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Mitsubishi eK

The Mitsubishi eK is a kei car series from Mitsubishi Motors and Nissan, based on the long-running Minica, and first introduced on October 11, 2001. The "eK" name is an abbreviation for "excellent keijidōsha" and is meant to be pronounced "ee kay", a pun which sounds like the Japanese いい軽, meaning "good kei [car]".

{{anchor|H81|H91|NA0}} First generation (2001)
| October 2001 – September 2006 (eK series) | June 2005 – October 2006 (Otti) }} | 658 cc 3G83 I3 | 658 cc 3G83T turbo I3 }} | 5-speed manual | 3/4-speed automatic }} }} In its first generation, it was available either as an eK Wagon (introduced on October 11, 2001), eK Sport (introduced on September 2, 2002), eK Classy (introduced on May 26, 2003) or eK Active (introduced on May 25, 2004). On December 20, 2005, the eK Classy was discontinued. The eK Wagon was released in a simplified lineup, in only a single model (M) with an available package (M+X) including alloy wheels and some other cosmetics. It was only available with the 3G83, naturally aspirated three-cylinder engine with ; other models later added the option of a turbocharged version with . The standard transmission was a three-speed automatic with a column shift, later a four-speed version was added, while some models could also be fitted with a five-speed manual with a floor-mounted shifter. Most models could be had with either front- or four-wheel drive. Immediately upon its release it was the recipient of the Good Design Award by the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in 2001. While the initial sales target was 10,000 units per month, it sold 13,000 in its first four days, and 20,000 by the end of October 2001. It was Mitsubishi's highest volume model in the Japanese domestic market, and total sales to 2005 are approximately 480,000. The addition of body cladding in dark grey imparted an off-road look to the model; the front clip was also different, featuring the new corporate face conceived by Olivier Boulay. The eK Active was available with either engine (the V model being naturally aspirated, VT the turbocharged model) but only with the four-speed automatic; both models also had optional four-wheel drive. The eK Wagon G model, with more equipment and the four-speed automatic, was added in May 2003, originally only as the "M20G Thanks Edition", celebrating 200,000 sales. In August 2003 the G became a standard model, while the X-package was discontinued. A facelifted eK Wagon was introduced on December 20, 2004; the eK Active was not changed apart from receiving redesigned hubcaps. ;Mitsubishi eK File:Mitsubishi eKwagon 2001 rear.jpg|Mitsubishi eK Wagon (pre-facelift) File:Mitsubishi eKwagon 2004.jpg|Mitsubishi eK Wagon (facelift) File:Mitsubishi eKwagon 2004 Rear.jpg|Mitsubishi eK Wagon (facelift) File:1st generation Mitsubishi eK Sport.jpg|Mitsubishi eK Sport File:1st generation Mitsubishi eK Sport rear.jpg|Mitsubishi eK Sport File:2004-2005 Mitsubishi eK Classy.jpg|2004–2005 Mitsubishi eK Classy File:2004-2005 Mitsubishi eK Classy rear.jpg|2004–2005 Mitsubishi eK Classy File:Mitsubishi eK active.JPG|Mitsubishi eK Active File:Ek active.jpg|Mitsubishi eK Active File:1st generation Mitsubishi eK Sport interior.jpg|Mitsubishi eK Sport interior ;Nissan Otti File:Nissan Otti 2005.JPG|2005 Nissan Otti File:1st generation NISSAN OTTI R series.jpg|Nissan Otti RX File:1st generation NISSAN OTTI interior.jpg|Nissan Otti interior == Second generation (2006) ==
{{anchor|H82|H92|NA1}} Second generation (2006)
| September 2006 – February 2013 (eK series) | October 2006 – June 2013 (Otti) }} | 5-speed manual | 3/4-speed automatic }} }} The second generation eK Wagon and eK Sport were released on September 13, 2006. The eK Active was discontinued at the time of the second generation's launch. A facelifted eK Wagon and eK Sport were released on August 21, 2008. The car sported a sliding door on the passenger side, which was unusual for its class and a layout which was abandoned for the third generation. A rebodied version of this generation became the fourth generation Toppo as well, using some body panels of the third generation Toppo. For the next generation, this became the Mitsubishi eK Space. ;Mitsubishi eK File:2006-2008 Mitsubishi eK rear.jpg|Mitsubishi eK Wagon (pre-facelift) File:Mitsubishi eK Wagon.jpg|Mitsubishi eK Wagon (facelift) File:Mitsubishi eK-Sport H82W 0028.JPG|Mitsubishi eK Sport ;Nissan Otti File:NISSAN OTTI.jpg|Nissan Otti File:NISSAN OTTI E rear.jpg|Nissan Otti File:NISSAN OTTI R series.jpg|Nissan Otti RX/RZ File:Otti-interior.jpg|Nissan Otti interior == Third generation (2013) ==
