New Mitsubishi Triton Ready For Asia's Toughest Rally

While the US market may not get a taste of the next-generation Mitsubishi Triton pickup truck, the rest of the world is waiting for its production model previewed by theTriton XRT Concept. The new Triton will be launched on July 26, and just a few days after that, it goes straight to action in the 2023 Asia Cross Country Rally (AXCR) from August 13 to 19, 2023.

For those unfamiliar, the AXCR is Asia's largest and one of the most demanding rally races. It covers around 1,242 miles of terrain, including harsh jungle from Pattaya, Thailand, to Pakse, Laos.

Team Mitsubishi Ralliart, who will use the Triton in the race, are the defending AXCR champions. Hiroshi Masuoka, a Mitsubishi executive, will be heading the team. If his name sounds familiar, he drove the now-legendary andnow US-legal 1997 Pajero Evolutionwhich achieved back-to-back victories in the Dakar rally in 2002 and 2003.

The team's main driver is Chayapon Yotha from Thailand, the champion driver of AXCR 2022. Fellow Thai Peerapong Sombutwong will join Yotha as his navigator. The two other Triton units entering the race will be piloted by Rifat Sungkar (Indonesia) and Chupong Chaiwan (Thailand) and Japanese duo Katsuhiko Taguchi and Takahiro Yasui.

The next-gen Mitsubishi Triton's performance at the AXCR is essential for the markets it will sell. After all, Mitsubishi hasexpressed its desireto launch the model in the US to compete against theFord Ranger.

There are several hurdles for Mitsubishito launch the Triton stateside, however. Per previous reports on the truck, it might come in via the Renault-Nissan Alliance, but that group already sells theNissan Frontierin North America. There's also the fact that the Japanese brand will need to build the next-gen Triton locally to avoid chicken tax, which will entail significant investments.