Mitsubishi’s Ambitious Plans for the Triton and Pajero
Mitsubishi has revealed its intentions to elevate the performance of its Triton and potentially its upcoming Pajero, with a focus on the locally-tuned Triton Raider. This move could mark the beginning of a revival for the Ralliart brand, which has been dormant for some time.
Bruce Hampel, the local GM of Product Strategy and PR at Mitsubishi, shared insights into the company’s future plans. He mentioned that there are aspirations to take things a step higher in terms of both price and capability. This approach aims to bring back some of the emotional brand heritage associated with Mitsubishi.
The success of the Triton Raider will play a crucial role in determining whether the Ralliart brand can make a comeback. The Japanese headquarters of Mitsubishi has shown close interest in the Triton Raider, as it seeks to gauge the market’s appetite for a higher-priced model.
The Role of the Triton Raider
Hampel explained that the Japanese team is closely following the progress of the Triton Raider program. Once the vehicle is on sale, they will review its performance to see if it can be entrusted to distributors for successful delivery. If the Triton Raider proves successful, there could be opportunities to expand further, both within Australia and potentially into other global markets.
One of the first potential markets for the Premcar-tuned Raider could be New Zealand, with plans to explore even more regions in the future.
Features of the Premcar-Tuned Triton Raider
The Premcar-tuned Triton Raider represents a significant overhaul and serves as the new flagship for the ute’s range in Australia. It includes several enhancements such as:
- Beefed-up suspension with custom-developed shock absorbers
- Increased ride height
- A larger profile all-terrain wheel and tyre package
- A 20mm overall increase in width
- Various genuine accessories added to enhance visual appeal
This model starts at $74,990, marking a substantial jump from the previously top-of-the-range GSR trim level, which was $9,400 cheaper.
The Future of Ralliart
Hampel acknowledged that the Ralliart badge hasn’t been applied to the Triton Raider due to customer expectations of the Ralliart brand. While the Raider is expected to resonate well with customers, it is seen more as a typical example of what customers do with aftermarket modifications.
“We didn’t feel it was quite worthy of the Ralliart branding,” he said. However, there is alignment with Mitsubishi Motors HQ in Japan to continue the study and reinstate the Ralliart brand in Australia and globally.
Performance and Power Considerations
One thing Hampel confirmed is that there would be no Ralliart without more power than what is currently offered by the Triton’s 2.4-litre turbo diesel engine (150kW/470Nm). He emphasized that Ralliart needs more uniqueness in terms of appearance, higher levels of suspension sophistication, and ideally more performance from the powertrain.
“The engine is the most difficult one to not have fully done by the manufacturer, with the extensive durability testing, and it’s very expensive to go through that whole process,” he said. “Yes, Premcar can do it, but it comes at a significant cost, so to do that you really need global support.”
Potential Hybrid Solution
Hampel pointed to a potential hybrid solution as a way to elevate performance. With the shift towards electrified options, this opens up a different path for achieving a step-up in performance levels.
“As we transition into HEVs, PHEVs, and ultimately BEVs and these types of vehicles, we could use electrification as the differentiator,” he said.
Future Plans for Mitsubishi
Looking ahead, Mitsubishi has several exciting projects in store for Australia. These include the long-awaited arrival of the next-generation ground-up Pajero 4WD and a fully electric small SUV from its joint-venture with Taiwan’s Foxconn. Both models are expected to be on sale before the end of 2026.
