OFF-ROAD enthusiasts, the author included, already consider the Triton’s 4x4 drivetrain with its three differential locks the best on offer in a bakkie in South Africa.
This system could hardly be improved on, but the marketers did what they could, and Triton Double Cab 4x4 now has a shift-on-the-fly system to lock the centre differential. The driver can change from standard 4x2 mode (for fuel economy) to 4H without a locked differential at speeds up to 100 km/h.
For those of you who have been lured to read this article just for Miss Bachchan’s smile, we should perhaps explain that having three ways to lock the fast-spinning drive shafts underneath a 4x4 enable the wheels to crawl over just about any surface. The operative word being “crawl”, because when all the wheels turn at the same speed, they can pull and push each other along, but they cannot turn the vehicle itself. This is when the outside wheels will try to turn fast while the inside wheels will try to stand still, which means the locked drive shafts between them will twist up like spaghetti. With Mitsubishi’s Super Select system, the driver can prevent the shafts from snapping by choosing four different transfer modes on the move.
Mitsubishi’s marketers also gave the diesel-powered Triton 4x4 a more economical engine. Whereas the previous model has a 3,2 litre, intercooled turbodiesel engine, the 2013 model has a 2,5 litre with more torque (from 343 Nm to 400 Nm.) and a higher workrate (from 120 kW to 131 kW).
New 245/65R17 tyres on 17-inch alloy wheels helps to put more power on the tar (the other models have 16-inch wheels). The double cab can now tow 1 500 kg with a braked trailer.
The load capacity of the double cab is a respectable ton, although it should be said the Ranger and the Amarok load a few hundred kilograms more. The Triton’s load box is 1 352 mm long, 1 470 mm wide and 860 mm deep.
The single cabs also carry 1 000 kg, and have a load bay that measures 2 220 mm in length, 1 750 mm in width and 405 mm in depth.
The single cabs are available with the proven 2,4-litre petrol engine, which delivers 97 kW of power and 202 Nm of torque, and the 2,5-litre diesel engine, which is standard in the club cab.
Particularly, the club cab received a significant upgrade in terms of standard equipment, which Mitsubishi Motors SA said is “all in line with the value-for-money strategy”.
“The club cab segment, similar to the double cab segment, is skewed to the lifestyle owner, and we need to offer more for the same price,” says Mitsubishi Motors SA CEO, Jaco Oosthuizen.
All the Triton models have a five-speed manual gearbox.
The club cab is available only in diesel, matching the market demand where over 85% of the models are diesel units. The club cab now also comes in a variant with optional rear seats.
All Mitsubishi Tritons are covered by a three-year/100 000 km warranty.
The service plans for the hard-working single cab petrol and diesel models are five years/75 000 km.
The service plans for the club cab and petrol double cabs are longer — at five years/100 000km. The diesel double cab has a five years/100 000 km service plan, while the diesel 4x4 double cab goes only to 90 000km.
