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By
MURRAY HUBBARD
12 October 2009
Mitsubishi’s Triton in dual-cab format created waves with
its fascinating new styling when launched Australia in 2006. The
curved shape of the tray where it met the passenger compartment
was the real talking point. Mitsubishi said the shape allowed rear
seat passengers to lean back instead of sitting bolt-upright as in
many dual cab utes, but that really was just an excuse for trying
a radical shape.
The latest incarnation of the Mitsubishi Triton addresses issues
some buyers had with the about to be superseded model. In
particular the dual-cab’s tray is 180 mm longer and 55 mm higher
than before. It had lost its length due to the radical body shape,
now it has the length again, but be sure to measure the size of
your garage, as the longer dual-cab Triton is a big beast.
There's also an all-new heart for Triton, a high-torque,
2.5-litre, common-rail, direct-injection turbo-diesel that not
only uses less fuel than the old 3.2-litre diesel engine, but
produces significantly more power and torque. The new engine
generates 131 kW of power, but more importantly has torque to burn
with 400 Nm at 2000 rpm.
Towing capacity has been increased from 2.5 tonnes to 2.7 tonnes
in the Triton dual-cab long-bed and 3.0 tonnes for all other
Triton 4x4 single and dual cab chassis models.
Mitsubishi launched its MY 2010 Triton in northern New South Wales
on a test drive program that included some serious off-road
testing at Crystal Creek.
The two-wheel-drive range retains the 2.4-litre petrol engine and
the 2.5-litre diesel engine from the current model. The petrol
engine develops 94 kW of power at 5250 rpm and 194 Nm of torque at
4000 rpm. Mitsubishi claims fuel consumption of 10.9 litres per
100 kilometres from the petrol manual variant, 8.2 litres/100 km
from the diesel manual and 8.6 litres/100 km from the automatic.
The diesel engine generates 100 kW of power at 3800 rpm and 314 Nm
of torque at 2000 rpm.
All Tritons now have standard driver and front passenger airbags,
front and rear door impact bars, ABS brakes with electronic
brakeforce distribution, front seatbelt pretensioners and child
restraint points.
Active stability and traction control is available on all
high-powered diesel models and passenger side and curtain airbags
are available on all high-powered diesel dual-cab models and
standard on top-of-the-line GLX-R variants. Triton has a four star
ANCAP safety rating.
Mitsubishi has simplified its Triton range with eight two-wheel
drive variants. These are the petrol-powered manual GL cab chassis
and GLX dual-cab, and automatic or manual diesel powered GLX cab
chassis and GL-R dual cab. The new high-powered 2.5-litre engine
is available on 4X4 models in either manual or automatic
transmissions in GLX single cabs and dual cabs or GLX-R dual cabs.
Two automatic transmissions are available on 2.5 high-powered
variants – a four speed on the Triton GL-R and a five speed on
the Triton GLX-R.
We took an automatic Triton dual cab high powered 2.5 turbo-diesel
for a long drive on country roads, highways and motorways, and
found the engine equally good on road with easy cruising at 110
km/h. The ride is firm as you expect, but there was little
pitching and no more than expected body roll for this type of
vehicle. Mitsubishi tied down a heavy bag of sand in the tray over
the rear wheels to simulate a typical load.
The complete Mitsubishi Triton range, with prices (excluding
government and dealer charges) is:
GL cab chassis 2WD 2.4-litre petrol: $20,990 (manual)
GLX cab chassis 2WD 2.5-litre diesel: $25,090 (manual), $27,090
(automatic)
GLX Double Cab pickup 2WD 2.4-litre petrol: $28,390 (manual)
GLX Double Cab pickup 2WD 2.5-litre diesel: $32,490 (manual),
$34,490 (automatic)
GL-R Double Cab pickup 2WD 2.5-litre diesel: $35,490 (manual),
$37,490 (automatic)
GLX cab chassis 4WD 2.5-litre diesel: $34,590 (manual), $36,590
(automatic)
GLX Double Cab cab chassis and pickup 4WD 2.5-litre diesel:
$41,990 (manual), $43,990 (automatic)
GL-R Double Cab pickup 4WD 2.5-litre diesel: $44,490 (manual),
$46,990 (automatic)
GLX-R Double Cab pickup 4WD 2.5-litre diesel: $47,990 (manual),
$50,490 (automatic)
© Copyright
Marque Publishing Company
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