New Mitsubishi Triton ute raised in Oz
Local testing and development of all-new Mitsubishi Triton “a good thing for Australian customers”The next generation 2024 Mitsubishi Triton scheduled to roll into Aussie showrooms by late 2023 could become the new Ford Ranger’s most formidable rival yet.
Replacing a model that’s third only to the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger in Australia’s ute sales race, Mitsubishi’s all-new ute is being pitched a genuine game-changer that will close the gap with class-leading pick-up trucks in Oz, following extensive Australian development testing aimed improving the Triton’s capability as a daily driver and mud-plugger.
“On new generation Triton we’ve had MMC [Mitsubishi Motors Corporation] come out here with engineering and development vehicles to do local testing and do a lot of tuning of the off-road systems and do vehicle on-road evaluation for the suspension, etcetera,” Mitsubishi Australia’s product strategy chief, Owen Thomson, told carsales.
Mitsubishi Australia has been involved with key development decisions around the next Triton since the project began back in 2015, Thomson explained.
“It’s been a long-term project that we’ve had a voice in from very early on. And that’s a good thing for Australian customers, absolutely,” he said.
Nissan also stands to benefit from the local development process, given the next-gen Nissan Navara ute will employ the same new ladder-frame chassis and technologies as the new Triton when it emerges around 2024.
Australia is one of the most lucrative one-tonne ute markets globally and is increasingly becoming a go-to destination for testing and development.
Thomson explained that the new Mitsubishi Triton will bring significantly improved technology and five-star safety credentials to the table, and Japanese execs have also confirmed a brawny new plug-in hybrid powertrain that will deliver considerably more gristle than the new Outlander Plug-in Hybrid EV’s 185kW/450Nm PHEV set-up.
But Mitsubishi believes it’s the Aussie testing and tuning of the new hay-hauler that could make the new-generation ute a genuine threat to the dominance of the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger.
“We’ve been on a big journey and the next-generation ute will take things a step further in terms of just how good the new product is,” said the product strategy boss.
As we’ve previously reported, the new Mitsubishi Triton won’t get a V6 diesel engine to match the new Ford Ranger’s and is tipped to initially continue its forebear’s policy of offering just one conventional four-cylinder turbo-diesel.
However, the current Triton’s sub-standard 3100kg towing capacity is almost certain to increase to an equal class leading 3500kg figure thanks in part to a new or heavily upgraded engine that delivers more grunt than the current ute’s 2.4-litre powerplant (133kW/430Nm).
Expect to see improved fuel efficiency as well, thanks partly to an upgraded transmission to replace the Triton’s current six-speed unit.
The CEO of Mitsubishi Australia, Shaun Westcott, reckons the extensive Aussie testing and development will ensure the new Triton is a hit globally and locally.
“If you test your utes here and you build them for Australian conditions, they will succeed in Russia, they will succeed in South Africa, they will succeed in South America. In any country, pick one, they will succeed,” he said.
He said the close proximity to Japan made Australia an appealing region for new vehicle development and the Triton’s recent sales surge has created a seismic shift in how Mitsubishi’s top brass in Japan views the Australian market.
Set for a global reveal in the first half of 2023, followed by Aussie sales late next year, the new Triton will again be offered across a wide range of body styles including single-, space- and dual-cab bodies, with both cab/chassis or pick-up trays and both 4x2 and 4x4 layouts.
However, increasing global production and shipping costs are expected to see Triton prices rise over the current range, which currently starts at $24,240 for the Triton GLX single-cab 4x2 and tops out with the $55,690 Triton GSR dual-cab 4x4.
Substantially improved technology and safety levels are also expected to push Triton prices northward.
Thomson said the new Mitsubishi ute will deliver “…a very high level of ADAS [advanced driver assistance system]”, which almost certainly will include adaptive cruise control and lane centring systems enabling the ute to accelerate, brake and steer itself.
“It’s always part of the Australian requirement for Triton – it must be ANCAP five-star, no bones about it. So it will have a pretty comprehensive ADAS suite,” added Thomson.
Mitsubishi is confident its next-gen Triton will maintain the current ute’s podium sales position in Australia, thanks in part to its industry-leading aftersales support program including an unmatched 10-year conditional warranty.
Stay tuned to carsales for more details on the next Mitsubishi Triton ute.
Related: No V6 for next Mitsubishi Triton ute
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