Mitsubishi gives us a first look at its all-new ute; specification details still to come
MITSUBISHI Motors Corporation has announced fresh details and teaser images of its forthcoming next generation Triton ahead of the utility model’s global debut in Thailand on July 26.
The fully redesigned one-tonne light commercial model is of strategic importance Mitsubishi’s success not only in Australia – which the manufacturer describes as a “key stakeholder in the next-generation Triton’s development process”, but in markets including the ASEAN and Oceania regions, as well as Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East, where it has earned a reputation as a durable and robust vehicle.
Entering its sixth generation, Mitsubishi’s new mid-sized ute features a “beefed-up” body with “powerful, horizontal themed” styling.
“The all-new Triton has been completely reimagined under the design concept ‘Beast Mode’, or audacious and daring,” explained Mitsubishi Motors general manager of design, Seiji Watanabe.
“While expressing the toughness and powerfulness expected of a pick-up truck, the all-new Triton combines agility with the brand’s robust design to create an imposing look.
“Tough and reliable, the all-new Triton will make customers want to go on any adventure. Please look forward to seeing it in full this July.”
Mr Watanabe says the frontal treatment of the Triton resembles the “sharp gaze of a hawk” with combination daytime running lights and three-dimensional headlights “emphasising the impressive presence and robustness of the new model”.
At this point, Mitsubishi has not provided specifications or equipment details relating to its new-generation Triton, with information expected to be drip-fed in the lead up to the international debut.
Locally, a Mitsubishi Motors spokesperson said Australia is a key market for the Triton and that further details of the model will be announced in due course.
“Australia is a core market globally for Mitsubishi Motors, and we have been a key stakeholder in the next-generation Triton’s development process.
“The light commercial utility segment is more competitive than ever, and we are confident that next-generation Triton will take Mitsubishi’s enduring presence in this market to the next level.
“We look forward to sharing more details of the development process, and of the new Triton’s Australian range, specification, timings and pricing as we move towards delivering this next-generation utility vehicle to Australian customers.”
The Japanese manufacturer had indicated previously that a plug-in hybrid driveline may be offered in its Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux competitor, joining an all-new turbo-diesel powerplant with Super Select II all-wheel drive.
According to a report published by Japanese outlet Spyder7 last August, the Mitsubishi Triton PHEV is expected to arrive in late 2023 or early 2024 coinciding with the arrival of its twin-under-the-skin Nissan Navara (the next-generation Triton is reportedly being co-developed with Nissan as part of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance).
The publication indicated that the model would offer the same petrol-electric driveline as featured across the new Outlander PHEV range.
Those accounts back GoAuto’s own reports that indicates an all-electric Triton is also on the drawing board, although not until at least 2025.
Speaking to GoAuto late last year, Mitsubishi’s general manager of EV powertrain development, Takashi Shirakawa, said an electrified powertrain “is in advanced engineering already for Triton and Pajero Sport products, but from a CO2 reduction viewpoint a battery-electric is not a good answer”.
“We are thinking about whether hybrid is better, plug-in hybrid is better or pure electric is better, and we have those products in prototypes and we are comparing them, but our headache is always, always cost,” he said.
“Electrification gives a customer benefit like manoeuvring in difficult conditions – electrification can enable some extra driving (capabilities). So, we are thinking about how to make electrified larger vehicles, but it is still under advanced engineering.”
When asked if he and his team could finalise a new partially-electric powertrain for the Triton before the end of 2025, Mr Shirakawa said it would likely take a little more time than that to bring an electrified Triton to market.
The global debut of the sixth-generation Triton will take place in Bangkok on July 26.
Keyword: Next-gen Triton teased ahead of global launch