The all-new Triton (known in the Philippines as the Strada), will immediately be put to the test as it will be fielded in the upcoming Asia Cross Country Rally (AXCR).
Per Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC), the newly-launched pick-up truck (unveiled in Thailand) will join the event — to be from Thailand to Laos next month — under the banner of Team Mitsubishi Ralliart lead by its director Hiroshi Masuoka.
Although the all-new Triton has already received full upgrades, the version that will join in the competition has been customized to follow AXCR restrictions. MMC shared that the modifications fitted in the Triton rally car “offers even greater performance than last year's rally car, improving its durability and reliability as well as sporty and stable handling, powerful and responsive driving performance across the full speed range, and the ability to deal with tough road conditions such as muddy roads.”
Three drivers will steer the rally-bred versions of the all-new Triton namely Chayapon Yotha, 2022 AXCR champion driver; Rifat Sungkar, who placed 5th overall last year; and Katsuhiko Taguchi (Japan), who won the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship in 1999 and 2010.
Meanwhile, Masuoka and Mitsubishi Motors engineers will accompany the team throughout the rally using the Delica D:5 all-around minivan.
"We are very excited to be able to take on the competition with the all-new Triton, which has been fully redesigned and evolved significantly in all aspects. Triton rally cars have undergone over 2,000 km of endurance testing in Japan and Thailand with no major problems, and we have confirmed that they provide even better performance than last year's model in every stage, from flat dirt high-speed stages to muddy low-speed stages,” Masuoka said.
“We will be driving with three rally cars, each of which is competing for the overall victory, and we want to take the championship position up on the podium for another consecutive victory," he added.
MMC said that the all-new Mitsubishi Triton rally car is based on the Thai-spec double cab model. It has been modified to meet restrictions under Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) Group T1 for modified cross-country vehicles.
While the concept car that was revealed at the Bangkok International Motor Show last March featured a silver-and-black coloring as inspired by lava rocks packed with condensed energy, the AXCR rally cars will sport a red-and-black motif that represents the energy of gushing lava.
Further, the rally car is fitted with a roll cage and bumper guard, as well as carbon fiber portions found on the hood, at the front and rear doors, and on the cargo bed.
To note, the new rally car’s is as heavy as the previous unit used in the competition despite having larger proportions.
Moreover, the rally cars are equipped with rally-specific front and rear suspension and limited slip differential to ensure stable handling performance.
Providing traction are 17-inch Yokohama Geolandar off-road tires in Work aluminum wheels.
Powering the vehicle is the newly-developed 2.4-liter turbocharged diesel turbo engine (tuned to reduce friction loss and weight) mated to a six-speed manual slushbox. Its peak output reaches more than 200 horsepower and 470 Newton-meters of torque.
Since the AXCR's special stages include river crossings, each component's sealing has been improved and the rally car has been outfitted with a snorkel, or an intake duct, to handle driving in water.
Photos from Mitsubishi Motors Corporation
Also read:
Mitsubishi to slap all-new Strada with newly developed ladder frame, chassis, engine
WATCH: Team Mitsubishi Ralliart puts Triton rally car through its paces
Mitsubishi Thailand relaunches Ralliart brand with kits for Pajero Sport, Triton
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