It’s unusual to be speaking a few new flagship Mitsubishi Triton so close to the tip of the present mannequin’s life, with a new-generation across the nook.
But that’s is the Triton Xtreme by Walkinshaw Automotive Group: a GSR buffed up with higher suspension, new wheels and tyres, bash plating and difficult design add-ons, offered by way of the Mitsubishi supplier community.
It offers Mitsubishi a competitor to different Aussie-created ute halos such because the Nissan Navara Professional-4X Warrior by Premcar, Toyota HiLux Rogue and Mazda BT-50 Thunder, filling a niche it hasn’t addressed with any type of Ralliart equal to this point.
However we should come again to addressing the principle query: why now?
It’s principally the work of Walkinshaw Automotive Group (WAG), the Melbourne engineering and design firm chargeable for HSV, which has reinvented itself with the HSV Colorado SportsCat and Volkswagen Amarok W-Sequence dual-dabs.
Naturally, it’s trying to work extra OEMs that might stand to profit from its engineering and designs.
Whereas Mitsubishi Australia clearly knew about and supported the creation of the Triton Xteme, the event was each proposed and led by Walkinshaw. Given its purpose for being, ‘simply’ 500 models might be produced, making it one thing of a restricted version.
Consider the Triton Xtreme as a proof-of-concept designed with one eye on the next-gen mannequin – as was the case with the W-Sequence that emerged on the finish of the outdated Amarok’s life cycle, however which set the stage for variations primarily based on the brand new mannequin.
The Triton Xtreme was developed over a interval of about two years go-to-whoa, about half of which included the engineering. Testing befell on the famed Lang Lang proving floor in Gippsland, the place the entire finest Holdens have been created.
That is what units autos like this aside – in idea anyway – from modified utes developed solely by way of the aftermarket, which presents loads of glorious alternate options. Particularly, all its updates are examined as a cohesive complete, and chosen by OEM-standard auto engineers.
Walkinshaw is a superb success story for the Australian automobile trade. Between its diesel utes, factories changing Ram 1500s and Chevrolet Silverados to RHD of their 1000’s, its New Age caravans, and motor racing division, Walkinshaw has three-times extra employees now than it did at HSV’s zenith.
How a lot does the Mitsubishi Triton Xtreme price?
Deep breath – it’s $71,990 earlier than on-road prices, which is a few $15,000 greater than the Triton GSR it’s primarily based on. There’s by no means been a costlier Triton offered in firm sellers.
That makes it about the identical cash as a Nissan Navara Professional-4X Warrior, which is a conceptually related mannequin with related forms of mechanical updates, made by one other Melbourne engineering agency (Premcar).
Different price-point rivals embody the Ford Ranger Wildtrak, Toyota HiLux Rogue and Mazda BT-50 Thunder.
Rivals embody:
- Mitsubishi Triton Xtreme: $71,990
- Ford Ranger Wildtrak V6: $71,190
- Toyota HiLux Rogue: $70,200
- Mazda BT-50 Thunder: $73,410
- Nissan Navara Professional-4X Warrior: $70,015
Costs are earlier than on-road prices
What’s the Mitsubishi Triton Xtreme like on the within?
Whereas the skin seems to be the half with its chunky tyres, new wheels, rear bar work, entrance bash plate, and decals, there’s nothing novel in right here other than a numbered plaque behind the gear shifter.
The Triton’s inside nonetheless will get lots of the fundamentals proper: It has an ideal steering wheel with attain adjustment, sound ergonomics, good fit-and-finish with hard-wearing supplies, and on this trim the entrance passengers get heated seats.
But it surely’s all wanting a little bit dated now, and all of the metallic-look silver plastic trims and fancy stitchwork on the earth received’t change that.
The analogue instrument cluster seems to be fairly good however there’s no digital speedo, the 7.0-inch touchscreen is small and dated by right now’s working requirements, and the usage of orange fonts and slabs of empty plastic with button blanks age the design additional.
Headline options inside embody wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for mapping, leather-based seats, dual-zone local weather management, and a surround-view digicam show with middling decision.
