Mitsubishi Triton News

Here are a few of our favourite special-edition and/or unique ute grades denied to Australian buyers.

Mitsubishi has expanded its Triton range for MY24.5, reinstating the GLX-R badge as a compelling mid-range option.

Mitsubishi has announced the addition of two new low-payload variants to its Triton range, giving customers more financing options.

Mitsubishi's new ute provides the perfect platform to relaunch its defunct Ralliart brand.

Mitsubishi responds to feedback by issuing a software update to fix the Triton's most annoying feature.

Mitsubishi continues to take sizeable steps towards launching its hotly anticipated Triton Ralliart, with the Japanese giant's hardcore ute taking shape in new preview images that detail its new-model rollout.

Mitsubishi Australia is diversifying its powertrain offerings and growing its range to maintain its place as a volume seller in the competitive Australian market.Along with its signature plug-in hybrid powertrain and existing petrol and diesel offerings, Mitsubishi promises to add both Tesla-rivalling electric cars and regular hybrids to fight Toyota by 2030 in response to Australia’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standards (NVES). The brand announced its plans, in line with the global Momentum 2030 movement, at a dealer conference at a time when new Chinese brands are on an astronomical rise in Australia with growing line-ups stacked with affordable hybrid and electric cars. Mitsubishi will roll its new powertrains out on existing nameplates, including the new Pajero Sport and revised Outlander. It also looks like the brand is adding new models such as the Delica pictured at the far back of the image and a sub-ASX SUV. The change has come about after Australia was reclassified as a ‘core’ Mitsubishi market by the Japanese brand. “We will offer not only battery electrics but also plug-in hybrids and hybrids, and introduce appropriate products that will meet the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) set by the Australian government,” said Mitsubishi Motors Corporation President and CEO Takao Kato. Local CEO Shaun Westcott, added: “ is at a key point in its history, and today’s announcements confirm Mitsubishi Motors’ commitment to this market, via a strong product pathway to the end of the decade. “This includes delivering advanced powertrain technologies and a wider product choice, every model endowed with a unique spirit of adventure.” What new models are in the Momentum 2030 teaser?Mitsubishi has not confirmed any model names, details or whether the cars in the ‘Momentum 20230’ teaser will come to Australia. The brand also promised “new or completely refreshed products in multiple market segments,” so let’s have a guess at what’s coming up. Here are our thoughts, from left to right. On the left appears to be a selection of all-new SUV products. Mitsubishi has said electric cars will happen; these could come to fruition as a ute or as a mid-size SUV, given the brand’s access to the Nissan Ariya underpinnings. The front most left car appears to be a sub-ASX coupe-style SUV which has been rumoured as a plug-in hybrid to take the reins from the Mirage sedan, by US sources.Behind it is likely the ASX replacement we’ve all been waiting for. Given Mitsubishi has hinted at a hybrid model in the mix, this small SUV could be a rival for the Corolla Cross and Nissan Qashqai – potentially twinned with the Renault Symbioz. The two centre models are the most obscure, though right down the back is quite clearly the Delica D:5 off-road van. In front of it could be the new Pajero Sport ‘PPV’ but equally the rebirth of the iconic three-row Pajero. Both were hinted at in Mitsubishi’s mid-term plan and Nissan is set to unveil the Pajero’s expected sibling, the Patrol, before March 2025. The three right models are updated or tweaked existing vehicles. The Triton is earmarked for electrification – be that hybrid, plug-in for full EV, or more than one – in the near future. We’re expecting the front right model will be revealed in 2025 as a rugged off-road-focused version of the Outlander family SUV. Further back is a more conventional Outlander. The car debuted in 2021 so come 2025 – four years later – a facelift is due. Mitsubishi could roll out a strong hybrid version of its mid-size SUV alongside a facelift, though it’s safe to expect revisions to suspension, the plug-in hybrid system and in-car technology. Whether Mitsubishi’s updated plan is enough to keep dealers excited remains to be seen. The new Triton is off to a strong start up 12 per cent year-on-year despite a lack of entry models. The Outlander is also performing well finding 2500 buyers in May and up 17.3 per cent.

