Mitsubishi Freeca (VA/VB)
Mitsubishi Freeca (pre-facelift, Taiwan)
Overview
Manufacturer
Also called
  • Mitsubishi Adventure (Philippines)
  • Mitsubishi Kuda (Indonesia)
  • Mitsubishi Jolie (Vietnam)
  • Soueast Freeca (China)
  • Africar Landio/Jockey (South Africa)
Production
  • 1997–2017 (Taiwan)
  • 1998–2017 (Philippines)
  • 1999–2005 (Indonesia)
Assembly
Body and chassis
Class
Body style
  • 5-door wagon
  • 2-door pickup (Taiwan only)
LayoutFront-engine, rear-wheel-drive
ChassisBody-on-frame
Powertrain
Engine
Transmission
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,620 mm (103.1 in)
Length4,320–4,375 mm (170.1–172.2 in)
Width1,650–1,690 mm (65.0–66.5 in)
Height1,800–1,830 mm (70.9–72.0 in)
Curb weight1,445–1,500 kg (3,186–3,307 lb)
Chronology
Successor

The Mitsubishi Freeca is a station wagon and pickup truck designed by Mitsubishi Motors and China Motor Corporation for the Asian market, and built in Taiwan, China, the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam.

The model name "Freeca" is coined from "free" and "ca", the Taiwanese for vehicle.[2] It was marketed as the Mitsubishi Adventure in the Philippines, Mitsubishi Kuda in Indonesia and Mitsubishi Jolie in Vietnam.

The vehicle was internally referred to as the Dynamic Family Wagon (DFW). It has a "semi-bonnet" design with a rear-wheel drive layout and body-on-frame chassis. Product development and parts production were shared between Taiwan, the Philippines and Indonesia.[2][3]

Overview

The Mitsubishi Freeca was first released on 11 September 1997, while the Adventure and Kuda was released in January 1998 and March 1999 respectively.[2][4][3]

Markets

Philippines

In the Philippines, the Adventure was given major redesigns in 2001 and then 2004, then a minor facelift in late 2009. Trims include the GLX, GLX SE, GLS Sport, Super Sport and Grand Sport. The 50,000th Adventure was manufactured in the Philippines plant in March 2005.[5]

The original pre-facelift model continued to be sold in 2006 as the Adventure GX. They were both sold alongside the facelifted model. It was essentially a stripped down Adventure meant for commercial or fleet use. the "GX" serves as the most basic base-model of the Adventure lineup. Another version of the Adventure GX, called the Adventure TX, was made specifically to be used for taxicabs/UV Express use. Although the TX is seen more of a trim on the Adventure GX rather than another version of the car. Sales of the GX ended in 2017, but few remaining units were sold until 2018 in some dealerships.

Indonesia

The vehicle is also known as the Mitsubishi Kuda in Indonesia where it was locally manufactured by PT Krama Yudha Kesuma Motor and marketed by Krama Yudha Tiga Berlian until 2005 when its manufacturing plant was closed.[6] "Kuda" means horse in Indonesian.

Vietnam

The vehicle was marketed as the Mitsubishi Jolie in Vietnam.

China

From 2001 to 2017, the Freeca was rebadged by the Soueast brand for China.

South Africa

Badge engineered Taiwanese-made Freecas were also briefly available in the South African market, locally assembled in Cape Town and sold as the Africar Landio and Africar Jockey.[7]

Mitsubishi Freeca
Mitsubishi Adventure
Mitsubishi Kuda
Soueast Freeca

Production

Year Taiwan
(Freeca)		 Philippines
(Adventure)		 Indonesia
(Kuda)		 China
(Freeca)
1997–99 Figures unavailable
2000 17,044 6,729 20,916 1,050
2001 13,531 7,714 4,776 7,350
2002 12,537 7,742 9,669 8,970
2003 11,800 3,921 7,350 12,630
2004 11,359 5,868 5,670 7,458
2005 12,479* 5,876 825 4,163
2006 4,791* 4,560 - 1,911
2007 6,682* 6,033 - 1,650
2008 2,133* 4,570 - 721

* Freeca and Zinger combined production figures

(Sources: Facts & Figures 2000, Facts & Figures 2005, Facts & Figures 2009, Mitsubishi Motors website)

References

  1. ↑ Sarne, Vernon (30 May 2013). "Mitsubishi PH president wants new model, more units made in Cainta". Top Gear Philippines. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 "China Motor Corporation of Taiwan Launches FREECA". Mitsubishi Motors Corporation. 11 September 1997. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  3. 1 2 "KTB Launches KUDA New-concept Vehicle In Indonesia". Mitsubishi Motors Corporation. 23 March 1999. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  4. ↑ "MMPC of the Philippines Launches ADVENTURE New Concept Multi-purpose Vehicle". Mitsubishi Motors Corporation. 28 January 1998. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  5. ↑ "Mitsubishi celebrates 50,000th Adventure Milestone", Autoindustriya.com, 4 April 2006
  6. ↑ GridOto.com. "All About Mitsubishi Kuda, 7 Tahun, 3 Generasi, 3 Mesin - GridOto.com". otomotifnet.gridoto.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  7. ↑ "Africar Products". Africar Automobiles. Archived from the original on 31 July 2009.
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