Again-seat occupants get their very own USB ports and an air circulator system within the roof, and there’s acceptable room for 2 adults – although the inside is on the slender aspect and the elevated rear bench limits headroom to some extent.
The bathtub measures 1520mm lengthy by 1470mm large by 475mm deep, and is 1085mm between the wheel arches. But it surely’s a little bit unusual that our take a look at car lacked a bedliner accent, in addition to a rolling arduous tonneau cowl or one thing related.
Other than the cool-looking sportsbar, it feels just like the Triton Xtreme may use a little bit little bit of added performance within the loading space, and for its $71,990 RRP you’d have thought it would include extra options from the bulging Mitsubishi equipment catalogue.
On this notice, the Xtreme additionally comes with a primary GSR spare wheel and tyre as customary, so that you’ll want at hand over an additional $885 plus GST for s fifth Xtreme wheel and tyre. That’s simply not proper.
What’s beneath the bonnet?
The Xtreme runs the identical driveline because the inventory Triton, which presents below-average energy, torque and towing capacities in comparison with fellow top-sellers.
The 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel makes 133kW of energy (3500rpm) and 430Nm of torque (2500rpm), mated to a six-speed automated transmission.
Its Tremendous Choose II 4×4 system has 2H (rear-drive), 4HLc (50:50 entrance:rear 4×4) and 4L (low-range) modes, in addition to 4H full-time 4×4 mode out there for tarmac use.
Walkinshaw claims unchanged gas consumption of 8.6L/100km (ADR) from a 75L tank, whereas towing capability stays 3100kg.
How does the Mitsubishi Triton Xtreme drive?
As we present in our latest dual-cab ute megatest, the common-or-garden Triton GSR could be very succesful off the crushed path, however not precisely comfy.
Narrower and utilizing a shorter wheelbase than its rivals, it amplifies head toss over impacts and will get a little bit unsettled and vulnerable to pogo-ing when frivolously laden.
Whereas Walkinshaw hasn’t overhauled all facets of the suspension – it’s nonetheless leaf sprung on the rear – it has made make the Xtreme extra comfy and composed over the tough stuff than its donor car.
The suspension bundle comes from racing, mining, defence (and clearly automotive OEM) provider Supashock. It contains 4 46mm monotube dampers, with the entrance operating a distant canister and the rear operating a piggyback system, and new entrance coils.
Walkinshaw stipulates it prioritised off-road efficiency, as demonstrated by the fitment of BF Goodrich K02 all-terrain tyres (265/60 R18) to forged-alloy 12-spoke wheels – over the OEM-fitted freeway rubber.
The distinction over the inventory Triton GSR felt noticeable each on- and off-road, throughout a collection of loops on the identical Lang Lang Proving Floor the place it was developed.
Off-road, largely in low-range, the Triton Xtreme navigated muddy rutted trails and climbs with out blinking, the suspension lowering occupant physique motion extra successfully, whereas providing better consolation on compression and management on rebound than the common Triton fashions.
Whereas it nonetheless received’t match a Ranger on a dynamic street loop, the Triton Xtreme’s trip and dealing with by way of a collection a on- and off-camber turns, and a few high-speed undulations, felt a lot better than the donor car as soon as once more.
It’s probably the most enjoyable you’ll have in a Triton, that’s for positive. The beefy all-terrain rubber was additionally pretty quiet even on coarser-chip bitumen.
Word although, that it was a dry day and we’d like to check these tyres on moist tarmac (lots of the photographs used have been taken on one other day).
There’s solely a lot enchancment to be present in such an outdated design, but when the aim is to indicate Mitsubishi and different OEMS that it may very well be a superb engineering associate, Walkinshaw has carried out so.
The Triton’s 4×4 system has low-range and high-range (locked centre diff) 4×4 in addition to rear-wheel drive 2H like most part-time 4x4s, nevertheless it additionally has a high-range with the centre diff unlocked for everlasting, variable 4WD over sealed surfaces.
It has a locking rear diff as properly, with its fundamental weak level in additional excessive driving being its lengthy rear overhang and simply broken aide steps – I’d wish to have seen Walkinshaw match some rock sliders as a part of the bundle.
