Mitsubishi teases 2019 Triton ute

The facelifted 2019 Mitsubishi Triton has been officially previewed in a new teaser image that shows off part of the ute's front end, hinting at a radical new look.

Taking a leaf out of the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross's book, the new Triton will adopt off a bold new frontal design that incorporates the brand's 'Dynamic Shield' front grille and bumper.

Some of the detail in the front end we can glean include the slim-line headlight clusters with LED driving lights. It's clear the new model will move to a sportier, more modern motif than the current model.

The large air dams and new-look alloy wheels suggest this is a range-topping GLX or Exceed dual-cab model.

The new-look Thai-built pickup is being fast-tracked for Australia, helped along by the fact it's the top-selling Mitsubishi vehicle in this country, the second biggest global market for the Triton pick-up and the third best-selling ute in Australia behind the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger.

"It’s an awesome ute," said John Signoriello, CEO of Mitsubishi Motors Australia.

"Those utes make a statement nowadays. Owners not only buy them for a workhorse, they buy them to make a statement," he added.

"I’m driving a Triton at the moment because I’ve got a bit of work to do at home. Look, it’s a good all round, reliable ute. It does its job for us. Dealers love it, it’s about 30 per cent of our volume, we rely on it," he said.

Launching in Oz from late 2018, around December, after a November reveal in Thailand where it's called the L200, the 2019 Mitsubishi Triton pick-up will bring new visual cues but also a few mechanical updates, including revised suspension. Camouflaged vehicles have been spotted undergoing testing across Australia as part of a local chassis development program.

Ride, handling and refinement levels are expected to be improved due to the local tuning and changes to the 2019 Mitsubishi Triton's 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel are also expected. Currently the engine belts out 133kW/430Nm but that could rise slightly. The five-speed auto is likely to continue, as well as a six-speed manual.

Interior changes to the new Triton ute may be another drawcard for the popular five-seat vehicle, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto expected to be rolled out across more model grades and potential safety updates too, including autonomous emergency braking (AEB) for most variants.

It's understood that Mitsubishi Motors Australia will also show off a tough truck concept version of the 2019 Triton at the Aussie launch in December, but that will only be for show.

That said, Signoriello told motoring.com.au that he supports the idea of a Ford Ranger Raptor competitor, possibly called the Mitsubishi Triton Ralliart. The only problem is, that vehicle wouldn't arrive until well into the next decade, when the all-new, next-generation Mitsubishi Triton will lob, sharing its underpinnings with the next Nissan Navara ute.