Stand by for Mitsubishi Triton Raider

Mitsubishi Motors Australia has filed a trademark application for the Raider name and, if approved, it’s most likely to be applied to a special swansong version of the Mitsubishi Triton ute before its replacement arrives in the second half of 2023.

No further details were attached to the trademark application, which was filed with IP Australia under Class 12 (motor vehicles) on February 24, and Mitsubishi would not comment on the move when contacted by carsales.

However, our sources say Mitsubishi hopes to use the Raider name – which was previously owned by Ford in Australia between 1991 and 2008 – for a special run-out version of the Triton, most likely based on the top-spec GSR dual-cab (pictured here).

If it fails to secure the Raider nameplate, as another car-maker did recently because variations of the name are already used for the EZRaider ATV and Lockheed Martin Raider X helicopter, we understand Mitsubishi will choose another name for its Triton send-off.

Either way, it’s expected the new flagship ute will pick up where the Mitsubishi Triton Toby Price Edition left off in 2019, with a range of special cosmetic additions but no mechanical upgrades.

Despite being seven years old, sales of the Mitsubishi Triton are booming. In February, the Triton notched up its highest monthly sales figure since June 2018 – three years after its launch – and its third highest monthly sales figure ever with 3811 deliveries.

That was up 116 per cent over February 2021 and enough to make the Triton the nation’s third most popular vehicle overall – behind the Toyota HiLux and RAV4 but ahead of the Ford Ranger – and to place Mitsubishi third overall behind Toyota and Mazda.

But that won’t stop Mitsubishi releasing an updated ‘MY22.5’ Triton line-up around June this year, when the proprietary 7.0-inch infotainment touch-screen that was replaced by an aftermarket head unit in some variants due to the global semi-conductor shortage will return as standard.

To meet high demand for the Triton amid the lack of computer chips, Mitsubishi Australia was forced to delete its factory multimedia system in favour of an aftermarket system called ‘Mi-Display’ in higher-spec versions of the MY22 model except for those fitted with a 360-degree camera including the GSR.

That situation is expected to be rectified with the updated MY22.5 line-up, which we expect will be topped by the new Raider range-topper, but it remains unclear what, if any, upgrades will be forthcoming for the Triton.

Either way, it could be the last upgrade for the trusty Triton before its all-new replacement arrives by the end of next year.

Shaping for a fight with this year’s all-new Ford Ranger and its close cousin, the second-generation Volkswagen Amarok also due here next year, the next-gen Mitsubishi Triton is expected to eventually offer a plug-in hybrid powertrain and a hot Ralliart performance flagship.

Join the conversation at 

our Facebook page

Or email us at 

editor@carsales.com.au