2009 Mitsubishi Zinger MIVEC launched in China

Advertisement

Mitsubishi Zinger

This is the Mitsubishi Zinger, sort of like a replacement for the MPV known as the Mitsubishi Kuda in Indonesia. It’s based on the Mitsubishi Challenger’s ladder-frame rear wheel drive truck platform.

In a nutshell, you could call it Mitsubishi’s equivalent to the Toyota Innova, a cheap way to put together a decently sized 7-seater people carrier that can be priced cheap and positioned lower than premium car-based MPVs such as the Grandis.

The Zinger usually comes with the 2.4 litre 4G64 engine that produces 136 PS at 5,250rpm, and a variant of this engine in a nearly similiar tune is also found in the Chery Eastar MPV. Quite an old design I must say, but in certain markets you can also get a newer model called the “Super Zinger” which features the newer 2.4 litre MIVEC 4G69 engine from the Grandis that produces 159 PS.

Mitsubishi Zinger

It’s currently being sold in Taiwan, China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Costa Rica and Indonesia. There are probably some other countries which I’ve left out. The most recent facelifted model with the 4G69 engine has just recently been launched in China by Southeast Motor.

Southeast calls it an not something simple as an SUV or an MPV… it gets a completely new term called an “MICS-RV”! The M is supposed to stand for Multi-purpose, the I for Interior Roominess and Ride Comfort, the C for Compact body size, the S for Sophisticated Styling, the R for Rough-road capability and the V for value for money. What a tongue twister… phew!

Looking at the success of cheap MPVs like the Nissan Grand Livina and the Toyota Innova here, and Mitsubishi’s uncanny ability to do magic with the pricing of its cars lately such as the massive price cut for Grandis and the Lancer having an unbelievable price for a CBU Japan car, could the Mitsubishi Zinger do well in Malaysia?

Look after the jump for more photos of the Mitsubishi Zinger.

Mitsubishi Zinger

Mitsubishi Zinger

Mitsubishi Zinger

Mitsubishi Zinger

Mitsubishi Zinger

Mitsubishi Zinger

Mitsubishi Zinger

Mitsubishi Zinger

Mitsubishi Zinger

Mitsubishi Zinger


Related stories you might be interested in reading:


About the Author

After dabbling for years in the IT industry, Paul Tan initially began this site as a general blog covering various topics of personal interest. With an increasing number of readers paying rapt attention to the motoring stories, one thing led to another and the rest, as they say, is history. An avid electronic gadget aficionado as well as big-time coffee lover, he's also the executive producer of the Driven motoring TV programme.

Comments

  1. nyte_skater says:

    zinger..yum…(kfc burger)

    Reply Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  2. adil2008 says:

    Oh Zinger, zinger, why TRITON sterring? overall not consider bad & good. Well done, MITSUBISHI.

    Reply Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  3. red7 says:

    dont look like a mitsu~

    Reply Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  4. MisterBenjo says:

    It looks weird.

    Reply Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  5. abundai says:

    same case with Hilux and Innova.. an MPV with a 4X4 chasis

    Reply Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  6. tHe CuLpRit says:

    oh man…. i can just imagine telling someone “im driving a Zinger”.

    That’s soo wrong….

    Reply Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  7. narrowband says:

    At least it’s not ‘Hot Rod’.

    Anyway, good competition in this segment – previously dominated by Toyota (Unser, innova, avanza), followed by Nissan Livina.

    Reply Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  8. MyviKiller says:

    Paul,

    It’s Costa Rica not Costa Rice… Dud you have a lot of typo errors in your recent posts.

    Reply Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  9. MyviKiller says:

    *Dude

    Reply Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  10. Apathy says:

    Hurmmm somehow designing process is becoming easier….just cut and paste from different models and voila…..a new model is created..I name this as Mitsu Frankenstein. LOL p/s: Zinger reminds me of KFC.

    Reply Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  11. ALPINA Burkard Bovensiepen GMBH + Co. KG says:

    kfc burger?

    Reply Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  12. jolly_idiot says:

    Mitsubishi CEO likes to eat KFC. So it make it name Zinger. Indeed, the car look like Zinger as well. It’s BIG, SPICY and JUICY!

    Reply Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  13. AlexKhoo says:

    Lol. Zinger. KFC Burger. Imagine someone going around saying. ‘Hey! I drive a KFC Burger!’

