The UFA files,part 2

Mitsubishi Toppo

There really isn't much you can say about Kei cars/trucks.All of the Japanese manufacturers offer them in their lineups and I can't tell them apart. For that market, they're good.Here, in North America, they would be completely unsuitable for our driving conditions.They are a dime a dozen in Japan.Styling is very basic. Make no mistake,boxy kei trucks/vans are all function over form.They serve a purpose and do so without style or originality.But there's nothing wrong with that. Kei trucks/vans aren't much to look at, but they offer the freedom of personal mobility in a country known for being crowded and densely populated.
Even though Mitsubishi has never been more than a small blip on the US radar, they are a big deal in other countries.Mitsubishi leaves very few stones unturned, offering multiple vans, cars, Suvs and trucks in pretty much every segment.The corporation has been quite successful in the potentially-overcrowded kei truck/van field.The Toppo has been one such vehicle.In production since 1990,the Toppo has undergone several incarnations.One is the "Town Bee", a special-edition Toppo that resembled a British taxicab (see lower picture, above).The Toppo was restyled and enlarged for 1998, with the name "Toppo BJ". Apparently, the Japanese folks were unaware of the obscene connotations that name implies in English-speaking countries (its supposed to stand for "Big Joy").Initially, production ended in 2004.Mitsubishi brought the Toppo back in 2008 and it remains in production today.
Despite its tiny size, a four-wheel-drive option is available.Both automatic and manual transmissions are offered.
If I lived in Japan or were to stay there for an extended period of time, I would consider a kei car.Some are cute and they offer an almost uniquely Japanese experience.But I would not consider a Toppo. Judging by its dimensions, I think an appropriate name could be "Tippo". Just looking at it makes me expect to see one flipped sideways at an intersection.
Almost all kei trucks/vans are very ordinary, disposable vehicles with no potential collectibility in the future.The distinctive Town Bee may be an exception, but its still too early to tell.First, we need to make sure they can stay on all fours when taking a hard turn,or they won't survive long enough to even worry about it becoming collectible.