WATCH: Team Mitsubishi Ralliart puts Triton rally car through its paces

Mitsubishi announced last year that it will revive the Ralliart brand. On that note, Team Mitsubishi Ralliart conducted endurance tests of the Triton (aka Strada) rally car on an off-road course in Thailand last month in preparation for the 2022 Asia Cross Country Rally (AXCR) in November.

A short video was released on Mitsubishi’s official YouTube account showing how the team has put the souped-up pickup truck through its paces on a 10-kilometer track that combines a high-speed range, rough gravel road, and a narrow, winding forest course.

You can check it out here.

“Since the Triton has a robust chassis frame and an excellent handling performance, we decided to reduce the vehicle weight to a minimum for the rally modification while leveraging its original strength as much as possible. Having covered more than 800 kilometers in two days, the rally car showed its great performance throughout the tough endurance tests as we expected, and now we are confident that our preparation is on the right track,” said Team Mitsubishi Ralliart Team Director Hiroshi Masuoka.

The Triton rally car is classified as a Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) Group T1 rally car (prototype cross-country vehicle). It is based on the Thailand-specification double-cab model and has undergone significant upgrades, allowing it to brave the challenging task at hand.

It sports a lightened hood, front and rear doors, interior, and other parts. The body has been strengthened with a roll cage and under guards. The AXCR-bound pickup truck also sports a dedicated rally car suspension, front and rear limited-slip differential (LSD), as well as large-diameter off-road tires and lightweight alloy wheels.

Power comes from a 2.4-liter diesel engine that has been tuned to reduce friction loss, weight, and to improve responsiveness in the mid-speed ranges frequently used in rallies. Some AXCR stages include river crossings, so water-proofing modifications have also been added, such as stronger sealing and an air-intake snorkel.

Team Mitsubishi Ralliart is backed by eight partner companies that supply vital components to the rally-ready pickup. These include Carrosser Co., Ltd.; Endless Project Co., Ltd.; Eneos Corporation; Fortec Motorsport Ltd.; Hankyu Hanshin Express Co., Ltd.; HKS Co., Ltd.; Yokohama; and Work Co., Ltd.

Photos from Mitsubishi

Also read: 

Mitsubishi Thailand relaunches Ralliart brand with kits for Pajero Sport, Triton