Triton king-pin for Mitsubishi

MITSUBISHI has pulled forward the unveiling of its facelifted 2010 Triton as stocks of its current hot-selling ute run out ahead of the new model’s September launch.

Order books are already filling for the new model, which gets a new, more powerful 2.5-litre turbo-diesel engine, improved towing capacity, an extended tray and cosmetic and detail feature improvements.

Importantly, electronic stability control and traction control are now available on some Triton models – a first in this class of Japanese-brand one-tonne utes commonly imported from Thailand.

Triton is a key model for Mitsubishi, with sales of the 4WD version up 9.5 per cent this year in a segment that’s fallen 7.5 per cent, culminating in record Triton sales in June, thanks partly to the federal government’s business tax depreciation breaks.

Mitsubishi’s vice president, brand and marketing Paul Unerkov said the Triton had grown in significance for the brand, now accounting for 30 per cent of Mitsubishi volume.

“We’ve pretty much doubled our sales with this vehicle in the last three or four years in this area,” he said.

“Sales have come from the traditional area of the tradies – as a workhorse vehicle – but now you’ve got that work/play element where people are using it for work during the week and then going away in it on weekends for recreation.

“We’re seeing lots of evidence of customers coming from passenger cars into this segment as well.”

The new Triton has a new ‘high-powered (HP)’ turbo diesel engine option for 4WD models.

On the five-speed manual transmission model, the engine produces 131kW of power at 4000rpm and 400Nm of torque at 2000rpm. This represents 11 per cent more power and 17 per cent more torque than the outgoing 3.2-litre engine, even though the new engine is smaller.

The combined fuel economy figure of 8.3 litres per 100 km is a nine per cent improvement.

The engine in automatic variants generates a similar amount of power but slightly less torque, at 350Nm, with a combined fuel economy figure of 9.3L/100km.

Mitsubishi says the 'HP' 2.5-litre diesel engine makes its gains over the standard 2.5-litre engine in 2WD models through improved combustion chamber shape, optimised fuel injectors, a variable geometry turbocharger and increased turbocharging boost pressure.

Two automatic transmissions are offered with the new HP diesel engine. The existing four-speed transmission is optional on lower-spec models and an electronically controlled five-speed automatic with sports mode is available on the top model, the GLX-R.

The 2WD 2010 Triton retains the 2.4-litre petrol engine and 2.5-litre diesel engine.

The diesel generates 100kW of power at 3800rpm and 314Nm of torque at 2000rpm, while returning fuel economy figures of 8.2L/100km (manual) and 8.6L/100km (automatic).

The petrol engine has 94kW of power at 5250rpm and 194Nm of torque at 4000rpm, has a fuel consumption figure of 10.9L/100km. It coupled to a five-speed manual transmission.

Answering customer criticism over small tray size on the dual cab, Mitsubishi has increased tray length to 1505mm and tray height to 460mm - an improvement of 14 per cent for both measurements over the previous TritonThe part-time/full-time ‘Super Select’ four-wheel-drive system, which includes ESC and traction control, multi-mode ABS, electronic brake force distribution, is standard on GLX-R models.

ESC and traction control is available on all HP diesel models, while passenger side and curtain airbags are available on all HP diesel dual-cab models (and standard on GLX-R). The Triton continues with a four-star ANCAP rating.

There are eight 2WD variants – the GL cab chassis and GLX dual-cab 2.4 petrol in manual only, and GLX diesel cab-chassis, GLX dual-cab and GL-R dual-cab in manual or optional automatic.

The 4WD models with the HP 2.5-litre diesel include GLX single-cabs and dual-cabs, GL-R dual-cabs or GLX-R dual-cabs in manual or optional automatic.

External changes include new front bumpers, grille and side-marker lights (and the extended tray on dual-cab models), while inside there is new seat fabric and seat padding, sports seats and new instrument cluster, floor console treatments, and a new sound system