The Toyota Tacoma and Nissan Frontier are about to have another Japanese rival on its hands.Orange Mitsubishi pickup truck front with black grille and headlights kicking up dust.Just when we thought the pickup truck wars were heating up with plenty of potential new contenders, Mitsubishi just confirmed to be joining the fold. The small Japanese automaker recently held its annual investor and product strategy conference.And among the marketing and financial jargon, the Japanese trident confirmed it will be introducing a new midsize pickup for North America. That would make it the first such vehicle from the brand in almost two decades.Reinvigorating its US presence with more off-roadersMitsubishi’s latest global Triton is a midsize pickup we’re lusting over, but it will likely remain off limits to America. - Credit: MitsubishiIt’s no mystery that off-roaders are exploding in popularity here in the States. It’s a trend that coincides with the overlanding phenomenon as of late.AdvertisementAdvertisementBecause Americans have been openly and continuously expressing interest in exploring the great outdoors, automakers are answering the calls in more ways than one.Many are even creating more rugged versions of their crossover SUVs to meet the demands. The trend obviously caught Mitsubishi’s attention, who’s also looking to jump on the bandwagon with its product revamp here in America.Mitsubishi’s new global product strategy confirms a new midsize pickup for America. - Credit: Mitsubishi MotorsIf you thought Mitsubishi was no more here in the States, you’re not alone. The brand’s presence shrunk significantly over the years as its lineup became stagnant.As a result, Mitsubishi’s reenergizing its American product strategy with the intent to “enhance brand strength by expanding off-road models,” according to its recent literature.Mitsubishi is fixture to the off-roading world, both in prestigious motorsports and in general. - Credit: MitsubishiThis isn’t surprising as Mitsubishi is one of the most formidable names in the four-wheeling world. While the company gave us some epic road-going sports cars and even a World Rally Championship legend, it’s still known for rugged off-roaders.AdvertisementAdvertisementThus, Mitsubishi most certainly wants to lean back into this reputation as an attempt to rejuvenate its brand image in America.Teaming up with Nissan once againMitsubishi’s new pickup will likely share bones with a new Nissan, but it probably won’t be based on the Frontier. - Credit: Overland ExpoAccording to Mitsubishi’s presentation, the automaker is doubling down on its partnership with Nissan. Mainly, for this new pickup truck.The company calls it a collaboration, but didn’t go much further detail. Nissan and Mitsubishi have been in a corporate alliance since 2016.Although Mitsubishi does have a completely new global pickup, the next-gen Triton, its assembly takes place in Thailand as the Asian and South Pacific regions are the model’s primary markets.The new midsize pickup may utilize Nissan’s newest body-on-frame platform, which is expected to underpin the new Xterra and next-gen Pathfinder. - Credit: MitsubishiMitsubishi also noted in its conference that recent US tariffs are making things difficult strategically. Hence, the collaboration with Nissan.AdvertisementAdvertisementWhich means this new pickup has the potential to be based off of Nissan’s latest body-on-frame platform. The Yokohama-based automaker is in the midst of bringing back some notable off-roaders, like the Xterra and a more rugged version of the Pathfinder.We already know Nissan’s working on a new Xterra, and the Mitsubishi pickup could share its platform. - Credit: NissanBoth the former and latter will utilize a completely new body-on-frame chassis. This new platform could also likely serve as the backbone for this new Mitsubishi-Nissan-based American pickup.Currently, Nissan makes a similar platform, which underpins the current Frontier. However, because that platform is rather old, its age rules it out as a potential starting point.The first American Mitsubishi pickup in agesForgot about the Dodge Dakota-based Mitsubishi Raider? It’s okay, so did we. - Credit: Mitsubishi MotorsIf you’re in America and completely forgot Mitsubishi sold a few here in the States, it’s okay. The last one was beyond forgettable.AdvertisementAdvertisementBack in the 2000s, Mitsubishi sold the Raider pickup between 2006 and 2009. Based on the last Dodge Dakota ever made, it was one of the final byproducts of Mitsubishi’s American partnership with Dodge and Chrysler.The last true Mitsubishi pickup sold here in the States was the Mighty Max in the late ’80s and early ’90s. - Credit: Mr.choppers via WikipediaPrior, Mitsubishi sold a tiny, compact pickup called the Mighty Max. But that was a late ’80s and early ’90s product, and was essentially the last time Mitsubishi sold its own pickup here in the States.About the Author: Chris Chin is an associate editor at Gear Patrol, covering cars, trucks and anything else with four wheels. He has over a decade of experience writing news and reviews but considers himself an enthusiast first, with a passion for classics and European cars. His daily driver is a 1987 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL with nearly 250,000 miles (87,000 are his).Want to stay up to date on the latest product news and releases? Add Gear Patrol as a preferred source to ensure our independent journalism makes it to the top of your Google search results.add as a preferred source on google
+11 others
