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Only the right accessories turn a pick-up truck into a real adventure vehicle. Or just a practical tool for the craftsman's everyday life. Mitsubishi Motors Germany therefore affords its own national parts development.
In no other class of vehicle do accessories play such an important role as in Pick-ups. Only the retrofit parts from the catalog turn the simple platform truck into an adventure vehicle or a tailor-made tool. The importer Mitsubishi Motors Germany (MMD) therefore affords its own accessories workshop, where all the practical and stylish things are developed that the Japanese manufacturer does not have in its own range.
More than just a trailer hitch and bike rack
Daniel Hack-Hayes' accessories team now has more than 100 self-developed accessories in its range. Most of them for the L200 pickup, some for the Space Star microcar and the Eclipse Cross crossover. But while mainly towbars and bike racks are bought there, the program for the great utility all-wheel drive is much more diverse. One of the hits in the range: the LED light bar for the roof – with its 32.000 lumens it is indispensable for hunters, foresters or anyone else who wants to work in the dark.
Lightbars are actually standard off-roaders. Mitsubishi Motors in Japan still does not have them in the official parts program. “We are in close contact with our customers through our dealers. That's how we saw that they had a need," Hack-Hayes said. The starting shot for him and his team. Conception and development takes place in our own workshop, the final design and production is carried out by a contract manufacturer. The discreet and powerful light strip now costs around 1.100 euros at the Mitsubishi dealer.
Directly from Mitsubishi there is little more than protective mats
The fact that Mitsubishi Motors in Japan does not take care of comparable accessories itself is not negligence. Traditionally, Japanese automakers tend to focus more on their core business, vehicle construction. Accessories play a comparatively small role, more in the form of basic items such as foot or trunk protection mats. In addition: “Germany is a small market for the L200 with around 2.000 cars sold per year. However, with demanding customers,” Hack-Hayes knows and talks about a long-standing challenge when it comes to trailer hitches. Although Mitsubishi had a removable hook ex works early on, the base plate always remained visible at the rear of the vehicle. An absurdity for the aesthetes among the German customers. MMD developed a more elegant, less conspicuous system for them. “The little things make all the difference,” says Hack-Hayes.
It is precisely such trifles and cultural differences that MMD responds to with the luxury of its own accessories workshop. The typical L200 buyer doesn't always buy accessories. But he wants to be able to do it theoretically. Many customers are particularly fascinated by off-road and camping parts, which Hack-Hayes and his team fuel with truck bed tents, air intake snorkels and various cable winch systems. However, Hack-Hayes rejected a customer's request for a pure show winch, as he says. The L200 driver liked the robust look, but the function was uninteresting. In such cases, buyers have recently received at least a slimmed-down version of the system, which is not suitable for self-recovery in difficult terrain, but is at least suitable for smaller woodwork.
For craftsmen and athletes
In addition to the fascinating accessories and robust off-road helpers, modular storage systems take up a lot of space in the catalogue. MMD also develops these itself with a view to the requirements of German customers. Both craftsmen and amateur athletes will find a wide range of storage boxes, drawers and luggage compartment covers. There are also several pages of design extras, such as alternative front masks, fender flares and wheels.
From the smallest car to the van
But there is something else among the masterpieces of the accessory workshop: the delivery van conversion for the Space Star. Hack and his team have developed an insertable loading floor that turns the small car into a mini van in just a few minutes without destroying it. Simply fold down the rear seat bench, lift out the parcel shelf, clip the composite wood panel and there is space for tools or goods. An integrated load compartment grille protects the driver and front passenger. The system costs just under 1.000 euros.
The MMD team is not short of ideas. In the future, too, L200 drivers should be able to fall back on a well-stocked accessories catalogue. Even if they don't need some things at all – the fact that they could have them gives you a good feeling.