The is a line of light-duty commercial vehicles manufactured by Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation, part of Daimler Truck, subsidiary of Mercedes-Benz Group. The Canter is manufactured since 1963, now in its eighth generation. The Canter is named after the English word describing the gait of a horse, emphasising the "thoroughbred" nature of Mitsubishi trucks.

In Japan, its traditional competitors are the Isuzu Elf, the Toyota Dyna and the Nissan Atlas.

Production and sales Early export sales began to South East Asia only, but shortly later the series began seeing export to other markets including Australia, New Zealand, the Near East and since the mid-eighties North America. Indonesia (there named "Colt Diesel" until 2022) has become the biggest export market, followed by the Near East and Taiwan.Mitsubishi Fuso Introduces Latest Generation Light-Duty Trucks In Indonesia – Company's Largest International Market, 26. März 2007. In total the Canter is marketed to more than 150 countries. Fuso operates its own factories in Japan, Chennai/India and Tramagal/Portugal, further assemblies from CKD kits exist in Egypt, Portugal, Jakarta, the Philippines, Malaysia, Turkey and Russia. The Tramagal factory supplies to Western Europe (European Union plus Norway and Switzerland) at a local sourcing rate of 50%.

Early after the DaimlerChrysler–Mitsubishi alliance was established the MMC distribution network in Europe was closed and taken over by Daimler. When the alliance failed Daimler already owned the majority in MFTBC and sales rights remained at Daimler.

Product At its beginning the Canter was a narrow vehicle with 2 tons of payload. About since the introduction of the fourth generation the line-up of the Canter was increasingly expanded und today the Canter label covers a variety of products. Presumably starting with the fifth generation the JDM Fighter Mignon was sold for Export as "Canter 75", "Canter HD" or "Canter FH", during the seventh generation a twin rear axle Canter was available and since 2018 the Nissan NV350 is exported to the Near East as a Canter Van. Nowadays there are two line-ups in parallel (Eighth generation and General Export Models) each with narrow or wide variants from 3.5 to 8.5 tons gross weight. In Japan the Canter series include the Canter Guts, a 1.5 ton payload truck specially adopted to the rules for the Japanese class of compact vehicles but the term Guts is not always used. Further adoptions exist to local markets including engines and exhaust gas treatments.

In 2010, still with the seventh generation, at Tramagal new more environmentally friendly power trains were introduced with Iveco F1C diesel engines by Fiat Power Train (FPT) and transmissions from ZF Friedrichshafen. The eighth generation fitted with these "World Engines" is determined to developed countries with strict emission limits, furthermore it is available as EcoHybrid and as an all-electric eCanter. For developing countries a simplified version with Mitsubishi engines is available as General Export Modell.

There are several naming systems depending on time and market. E.g., in Japan a Canter 15 is a truck with 1.5 tons payload while pretty much the same truck in Europe was denominated as Canter 35 because of its 3.5 tons gross weight. In Indonesia model names are based on the chassis codes (F codes, e.g. FE71, FE83) opposed to North America where the numerical part of the model name represents the gross weight in hecto pounds (hlb.), e.g. FE130 is a 13,000 lb. truck. Starting with the seventh generation Fuso introduced a naming system similar to that used by parent company Daimler in Europe, in Australia and New Zealand a similar system had been introduced. This system is preferably used here because of its expressiveness (for details see model box of seventh generation).

History First generation (T720)

The very first Canter was the successor of the T710 produced from 1960 through 1963. The T720 Canter had two round single headlights but the facelifted version from 1964 had a set of round twin headlights. At a payload of 2 tons it was equipped either with the KE42 gasoline engine or the 4DQ11A diesel engine.

