Triton and Xforce get thumbs-up

Mitsubishi Motors South Africa has confirmed it will be bringing both the all-new Triton and Xforce to market in the third quarter of the year.

Set to become the only non-Chinese bakkie not to be made in South Africa when it goes on-sale following the discontinuation of the Mazda BT50, the Thai-built Triton rides on a completely new platform Mitsubishi claims is stronger and more rigid than that of the current generation.

Wider and longer, with a ground clearance increase of 22mm to 222mm, the Triton also sports a new variation of the Lancer Evo-derived Super Active Yaw Control, a drive mode selector with seven settings and, for the first time, torque vectoring.

The Triton gains a completely new interior outfitted with a nine-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a seven-inch instrument cluster display between the analogue tachometer and speedometer, a wireless smartphone charger and a new steering wheel.

Up front, the initial line-up could see at least one of the single-turbo 2.4-litre diesel engines being offered, together with the flagship twin-turbo. Bearing the moniker 4N16 whereas the current Triton makes use of the 4N15 mill of the same displacement, two outputs are offered in single-turbo guise; 110kW/330Nm and 135kW/430Nm.

In twin-turbo form, the oil-burner produces 150kW/470Nm, the same amount of power as the 2.0-litre bi-turbo Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux 2.8 GD-6, but 30 Nm less than both.

Transmission options will consist of a six-speed and sixspeed automatic, with buyers set to have the option of rear-wheeldrive or selectable four-wheeldrive.

Billed as an “authentic SUV”, the Xforce debuts as the first model to sport a specific take on the Dynamic Shield styling called Silky and Solid.

The local market Xforce will derive motivation from the same normally aspirated 1.5-litre engine as in the Xpander with outputs of 77kW/141Nm.

A CVT is available elsewhere, but lower-end models could get a five-speed manual if approved.

More details and pricing are only expected closer to the pair’s third quarter launch.