Mitsubishi is officially leaning all the way into its playful, mud-splattered, overland-curious side, and we are absolutely here for it. At Tokyo Auto Salon 2026, the brand is rolling out what it calls the “Delica Festival — unleash your playful spirit”, and the vibe is less buttoned-up auto show and more adorable off-road block party. Think rugged vans, tiny lifted wagons, rally pedigree, and yes… a mascot named Delimaru who is objectively adorbs.
For American off-road enthusiasts who already appreciate the cult status of the Delica, this showcase is basically a love letter written in skid plates and textured paint.
Delica Festival: When Overlanding Gets Cute (And Serious)
Mitsubishi’s booth will feel like a Japanese street festival collided with an overland expo. Lanterns, playful decor, and full-on festival energy set the stage for 11 vehicles that range from legitimately hardcore to dangerously cute. Adding some real grit to the adorableness, Mitsubishi is also displaying its AXCR 2025 championship-winning rally truck, proving this isn’t just cosplay—it’s capability.
And yes, Delimaru, the Delica Mini’s mascot, will be wandering around spreading joy like a fuzzy ambassador of tiny-truck chaos.
Delica Mini Delimaru Festa: Maximum Adorbs Achieved
Let’s just get this out of the way: this thing is cute to an almost irresponsible degree. The Delica Mini Delimaru Festa wears playful mascot-themed decals and wraps, and then Mitsubishi cranks the charm knob to eleven by strapping a giant Delimaru to the roof, dressed in a traditional Japanese happi coat.
It’s small. It’s cheerful. It looks like it wants to go camping and then steal your snacks. And somehow, it still feels authentically Delica.
Delica D:5 Ultimate Gear: The Glow-Up We Want Stateside
If the Delica Mini is the festival’s smile, the Delica D:5 Ultimate Gear is the clenched jaw. Lifted 30mm and armored with bumper guards and side steps, this van leans hard into its off-road potential. The rugged textured coating isn’t just for looks—it’s designed to hide trail scars, which is a beautiful concept we fully support.
This is the Delica that looks ready to disappear down a fire road and come back three days later covered in dust and glory.
Delica Mini Ultimate Gear: Tiny But Tough
Somehow, Mitsubishi made the Delica Mini both adorable and legitimately rugged. The Ultimate Gear version gets a two-tone finish with that same textured coating, plus a roof rack, grille guard, rear ladder, and a 20mm suspension lift.
It’s like someone asked, “What if a kei car wanted to overland?”
Active Camper Builds: LOGOS Meets Trailhead Dreams
The Delica D:5 Active Camper, created in collaboration with outdoor brand LOGOS, brings warm white birch finishes and a calming brown interior into the mix. It’s cozy without being precious, premium without losing its 4WD soul. This is the van for people who want trail access by day and a cup of pour-over coffee by night.
Meanwhile, the Delica Mini Active Camper takes the same outdoorsy spirit and shrinks it down into something irresistibly compact. A pop-up roof, skid bar, mud flaps, and a 25mm lift make it look ready for spontaneous adventures with friends, dogs, and questionable packing decisions.
Retro, Rally, And Wild Style Delicas
For fans of old-school Mitsubishi DNA, the Delica Mini x “DALI” with DAMD is pure nostalgia bait. Inspired by the legendary Pajero, it blends retro grille and lighting cues with a profile that stays unmistakably Delica. It’s cute, rugged, and just weird enough to be perfect.
The Wild Adventure versions of both the Delica D:5 and Delica Mini double down on factory accessories, adding roof carriers, oversized mud flaps with rally straps, stainless underbody protection, and camo accents. These feel like the trims that would instantly sell out if Mitsubishi ever decided Americans deserved them.
TOMICA Turns The Delica Mini Into A Rally Toy (In The Best Way)
Celebrating TOMICA’s 55th anniversary, Mitsubishi transformed the Delica Mini into a full rally tribute complete with magma-red graphics, sponsor-style TOMICA logos, and a rally plate bearing the anniversary emblem. It looks like a die-cast car that escaped the display case and decided to send it through a gravel stage.
Honestly? We want one on our desk and one in our driveway.
Real Rally Cred: Triton AXCR 2025 Champion
To remind everyone this isn’t just aesthetic adventuring, Mitsubishi brought out the AXCR 2025 championship-winning Triton rally truck. After eight days and roughly 2,300 kilometers of brutal terrain, this truck reclaimed the overall title for the first time in three years. It’s lighter, tougher, and tuned specifically to survive punishment most vehicles will never see.
Alongside it sits the Delica D:5 support vehicle, the actual rig used by rally legend Hiroshi Masuoka to move between stages and service areas. It’s proof that the Delica name isn’t just about looking adventurous—it’s about showing up where it matters.
Why This Matters to American Off-Road Fans
Mitsubishi may be partying in Tokyo, but the message carries across the Pacific loud and clear. The Delica lineup continues to blur the line between utility, personality, and outright charm in a way few manufacturers even attempt. These builds show that rugged doesn’t have to be joyless—and that “adorbs” and “off-road capable” can absolutely coexist.
Now, Mitsubishi… about bringing some of this energy to the U.S. market. We’re ready.
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