Second generation (T90)

The second generation Canter appeared in 1968 with a 4DR1 diesel engine at and two gasoline options: the T91's KE42 was known from the first generation Canter, while long wheelbase versions (T93/97) received a 2.3-liter KE47 gasoline engine. The most common diesel version was the T90, available on a short or a long wheelbase. There was also a dual rear wheel version of the long wheelbase model with the T92 chassis code. In July 1970 a 2.7 L 4DR5 diesel option was added.

Third generation (T200)

The T200 series was structured into the diesel engined T200/T210 (4DR5, ) and the T205/215 with the 2,315 cc KE47 gasoline engine, moreover the 1,995 cc KE42 was still available. In January 1975, the gasoline engines were replaced by the 4G52 (1,995 cc; ) and 4G53 (2,384 cc; ). The third generation was sold with various wheelbases and bed heights. A 3-ton payload variant was also available.

Fourth generation

Starting with the fourth generation in Japan the Canter was supplemented by variants with 2- and 3-ton wide cabins. In February 1980, a power steering for the wide vehicles was added as an option, at the end of the same year a narrow 1.5 ton and a wide 3.5 ton followed. New diesel engines 4D30 (indirect injection, naturally aspirated, ) and 4D31 (direct injection naturally asparated or turbo charged, ) were added in November 1982. According to some sources ratings of these engines were slightly higher at and , perhaps due to the use of gross ratings. In December 1983, a "Walk Through Van" with 1.5 tons completed the line-up. All weights mentioned here are payloads.

European sales began in the Benelux countries in the late 1970s. About 200 of the narrow cabined fourth generation Canters had been sold there by 1980, when local assembly of a wide-bodied Canter in Belgium by importer Moorkens N V was begun on a trial basis. The Canter ended up being built in Tramagal, Portugal instead since 1980. Later in October 2004, the factory achieved a production capacity of 15,000 units per year and shift with approximately 430 employees. More than 110,000 vehicles had been produced there since then.

The fourth generation Canter was mostly available with a variety of diesel engines, but a 2555 cc 4G54 petrol inline-four engine producing was fitted to the FC 35 model.

Modell (Europe) Canter 35 Canter 46 Canter 55 Gross Weight 3.5 t 4.6 t 5.5 t max. Payload (estimated) 1.5 t 2.1 t 3.0 t Transmission (Standard) 5-speed manual Estimated Payloads are meant for a better understanding of the text.

Engine (Japan) Prod.Run Displacement Power @ 1/min Torque @ 1/min Fuel system Valve train Aspiration 4G62 1.995 L 74 kW petrol with single carburetor SOHC natural 4DR51A 2.659 L 54 kW Swirl combustion + In-line Injection pump natural 4DR5 2.659 L 59 kW @ 3700 Swirl combustion + In-line Injection pump natural 4D30 11/82- 3.276 L 66 kW 215 Nm @ 2200 Indirect Injection + In-line Injection pump OHV natural 4D31 11/82- 3.276 L 86 kW 279 Nm @ 2000 Direct Injection + In-line Injection pump OHV Naturally asparated or Turbo 4DR51A is a 4DR5 resp. a subversion of it. 54 kW is presumably false, because in the predecessor the engine was already indicated with 59 kW. The 4D30 may have been a swirl combustion engine.

Fifth generation The fifth generation Canter appeared in October 1985. Its overall appearance was more square and smoother than the previous model, while larger, single, rectangular headlights replaced the earlier twin round units. Some export markets, such as the United States, kept using twin round headlights to meet local requirements. In the domestic Japanese market, the front "MMC" emblem was changed to the corporate three diamond logo, with an MMC emblem remaining on the passenger door. Because of its cabin originating from the Canter the Fighter Mignon became marketed outside Japan as a 7.5 ton (gross) Canter 75, Canter HD or FH series. Also new was the adoption of front disc brakes on some models, while the shift lever location was changed from the column to the floor and later to the top of the engine cover between the driver's and the centre seat.

