Mitsubishi Minicab With LS Swap Is Pure Insanity on Wheels: Track Time Tuesday
We’re not sure if this V8-powered Mitsubishi Minicab is pure genius or a literal accident waiting to happen.
Most automotive enthusiasts are aware of what a Japanese Kei car is – a tiny mode of transportation that is intended to reduce congestion in city centers, offering owners cheaper insurance and taxes – as well as extending special parking privileges, in some cases – as an incentive to purchase and drive one. While Kei cars are limited to 64 horsepower, their light weight makes them quite fun to drive in certain cases, though the Mitsubishi Minicab is more of a utilitarian machine with a pickup bed. However, this LS-swapped Mitsubishi Minicab that showed up at LS Fest eschews those silly regulations in favor of maximum insanity, as we can see in this video from Larry Chen.
Nicknamed “Stomper,” this tiny pickup ditched its 660cc four-cylinder powerplant in favor of an LS of unknown displacement, though it’s also fitted with a pair of turbos for good measure. Even a stock, naturally-aspirated V8 of any kind would make this little thing rip, and needless to say, it does precisely that in a somewhat terrifying manner.
We can’t imagine that this Minicab is entirely safe to drive like a hooligan, but it has been fitted with a four-wheel steering system, which undoubtedly helps in that department. Its mission to stay upright isn’t helped by the fact that it now rolls on 33-inch off-road tires, however, even if they do make it look pretty awesome. However, the Minicab’s original underpinnings are long gone too, replaced by parts from a Chevy Silverado.
Aside from its power-to-weight ratio and tiny size, this Minicab’s four-wheel steering system is easily the craziest thing about it, and it’s certainly fun to watch in action. The owner can apparently send power to the front and rear axles independently, while each can also turn in opposite directions or the same direction. The result is an easy-to-maneuver little pickup that can crab walk and do all sorts of crazy things. That is, if you’re brave enough to try.
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