Mitsubishi PH is teasing the pick-up market with a price advantage and impressive local specifications for the Triton ahead of its January 2024 release
You know the competition is fierce when the combatants settle for posturing moves even before they have their arms ready for battle.
Such is the case lately in the automotive industry when the once highly anticipated launch with accompanying teasers and the obligatory build-up in suspense has given way to the more practical preview and pre-order technique. Blame the easy availability of information on the Internet for the change in tactic.
With the key specs and pricing already officially announced even before the arrival of the product, car brands are hoping you would wait to purchase from a competitor or even ditch the other brand for theirs.
So when Mitsubishi Motor Philippines Corporation opted to do a “soft launch” of the all-new Mitsubishi Triton last Friday night on Facebook, it felt that the Japanese carmaker wanted you to make a deposit for its Strada replacement instead of going for the Ford Ranger, Toyota Hilux, Nissan Navara or that Isuzu D-Max.
But are you willing to wait? MMPC is targeting the start of sales of the Triton in January 2024. And it is hoping that its local specifications will change your mind.
Last July, the 2024 Mitsubishi Triton was unveiled in Thailand, where it will be sourced. Since then, it has steadily rolled out in the Land of Smiles. With production in full swing, other markets, such as the Philippines, will finally receive their initial allocation toward the end of the year.
What’s there to wait for? First, the 2024 Mitsubishi Triton gets a tougher, more ominous look. Gone are the fashionable curves and Xpanderesque nose of the old Strada. The all-new Triton gets a more battering ram-like front with a broad, squarish grille and boxy headlamp fixtures.
One of the more notable design changes in the all-new Triton is how the back of the cab is square and muscular now instead of having the tapering J-curve the outgoing model had. It looks more functional and rugged, something pickup intenders are looking for in a truck.
The all-new Triton in top Athlete trim is 55mm longer, 115mm wider, 20mm taller, and 130mm longer with its wheelbase versus the outgoing Strada. Imposing would likely be an understatement once you see it on the road alongside other cars.
For those who buy pickups to have peace of mind when wading through floods or do the occasional off-road trail, the 2024 Mitsubishi Triton has a ground clearance of 228 mm.
Its new ladder-frame platform has 60% more torsional rigidity and 40% more resistance to bending.
It still rides on a double-wishbone front and rear leaf spring suspension layout. As with any heavy-duty pickup, it will be available in four-wheel drive in Super Select 4WDII configuration for the top-of-the-line Athlete variant.
A choice of either a 6-speed automatic or manual gearboxes is slated for the 2024 Triton. All will be combined with a 2.4-liter turbodiesel MIVEC engine. While the standard output is 183 PS and 430 N-m of torque in six of the seven intended variants, Mitsubishi has decided to kit the Athlete trim with its 2-stage turbocharger-equipped mill. This will give the top-trim option an output of 204 PS and 470 N-m of torque.
While these numbers fall short versus the recently launched Toyota Hilux GR-S and the Ford Ranger Raptor, they give the Mitsubishi Triton a price advantage by not breaking the 2-million peso mark.
The Athlete also has a healthy list of exclusive safety features, including seven airbags, Active Yaw Control, parking sensors, Forward Collision Mitigation System, Blind Sport Warning with Lane Change Assist, Lane Departure Warning, and Rear Cross Traffic Alert. It also has a Multi-Around View Monitor and Automatic High Beam along with the GLS 2WD automatic.
The Athlete and the GLS 2WD also share a 9-inch touchscreen display together with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
With Mitsubishi strategically placing all the bells and whistles in the top-trim Athlete variant, it would seem the carmaker is looking at lowering the prices of the other variants for better volume and letting those who can afford a Hilux GR-S or Ford Ranger Raptor beater pay for the extra goodies.
