DST AND COMPANY

Mitsubishi Motors Corp. Design Division General Manager Seiji Watanabe reveals the 7-seater concept vehicle, which kept the public in suspense for weeks prior its global premiere.

Focus.

There were a lot of questions at the Mitsubishi Motors Philippines press conference after the start of the first day of the Philippine International Motor Show. There were questions on the new vehicles that were on display. The all-new XForce. The all-new Triton and the Triton Rally Car Replica. The Montero Sport Black Series Ralliart. The Xpander Cross Outdoor Edition.

But really, much of the attention during the launch event and most of the questions at the press conference had to do with the global premiere vehicle sitting for the first time on a stage anywhere in the world. In the Philippines.

The Mitsubishi DST 7-Seater SUV Concept brought together what many love and remember about Mitsubishi but with a fresh new look. It is a concept vehicle, so much is and will remain as they kept saying, secret. Much is still being worked out. What they did disclose were a few key details.

First of all, they said that Mitsubishi has been focusing a lot of attention on the Philippine market. They have been here for decades, and stuck it out when others left. So, they know this market, and yet they say this market can still surprise them. But they believe in it.

The vehicle is eyed to follow in the footsteps of the Xpander crossover MPV that was born in the ASEAN region and grew to become a globally beloved model.

So, the DST was presented to the world on a very rainy day in Manila. Very appropriate, many said, given that their name was made partly by vehicles that could wade through the worst. It is based on a monocoque platform, the Mitsubishi bosses said, but didn’t go much further. When asked if this was to be a replacement of the much-loved Pajero, they said that they loved the Pajero, too, and everyone would love to see it around again. And they smiled. But said nothing else.

It was a press conference that combined a friendly atmosphere with some rather pointed and repeated questions. Would this be a ladder chassis or more of a crossover platform? What powertrain system would be used? The company executives still smiled, and said all will be revealed. What did slip by was that they do intend to have the vehicle on the road as close to the concept look as they could.

Filled with curiosity about the global premiere concept vehicle, the media just relentlessly kept on shooting questions.

Focus. They kept using the world focus. Japan HQ was focusing a lot of attention on the Philippine market, the Philippine company itself was focused on the consumer. What they really wanted and needed. Combining the robustness and reliability they are known for with the dashing and daring that had them bring products and processes out before the rest of the world knew they were a thing. Electrics? The I-MiEV was the first mass-production new-generation full electric, they reminded us. And the global thrust towards reliable and more luxurious SUVs? The Pajero was first launched in 1982 as a full-on off-road 4WD that was meant to be as easy to use as a passenger car. The actual term SUV came out a few years later.

The discussion ended as the very last of the evening, and all the guests walked out to views and reports of flooding just outside the door, and on just about all the thoroughfares. Mitsubishi, in a true example of trying to understand what people need, already had their Expanders and XForces ready to bring people through the storm. While some brands saw photo opportunities, they just saw need.