers most bolt-on components as well as wetted driveline components, Fuso says.