Drive has peeled away the camouflage to get a better look at the 2024 Mitsubishi Triton in the metal, starting with these computer illustrations of a top-end model and a tradie pack.
This is our best look yet at the 2024 Mitsubishi Triton – the first truly new model in two decades.
Drive’s European-based digital artist Avarvarii peeled away the camouflage of the concept car unveiled earlier this week, to give us an idea of what a top-end model and a bare-bones tradie pack could look like when they arrive in local showrooms later this year or early next year.
While the current-generation Mitsubishi Triton in showrooms today was introduced locally in 2015 – and had a significant facelift in late 2018 – the core architecture can be traced back to 2005, making the current platform close to 20 years old.
Suffice to say there is a lot riding on the new model.
MORE: 2024 Mitsubishi Triton concept unveiled, showroom models months away
A lot has changed in the ute market since Mitsubishi began working on this new-generation Triton five years ago.
High-end utes are now the norm, and double-cabs are increasingly doubling their duties as a family car.
Mitsubishi has evidently spotted that trend because the thinly-camouflaged concept car appeared to be a flagship model aimed at the Ford Ranger Raptor and upcoming Toyota HiLux GR Sport.
Unfortunately, there are already some early signs Mitsubishi may not have gone quite far enough with the new Triton.
The first clue: it appears the company has inexplicably stuck with rear drum brakes while every new pick-up introduced in the past year or so is equipped with four-wheel brake discs, either across the range or at the very least on flagship models.
Chances are, though, this means Mitsubishi has tried to keep a lid on development and manufacturing costs to deliver a more affordable option in the booming double-cab ute segment.
While Toyota and Ford have recently reported hefty price rises for their pick-ups, here’s hoping the new Mitsubishi Triton won’t turn its back on customers at the budget end of the ute class.
The current Mitsubishi Triton has done a good job of fending off competition from cheap Chinese utes – such as the LDV T60 and Great Wall Motors Ute – and even clocked up record sales in Australia last year, despite approaching the end of its model cycle.
We have a long wish list of features for the new Mitsubishi Triton and we hope to find out more information in the coming weeks.
In the meantime, even though Mitsubishi hasn’t asked for our opinion, we’re going to share some ideas with them anyway.
Here is our wish list for the model:
- Advanced safety must be standard across the entire new Mitsubishi Triton range, including the most basic ‘traffic controller’ models with the drop-side aluminium tray. If Isuzu can fit every available piece of safety tech on every D-Max – including its bare-bones base model – then any ute introduced after it has no excuse.
- Standard safety tech should include – at a minimum, in our opinion – autonomous emergency braking, radar cruise control, blind zone warning, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assistance, front and rear parking sensors, a high-definition rear camera (360-degree camera coverage on high-end models), speed sign recognition, and individual tyre pressure monitors.
- To achieve a five-star safety rating (mandatory for government and business fleets) it may be necessary to fit a centre airbag between the front seats and a knee airbag.
- Bi-LED headlights on every model grade except the absolute base model. The technology is cheap enough now that halogens surely must be about to the go the way of candle-powered headlights.
- Mitsubishi’s unique Super Select four-wheel-drive system (which can operate in heavy-duty 4WD mode on sealed roads, unlike most other utes which can only operate in this mode on unsealed surfaces) is a competitive advantage. It just needs to be on more models.
- We’re devastated Mitsubishi appears to have not pushed harder to fit rear disc brakes – and instead has persevered with rear drum brakes (unless this is all an elaborate hoax and the company is trying to prank us all). We also hope that all new Mitsubishi Triton models get larger front discs. On the current model, lower grades get smaller discs and less stopping power. Time to democratise safety, Mitsubishi. Time to drag product planning decisions out of the 1990s.
- You can’t have too many USB-C and USB-A charging ports. Please keep 12V sockets for added convenience. Wireless smartphone charging pads are fine but they all tend to heat up devices quickly. Time to add a household power socket, too, so owners can charge a laptop or a portable fridge.
- We’re not a fan of the five-plus-five-year warranty (the extra five years of warranty coverage only applies to vehicles that have never been serviced outside the dealer network). How the ACCC has allowed Mitsubishi to advertise this as a 10-year warranty rather than a five-plus-five year warranty remains a mystery. Time to deliver a genuine 10-year warranty and delete the fine print.
- Last but not least, we will add a turbo diesel V6 to our wish list because, if we don’t, commenters will. However, don’t hold your breath. There doesn’t appear to be a turbo diesel V6 at Mitsubishi’s disposal, given the global focus on downsizing engines and the shift to electric power. Here’s hoping Mitsubishi surprises us, but we wouldn’t put money on it.
MORE: How the new Mitsubishi Triton sizes up compared to today’s model and the new Ford Ranger
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