Mitsubishi Triton to get tough hybrid tech

Mitsubishi has confirmed its plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) technology will be suitable for next-generation off-road-oriented models such as the Mitsubishi Triton and the related Mitsubishi Pajero Sport.

In an interview this week, the chief engineer of the new Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV, Masahiro Awano, revealed that the Japanese car-maker was studying a variety of plug-in hybrid powertrain options including both tri- and quad-motor set-ups that could form the basis of more performance-oriented models.

Asked whether the current PHEV system in the latest Eclipse Cross small SUV and the next-generation Mitsubishi Outlander mid-size SUV would be suitable for more rugged off-roaders like Triton and Pajero Sport, Awano-san said: “Our current PHEV system is very tough and also very strong, smooth and quiet.

“Therefore, the upgrading of the PHEV system will be installed in next-generation vehicles.

“Currently the Eclipse Cross PHEV has the same hardware systems as the Outlander PHEV.

“Electrification studies we’re reviewing but currently I can’t say any more.”

The next-generation Mitsubishi Triton is being built in parallel with the Nissan Navara and Renault Alaskan, with the Triton set to be the first to market around 2022.

The ongoing studies alluded to by Awano-san suggest a PHEV version may not be ready from launch, and the chief engineer would not be drawn on confirming whether the Triton would get a version of the current system or whether it would require a more potent version to maintain its 3.5-tonne towing capacity.

The current system combines a 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine (94kW/199Nm) with twin electric motors – 60kW/137Nm front, and 70kW/195Nm rear – and a 13.8kWh lithium-ion battery pack. A single-speed planetary gearbox is used to transfer power to all four wheels.

In any case, the next-gen Mitsubishi Triton remains set to become the world’s first mainstream hybrid one-tonne light commercial ute.

Senior global executives have previously made it clear that a PHEV version of the ute was all but locked in, confirming in 2018 at the facelifted Triton’s launch in Thailand that by 2025 “electrification will have to happen”.

A year later, Mitsubishi’s then chief operating officer (and now COO at Nissan), Ashwani Gupta, reiterated that PHEV was the preferred electrification option for Triton, although he also noted that a conventional non-plug-in hybrid powertrain option was on the table as well.

Gupta said “the specific requirements of the next Triton – which is towing capacity, which is payload” were key considerations guiding its hybrid powertrain development.

It has also shown a variety of hybrid concepts, such as the GR-HEV ute (2013) and, more recently, the Mi-Tech (2019) that shows off both hybrid tech and bold front-end styling cues that should be seen on the next Triton.