    Reply Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  14. e-nabilll says:

    no matter how ugly…still looks beter than the pukable innova

    Reply Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  15. sagaKNIGHT says:

    adil2008 said,

    November 22, 2008 @ 2:42 am

    Oh Zinger, zinger, why TRITON sterring? overall not consider bad & good. Well done, MITSUBISHI.

    ——————————————————-

    and the front bumper like triton too
    the headlight like they reassemblance lancer headlight
    rear part like the mitsu outlander design
    dashboard look good in pics
    overall its look good compare with toyonova
    :p

    Reply Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  16. gokibin says:

    A welcomed addition to the mpv/suv/4×4 market… the cheaper the better… but please mitsubishi… change the name… he he he…

    Reply Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  17. mitlanevo says:

    comes with original recipe or hot & spicy ?

    LOL~

    anyway, the interior is quite nice !!!

    and the body is kinda SUV styling….

    Reply Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  18. theanswer says:

    mitlanevo’
    zinger only comes in hot&spicy…for original, theres’s colonel burger..(kantoi salu mkn kfc aku neh ;)

    i think this one is better than innova..not too big as if can turn turtle. but for 2.4 at less thn 140hp..kinda underpowered. or at least make it 2.0tdi..nyum~

    Reply Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  19. One92 says:

    Interior wise
    exterior? yucks!!!
    damn ugly!

    Reply Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  20. Dell says:

    interior quite good, but exterior hard to swallow, probably actual view might alter our view. just like many car, actual flesh view looks better.

    Reply Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  21. droll says:

    zinger burger, anyone? :)

    Reply Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  22. csv says:

    haha, what a weird name choice.

    but i am pretty sure this car won’t be as comfortable as the rondo or grand livina. it uses the ladder frame, same as innova and avanza. handling and ride comfort gonna be bad.

    for that price, families tend to go for comfortable interiors and nice handling vehicles, not driving a 4×4.

    Reply Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  23. moha774 says:

    Zinger still ok what!! cant imagine telling others that.. “i’m parking my horse (Kuda) at the basement carpark” like what indonesian has to..

    Reply Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  24. albagmane says:

    driving Zinger to KFC will never be the same again…

    Reply Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  25. xenith says:

    My dad’s company car at Jakarta was a Mitsubishi Kuda at one point of time. We also used an Isuzu Panther and once we considered to change to Toyota Kijang…

    Reply Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  26. mzfnd says:

    Don’t they have name the car competition or anything over there in Indonesia? I mean, from Kuda to Zinger?? Come on…

    Reply Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  27. ericfoong81exe says:

    Saw this “Ginger” mpv in Taipei today, look slightly smaller than Innova but bigger than Livina and Avanza…think most of the Japs car manufacturer are aiming the low cost medium size MPV market in the world.

    Reply Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  28. raptorclans says:

    Looks cute up front… haha… but man, I feel like going to KFC now… :)
    But perhaps they’re trying to say it has some “zing”?

    Reply Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  29. JejalanMknAngin says:

    where i can buy this zinger?…kfc?..hahaha

    Reply Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  30. ALPINA Burkard Bovensiepen GMBH + Co. KG says:

    when got the mitshubishi hot and spicy,mitshubishi bandito pocket, mitshubishi idaho wedges, mitshubishi twister?

    Reply Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  31. haha XD says:

    UGLY!!! i prefer the GRANDIS

    Reply Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  32. Zailia says:

    Cantik. Tak masuk Malaysia ke?

    Reply Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  33. romy says:

    It's Mitsubishi Fuzion in Philiippines. Thanks Paul for the review.

    Reply Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  34. romy says:

    Fuzion doesn't sound like KFC.

    Reply Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  35. Jemson says:

    Hello, Sir Paul. Can you please help me where can I find a complete factory repair manual for this zinger. I'm from the Philippines which was know as the Mitsubishi Fuzion. Many thanks

    Reply Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

Like us? Show some support! :)




Leave a Comment

Want a picture next to your comment? Register for a Gravatar account with the same email you use to comment!

Previous Story: 2008/09 A1 GP at Sepang: Friday Report
Next Story: VIDEO: BMW Performance kit for the facelifted BMW 3-Series Sedan and the BMW 1-Series