SPY PICS: 2023 Mitsubishi Triton spotted testing in Thailand

The next-generation 2024 Mitsubishi Triton has been spotted testing in regional Thailand ahead of its global reveal in the coming months.

And this latest batch of spy shots courtesy of MZ Crazy Cars underlines the significantly increased size of the upcoming new ute, development of which was delayed by COVID.

There’s a clear bigger-is-better theme emerging in Australia’s booming pick-up market, in which the Mitsubishi Triton still ranks as the third most popular despite dating back to 2015.

And it’s fair to say the Triton is due for a growth spurt given the current model is one of the smaller offerings in the dominant mid-size segment – especially when it comes to the cabin.

It’s clear from this latest sighting the new model will be considerably wider than its predecessor and will adopt an all-together boofier aesthetic as the segment becomes more heavily influenced by the surging tough-truck trend.

Under the bonnet of the sixth-generation Triton will be a gusty new – if not heavily updated – four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine that’s almost guaranteed to deliver more power and torque.

The current model’s 2.4-litre unit offers segment-trailing outputs of 130kW/430Nm, so the increased performance should also elevate the Triton’s 3100kg maximum braked towing capacity up to the 3500kg class average.

The usual array of 4x2 and 4x4 drivetrain configurations will be on offer from launch, before a plug-in hybrid version emerges further down the line, possibly as the first PHEV ute to hit Aussie showrooms.

But those hoping for a Ford Ranger-baiting V6 diesel will be disappointed as Mitsubishi top brass ruled out the possibility last year on the basis of emissions regulations.

“Emissions regulations are important and we’re yet to see how that will play out [in Australia], because everybody’s going to have to manage their fleet CO2,” Mitsubishi Australia product strategy senior manager Owen Thompson told carsales in August.

“Internal combustion engines are becoming increasingly harder to engineer because the emissions regulations are getting tighter and tighter.

“Diesels for example, even now, run on a knife’s edge to balance emissions, driveability, combustion noise, all those factors.”

This is where the aforementioned plug-in hybrid powertrain will come into play. In the interests of towing capacity, Mitsubishi promises the electrified version will deliver considerably more power and torque than the 180kW/450Nm Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV.

A large proportion of the new Triton’s development has been done right here in Australia by the triple-diamond brand, which will be hoping to close the sales and performance gap between its ute and the market-leading Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger when it goes on sale here within around 12 months.

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