The BYD Shark is now mere days away from being officially unveiled, and probably the most interesting thing about its unmasking will be just how the Chinese ute’s plug-in hybrid system competes with the diesels that dominate Australia’s dual-cab market.

Mitsubishi announced a record operating US$739.8 million profit on Wednesday with the United States a key growth region for the plug-in hybrid specialist. In discussions with Mitsubishi Motors Corporation CEO Takao Kato, AutoNews was told the Japanese brand is working on a new electric vehicle and one-tonne pick-up to capitalise on North American market growth in collaboration with Nissan. "One thing for sure is that it would be extremely difficult for an automaker of our size to survive all on its own", Kato told AutoNews. "I think exploring collaboration with partners is the best strategy", he added.For the electric vehicle partnership, Kato-san indicated it would be an OEM partnership as has been done with the Renault-based ASX replacement in Europe. A version of Nissan’s Ariya Tesla Model Y rival for the United States could happen, though this remains under study. In return, Nissan will develop a plug-in hybrid using Mitsubishi technology currently found in the Outlander and Eclipse Cross PHEVs. The ute is another interesting story. Given the vehicle is targeting the United States, it will need to be built domestically to avoid the country’s high 25 per cent tariff on imported commercial vehicles. Kato-san said unequivocally that the next-gen one-tonne pick-up truck will be developed with Nissan. The current Triton is not sold in North America and nor is Navara, Nissan instead sells the Mississippi-built Frontier as a Ford Ranger and Toyota Tacoma rival. It is understood the next-gen Navara will move onto the new Triton’s underpinnings, so logic says a similar path will be followed in the North American market. The Navara/Frontier split may continue, with the latter continuing to be slightly larger for US tastes. This could see a US-version of the Triton come to fruition potentially using the L200 name. A spokesperson told CarsGuide Mitsubishi Australia has no involvement in the project so the vehicle is unlikely to come to Australia. And there’s another snag – that being ‘one ton’ in US truck speak means bigger workhorses like the Ford F-350 and Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD. Admittedly, a bespoke heavy-duty US-only Triton and Frontier seem unrealistic. Electrification is certain to play a part, whatever the decision. Mitsubishi is the Alliance project leader in plug-in hybrid and utes so that is definitely under consideration, but Mitusbishi has yet to decide finally on pure electric, plug-in or regular hybrid for its ute. Kato-san also commented on Nissan’s recent memorandum of understanding with Honda, saying he would be open to a similar tie-up with Mitsubishi and another brand. There was no mention from Mitsubishi about the third Alliance partner, Renault. The French marque is also looking to add a dual-cab ute to its stable as a replacement for its Navara-based Alaskan. That vehicle is built in Argentina and sold in Latin American markets.It’s another opening for Mitsubishi to broaden its appeal with a Triton-based Renault ute that could be sold alongside the Mitsubishi product in certain markets. In the United States, Mitsubishi posted a 36 per cent sales increase compared to Q1 2023, shifting 28,403 new vehicles with only four models. The Australian market contributes more than its fair share to Mitsubishi’s bottom line, with 20,188 sales in the first quarter – a 21.3 per cent increase on last year – in a much smaller market. Mitsubishi currently sells five models in Australia with more Triton variants likely to drive sales further. It’s this newfound success in countries like the United States and Australia that has seen Mitsubishi turn its attention to new horizons and away from the slim-margin ASEAN region. The Mitsubishi Australia spokesperson added that there would be more to come by mid-year following a national dealer conference.

The Mitsubishi Triton has become the first dual-cab ute to be tested under ANCAP’s new 2023-2025 criteria, and one of many models to score a five-star rating.