In July 1986, a 4WD option was added to the Canter 20 and Canter 30 series. The lightweight Canter 15 changed its name to Canter Guts (a name only used in the domestic Japanese market) in January 1987. Japanese designations like "Canter 15" indicated the payload (1.5 t) while European designations like "Canter 35" are related to the gross weight.

In November 1989, the Canter underwent a facelift, with a reshaped front grill, and was also able to comply with the new 1989 vehicle emissions regulations. In June 1991 ABS brakes became available, a first for the class in the home market. At the same time, power windows became standard equipment across the board.

In the North American market the Canter was available as the Mitsubishi Fuso FE (Class 3), FG (4WD version of the FE), and FH (Class 5). The FE and FG were both powered by a turbocharged and intercooled four-cylinder diesel engine with while the larger FH had a six-cylinder turbodiesel. A variety of wheelbases from were offered.

Model (Europe) Canter 35 Canter 60 Canter 75 also called FE444 FH100 Gross Weight 3.5 t 6.0 t 7.5 t max. Payload (estimated) 1.5 t 2.5 t 3.5 t Engine (Europe) 4M40/4D31 4D30/4D31 6Zyl. Transmission (Standard) 5-speed manual Estimated Payloads are meant for a better understanding of the text.

Engine (Japan) Prod.Run Displacement Power @ 1/min Torque @ 1/min Fuel system Valve train Aspiration 4G63 1990- 1.997 L petrol with carburetor OHC natural 4DR5 -1/87~ 2.659 L Swirl combustion + In-line Injection pump natural 4DR7 ~5/91- 2.835 L Swirl combustion + In-line Injection pump natural 4D32 ~3/86-11/93~ 3.567 L Direct Injection + In-line Injection pump OHV natural 4D33 ~9/91~ 4.214 L Direct Injection + In-line Injection pump OHV natural 4D34 ~4/92~ 3.908 L Direct Injection + In-line Injection pump OHV Turbo 4D36 ~8/94- 3.56 L Direct Injection + In-line Injection pump OHV Presumably the 4G52 used on the predecessor had been utilized on the 5th generation until 1990.The petrol engines, the 4DR. and 4M40 were utilized in the lightest vehicles only. Until 1995/96 the 4M40 could have actually been 4D56.~1990- resp. -2001~ means the engine was utilized "starting from 1990 or earlier" resp. "until 2001 or later", ~1995~ stands for "around 1995".

Engine (Europe) Prod.Run Displacement Power @ 1/min Torque @ 1/min Fuel system Valve train Aspiration 4M40 1982-1/89 2.5 L 51 kW 149 Nm @ 2300 Swirl combustion OHC natural 4M40 1/89- 2.477 L 55 kW 152 Nm @ 2300 Swirl combustion OHC natural 4D30 3.298 L 66 kW 215 Nm @ 2200 Direct Injection + In-line Injection pump OHV natural 4D31 ~10/95~ 3.298 L 86 kW 279 Nm @ 2000 Direct Injection + In-line Injection pump OHV Turbo (6Zyl.) 4.948 L 107 kW 355 Nm @ 2000 Direct Injection + In-line Injection pump Turbo Presumably the 4G52 used on the predecessor had been utilized on the 5th generation until 1990.The petrol engines, the 4DR. and 4M40 were utilized in the lightest vehicles only. Until 1995/96 the 4M40 could have actually been 4D56.~1990- resp. -2001~ means the engine was utilized "starting from 1990 or earlier" resp. "until 2001 or later", ~1995~ stands for "around 1995".

Sixth generation The sixth generation of the Canter was introduced in Japan in November 1993, in Europe in 1996. In November 1995, the line-up was supplemented with variants in standard (narrow) 3.5 tons and wide 4 tons payload. In October 1997, the all-wheel drive of the Guts in Japan was modified from on-demand with crawler to a permanent system. Starting from 2002 all European Canters were permitted to tow trailers up to 3.5 tons gross weight. With a final make-over in 2004, ABS was added to some variants.