Government documents have provided the first glimpse of the Mitsubishi Triton Xtreme by the Walkinshaw Automotive Group, however there is one more roadblock to navigate before it arrives in showrooms.
The limited-edition Mitsubishi Triton Xtreme has been laid bare in government approval documents.
The new Triton edition has been given the green light by Australian regulators following upgrades to wheels, tyres and suspension, additional underbody protection, and the fitment of an LED light bar, wider fender flares, a sports bar, and special decals.
However Drive understands there is one more checkpoint to navigate – and the vehicle’s showroom debut hangs in the balance.
Mitsubishi dealers were shown the special edition in a secret meeting earlier this month, and some showrooms have since raised their hands for the first batch of vehicles, while others said they have already received enquiries from customers.
Documents show the Mitsubishi Triton Xtreme was submitted for government approval by the Walkinshaw Automotive Group.
The former Holden Special Vehicles engineering and assembly firm is the same outfit behind the remanufacturing of Ram, Chevrolet, and Toyota full-size US pick-ups from left- to right-hand-drive.
The Walkinshaw Automotive Group has also just completed two successful special editions of the Volkswagen Amarok ute.
Representatives for Mitsubishi Australia and the Walkinshaw Automotive Group declined to comment on the next steps for the Mitsubishi Triton Xtreme.
However, dealers canvassed by Drive said the special edition may run out of road before the new-generation model arrives.
“There is a lot of support (from dealers), we want the car,” said one Mitsubishi dealer source who asked to remain anonymous.
However, he noted, “Mitsubishi and Walkinshaw are now in a race against time to get (the Xtreme) into production and into showrooms before the new model arrives late this year or early next year.”
The dealer said he was not sure when – or if – the Mitsubishi Triton Xtreme will make it into showrooms.
“Both parties are working closely on it,” he told Drive. “Dealers want the car, customers want the car. We need Mitsubishi and Walkinshaw to find a way to make it happen before it’s too late.”
In the meantime, Mitsubishi Australia is rolling out 400 examples of the limited-edition Triton Sport – which includes unique seat trim, a 360-degree camera, and distinctive decals.
However, the Walkinshaw-developed Mitsubishi Triton Xtreme is more than just a sticker pack.
Documents show the Walkinshaw engineering firm developed a unique wheel, tyre and suspension package for improved on- and off-road performance (18 x 8.5-inch rims with 265/60 R18 all-terrain tyres), as well as an LED high-beam light strip, a sump guard, wider fender flares, a sports bar, and unique decals.
As was the case with the Walkinshaw-developed Volkswagen Amarok W580 editions, it appears a power upgrade for the Mitsubishi Triton Xtreme was deemed prohibitively expensive this late in the model cycle, so the 133kW/430Nm 2.4-litre turbo-diesel remains unchanged, with a six-speed automatic transmission.
An all-new Mitsubishi Triton (a camouflaged version of which is pictured above) is due to be unveiled within months and could be in showrooms late this year or early next year.
Documents show the request for federal government approval was submitted by – and granted to – the Walkinshaw Automotive Group, however the Mitsubishi Triton Xtreme does not wear the Walkinshaw name.
Drive understands the use of Walkinshaw branding is exclusive to the Volkswagen Amarok.
Despite being one of the oldest vehicles in the ute segment – the chassis in today’s Mitsubishi Triton released in 2015 can be traced back to the previous-generation model launched in the prior decade – the nameplate has just posted a sales record in Australia.
Last year, the Mitsubishi Triton was the third-biggest selling ute after the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger, and ahead of the Isuzu D-Max.
2022 annual ute sales results in Australia (4×4 and 4×2 combined)
- Toyota HiLux – 64,391, up 22 per cent
- Ford Ranger – 47,479, down 5.6 per cent
- Mitsubishi Triton – 27,436, up 42.7 per cent
- Isuzu D-Max – 24,336, down 3.1 per cent
- Mazda BT-50 – 12,937, down 17.4 per cent
- Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series PU/CC – 11,390, down 7.2 per cent
- Nissan Navara – 10,526, down 30.4 per cent
- GWM Ute – 7806, up 13.0 per cent
- LDV T60 – 5959, down 11.1 per cent
- Ram 1500 – 5481, up 43.5 per cent
- VW Amarok – 4514, down 41.1 per cent
- Ssangyong Musso – 1956, up 3.9 per cent
- Chevrolet Silverado 1500 – 1823, down 13.8 per cent
- Jeep Gladiator – 1397, up 9.7 per cent
Source: Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, Drive.com.au data centre.
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