Mitsubishi unveils sand-slaying Triton

Mitsubishi Motors has released details of the ultimate Triton off-roader, the ‘Desert Warrior’.

Unveiled in the UK at the weekend, the prototype has been developed in conjunction with Top Gear magazine and has been codenamed ‘Project Swarm’. The one-off has been briefed as a ‘pre-runner’ off-road vehicle, the type specifically designed to ‘pre-run’ stages of off-road desert races.

Changes over the regular Triton, also known as the L200 in the UK, are extensive. An external roll cage has been fitted, as has heavily modified suspension, oversized wheels with self-inflating tyres, a bash plate, long-range LED lights along with tyre racks and storage accessories in the tray. Flared guards and a bull bar with a winch complete the truck’s tough off-road look.

Inside, the ‘Desert Warrior’ bears a regular production trim save for the addition of bespoke Cobra racing seats.

The truck is set to star in an upcoming feature story.

While the Desert Warrior isn’t available to purchase, Mitsubishi is set to use it as inspiration for an off-road savvy special edition known as the Barbarian SVP in the UK (pictured below).

So far limited to a production run of 250 vehicles, the special model was reportedly created by Mitsubishi’s Special Vehicle Projects program and includes flared wheel arches, black accenting and 17-inch black alloy wheels wrapped in BF Goodrich off-road rubber.

Mitsubishi has already offered a similar pack locally in the form of the GLS Sports Edition, which features cosmetics familiar with the Barbarian SVP, but also adds a rear differential lock normally limited to the Exceed Triton flagship. As such, the local arm won't be offering the Barbarian specification.

Regardless, here's hoping more features from the Desert Warrior can reach the Triton accessories catalogue sometime soon.