Walkinshaw says all the important thing dimensions and weights are the identical because the Triton GSR: it’s 5305mm lengthy, 1795mm tall and 1815mm large, has 220mm of floor clearance, a 2000kg kerb weight, a 900kg payload, 2900kg GVM, and 5885kg GCM.
There’s additionally no change to the method (31 levels) and departure (23 levels) angles.
Given the challenge’s restricted scope and quick run, there was no sense in making powertrain modifications. The Triton’s 2.4-litre diesel is sincere however unrefined, and its efficiency and towing skills within the backside half of the competitor pack.
Its 133kW and 430Nm outputs, six-speed transmission (admittedly fitted with superior Ralliart-style column-mounted paddles) and three.1t towing capability are all off the tempo.
Walkinshaw additionally made no modifications to the brakes, protecting the 320mm entrance discs and old skool (however commonplace within the ute market) rear drums.
What do you get?
Triton Xtreme highlights:
- New Supashock springs and dampers
- BF Goodrich ATR 265/60 R18 K02 tyres
- 18-inch solid alloy wheels
- Entrance bash plating and LED mild bar
- Sports activities bar within the tub
- Fender flares and dirt flaps
- Decals and inside numbered construct plate
This builds on the present Triton GSR:
- LED headlights with nightfall sensors
- LED daytime operating lights and brake lights
- Rain-sensing windscreen wipers
- Entrance and rear parking sensors
- Proximity-sensing key fob
- Privateness glass
- Facet steps
- Energy-folding, heated aspect mirrors
- Button begin
- Leather-based-wrapped steering wheel
- Leather-based-appointed seats
- Heated entrance seats, energy changes for driver
- Two-zone local weather management
- 360-degree parking cameras
- 7.0-inch touchscreen
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Bluetooth telephone and audio
- AM/FM/DAB and 4 x USB ports
- Six audio system
Is the Mitsubishi Triton Xtreme secure?
The Triton is so outdated now its ANCAP security score has lapsed, although earlier than this it carried a five-star rating primarily based on outdated 2015 testing.
Walkinshaw says it frolicked testing all of the automobile’s driver-assist options to ensure they labored fantastic with the suspension and wheel modifications.
Commonplace security options embody:
- 7 airbags
- 2 x ISOFIX and prime tethers
- AEB incl. Pedestrian detection
- Ultrasonic Misacceleration Mitigation System
- Passive cruise management with pace limiter
- Lane departure warning
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Rear cross-traffic alert
How a lot does the Mitsubishi Triton Xtreme price to run?
The Triton Xtreme retains the donor automobile’s 10-year, 200,000km guarantee which applies as long as you service the automobile at a Mitsubishi supplier. The usual guarantee in any other case is 5 years or 100,000km.
We’re at the moment clarifying whether or not the Mitsubishi manufacturing unit guarantee covers the fitted non-Mitsubishi elements too.
There’s capped-price servicing for 10 years or 150,000km, at intervals of both as soon as per 12 months or each 15,000km – whichever comes first.
Mitsubishi Triton service pricing:
- Service 1: $449
- Service 2: $549
- Service 3: $549
- Service 4: $799
- Service 5: $549
- Service 6: $799
- Service 7: $549
- Service 8: $999
- Service 9: $699
- Service 10: $799
CarExpert’s Tackle the Mitsubishi Triton Xtreme
It’s arduous to say {that a} Triton costing north of $70k is an effective deal, particularly when the drivetrain and inside carry over.
However Walkinshaw has achieved what it got down to – particularly to indicate that the common-or-garden Mitsubishi workhorse could be made extra comfy and succesful with some Aussie knowhow.
It even seems to be powerful, which isn’t one thing you’d essentially say concerning the Triton. It’s arduous to place a worth on establishing desirability, nevertheless it’s excessive all the identical.
For me, it’s extra about what comes subsequent. I hope Mitsubishi and Walkinshaw realise the chances demonstrated right here, with a extra trendy next-generation platform to work from.
Click on the pictures for the total gallery
