Entry-level Triton diesel soon

MITSUBISHI will continue to expand its already popular Triton light commercial range with a new entry-level 4x2 diesel model from early next year.

The company only recently added an automatic version of its 4x4 3.2-litre turbo-diesel Triton to maximise the shift to multi-purpose sports utes – a shift that has resulted in a 46.9 per cent growth for Triton 4x4 models in the seven months of this year.

While 4x2 sales are down 13.8 per cent due to the lack of a genuine entry-level model in the first quarter, they have been rapidly making up ground since the 2.4-litre petrol version was launched in April.

The new entry-level diesel will use the same 2.5-litre common rail turbo-diesel already available in Europe. The Euro IV-compliant DI-D engine delivers 100kW of power at 4000rpm and 314Nm of torque at 2000rpm.

Expect prices for the 2.5-litre 4x2 diesels to be about $2000 higher than equivalent 2.4-litre petrol models (putting a GL Cab Chassis manual at about $22,000 – or under $20K if the company extends its ABN discount policy to the diesel).

A four-speed automatic transmission option at about $2000 will be available from launch in addition to the standard five-speed manual.

Mitsubishi Australia light commercial product manager Tom Pitman said that the 2.5-litre diesel could ultimately replace the 4x2 3.6-litre V6 petrol version, which is priced from $22,990, if customer demand goes the way the company expects.

“The diesel could eventually replace the petrol V6,” Mr Pitman told GoAuto last week. “We’ll just see how it goes over the next couple of years.” Mr Pitman said that the popularity of the Triton range worldwide has stretched production, but expects the 2.5 diesel 4x2 will account for about 300 sales a month once supply restrictions are overcome.

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