Plug-in power confirmed! New Mitsubishi Triton to feature petrol plug-in hybrid system with dual-cab set to leave diesel in the dust to take on Ford Ranger and BYD ute

The just-launched Mitsubishi Triton could be the last to feature a diesel engine, with the Japanese brand confirming that it is developing a petrol plug-in hybrid system to power future generations of its popular ute.

The move would see Mitsubishi following the path of the Ranger, with Ford confirming a plug-in hybrid powertrain for Australia, and BYD, with the Chinese brand set to launch a plug-in ute powered by what it calls DMI, or Dual Motor Intelligence.

Mitsubishi will be next to follow suit, with the plug-in pioneers developing a ute- and 4WD-friendly PHEV system that will link with a petrol engine, rather than a diesel.

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The move will require the development of an entirely new plug-in hybrid system, with the existing tech, used on the Mitsubishi Outlander and Eclipse Cross, not suitable for a ute application.

"Up to this moment our PHEV technology is transverse powertrain design, based on a front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive," Kaoru Sawase, Mitsubishi's Engineering Fellow responsible for 4WD systems and advanced engineers, told CarsGuide in Tokyo.

"The Triton is a longitudinal powertrain design, and also when comparing the Outlander and the Triton, the expected off-road capability level is pretty different.

"Basically in order to have an off-road capable vehicle to make with PHEV technology in a Triton-type powertrain PHEV system, a completely different type is needed, different from Outlander."

Mr Sawase pointed to systems being employed by brands like Jeep and Land Rover as an example of off-road plug-in hybrid technology, suggesting that Mitsubishi would employ a similar strategy on its Triton.

"(They) use a P2-type hybrid system, that means engine and e-machine and transmission transfer case and conventional 4WD system," he says.

“Of course we can use such a technology. Mitsubishi Motors is researching and developing such a system, but at this moment launching time is not decided yet."

Asked whether the new plug-in hybrid system would pair with petrol or diesel, a Mitsubishi spokesperson said that, while a plug-in diesel would be popular with its consumers, a combination of cost and regulatory complexity ruled it out.

"We totally understand that we have much demands from our core for PHEV with a diesel engine, however cost-wise that’s impossible," he said.

"Also, when we explore the markets, petrol is much more easy to introduce to many markets. Diesel is unfortunately now harder to get into markets, this is why....management reason, business reason … petrol makes sense."

There's no immediate news on when the plug-in hybrid will appear, but we do know a fully-electric Triton remains years away, with Mr Sawase suggesting current BEV technology wouldn't deliver what Triton owners expect.

"In the future, we must improve the performance of the e-machine," he says.

"Current e-machine spec is peak power is very high, but continuous power is... low. In order to drive off-road, for example on sand or mud, or for driving distances that are very high, in that case we need a continuous output.

"With current e-machine technology, that is limited. But maybe in five years or so, maybe continuously power of e-machine will improve."