ORANGE CRUSH

Orange could be the new black with next year’s Triton. On show at the global reveal was a “Triton Plus” concept with orange paintwork and black alloys, grille and bumpers. Interior trim combined orange leather and grey suede. Mitsubishi is waiting for feedback before progressing but given the proliferation of black editions from various makers it’s more than likely the one-off will become reality.

PUT IT THERE, PARTNER

Mitsubishi’s ute expertise is tipped to underpin the next generation of Nissan and Renault equivalents. Mitsubishi boss Trevor Mann says it’s “highly likely” the Triton platform will be the basis for future Nissan Navaras and Renault Alaskans (not available in Australia). The trio’s alliance aims to “turbocharge” each business and deliver economies of scale. Mann says each brand will contribute its leading expertise and in Mitsubishi’s case that will be the Triton’s underpinnings. “The platform development is becoming increasingly more expensive because of the regulations in various parts of the world (on) safety and emissions,” he says. “We will be converging on platforms ... which means the next Outlander will be on the same platform as the Nissan and Renault equivalent. Everything the customer, sees, touches, experiences will be Mitsubishi.”

PLUG-IN UTES NEXT

The dawn of the plug-in hybrid ute is a matter of when, not if, says Mitsubishi’s product strategist. It will come in response to growing pressure to reduce emissions and the guillotine hovering over diesel cars in Europe, according to company vice-president Vincent Cobbee. He reckons increasing global regulation and “changing horizons” will bring plug-in hybrid tech — as employed in the company’s Outlander SUV — to utes. “There will be a limit to what traditional combustion engines can provide, especially because the demand for power, torque, towing will remain. If you put all of this together there is not that many technologies that can provide no range anxiety, high power, high torque and low CO2.”