{{anchor|B11|B21|AA0}} Third generation (2013)
| 658 cc 3B20 I3 | 658 cc 3B20T turbo I3 }} }} The third generation eK Wagon and its new sportier variant, called the eK Custom, were released on June 6, 2013. It was the first major design update since when the eK began sales. This time, Nissan's derivative was sold as the Nissan Dayz, while the eK Custom was sold as the Nissan Dayz Highway Star. ;Mitsubishi eK File:Mitsubishi eK wagon M e-Assist Plus Edition (DBA-B11W) front.jpg|Mitsubishi eK Wagon (facelift) File:Mitsubishi eK wagon M e-Assist Plus Edition (DBA-B11W) rear.jpg|Rear view File:Mitsubishi eK custom (B11W) front.JPG|Mitsubishi eK Custom File:Mitsubishi eK Custom rear.jpg|Mitsubishi eK Custom rear view File:Mitsubishi eK CUSTOM T【Safety Package】 (DBA-B11W) front.JPG|Mitsubishi eK Custom (facelift) File:Mitsubishi eK CUSTOM T【Safety Package】 (DBA-B11W) rear.JPG|Mitsubishi eK Custom (facelift) rear view File:Mitsubishi eK Wagon G B11W Interior.jpg|Interior ;Nissan Dayz File:Nissan Dayz X.jpg|Nissan Dayz File:Nissan Dayz X rear.jpg|Nissan Dayz rear view File:2015-2019 Nissan Dayz J.jpg|Nissan Dayz (facelift) File:2015-2019 Nissan Dayz J rear.jpg|Nissan Dayz rear view (facelift) File:2013-2015 Nissan Dayz Highway Star G.jpg|Nissan Dayz Highway Star File:Nissan Dayz Highway Star X in Black Pearl (first gen facelift).jpg|Nissan Dayz Highway Star (facelift) File:2015-2019 Nissan Dayz J interior.jpg|Interior == Fourth generation (2019) ==
{{anchor|B33|B34|B35|B36|B37|B38|B40|B5A}} Fourth generation (2019)
| Nissan Sakura | Mitsubishi eK Space (second generation) }} | 659 cc BR06DE I3 (petrol) | 659 cc BR06DET I3-T (petrol) }} | SM21 (MHEV; eK X/Dayz Highway Star) | MM48 (eK X EV) }} | (ICE models) | (eK X EV) }} | (ICE models) | (eK X EV) }} | Mitsubishi Pajero Mini (eK X) | Mitsubishi i-MiEV (eK X EV) }} }} The fourth generation eK Wagon and its crossover SUV-styled variant, called the eK X (pronounced "eK Cross"), were unveiled on March 14, 2019, and released on March 28, 2019. The battery electric version called the eK X EV was introduced on May 20, 2022, along with its Nissan-badged equivalent called the Nissan Sakura, which received different exterior and interior styling compared to the Dayz. ;Mitsubishi eK File:Mitsubishi eK wagon G (5BA-B33W-LTCE) rear.jpg|Rear view File:Mitsubishi eK X.jpg|Mitsubishi eK X File:Mitsubishi eK X rear.jpg|Mitsubishi eK X rear view File:Mitsubishi eK X EV P (ZAA-B5AW-LDEB) front.jpg|Mitsubishi eK X EV File:Mitsubishi eK X EV G (ZAA-B5AW-LDCB) rear.jpg|Mitsubishi eK X EV rear view File:Mitsubishi eK X EV G (ZAA-B5AW-LDCB) interior.jpg|Mitsubishi eK X EV interior ;Nissan Dayz File:2019 Nissan Dayz X.jpg|Nissan Dayz (pre-facelift) File:2019 Nissan Dayz X rear.jpg|Nissan Dayz (pre-facelift) File:2019-2023 Nissan Dayz Highway Star X.jpg|Nissan Dayz Highway Star (pre-facelift) File:2019-2023 Nissan Dayz Highway Star X rear.jpg|Nissan Dayz Highway Star (pre-facelift) File:2024 Nissan Dayz X.jpg|Nissan Dayz X (facelift) File:Nissan DAYZ X 2WD (5BA-B43W) rear.jpg|Nissan Dayz (facelift) File:2024 Nissan Dayz Highway Star X.jpg|Nissan Dayz Highway Star X (facelift) File:Nissan_DAYZ_HighwaySTAR_G_Turbo_ProPILOT_Edition_(4AA-B45W)_interior.jpg|Interior == Annual production and sales ==
Annual production and sales
Production figures include OEM units manufactured on behalf of Nissan, while sales figures only include Mitsubishi-badged models. (sources: Facts & Figures 2005, Facts & Figures 2009, Mitsubishi Motors website) Sales == References ==
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