UPDATE (3/29): We have added a new video of the Mitsubishi XRT concept that offers a fresh, albeit slightly darkened look at the upcoming pickup.
Mitsubishi recently confirmed 16 new model launches for the next five years and is now previewing one of them. The Mitsubishi XRT Concept is a close preview of the next generation of the Triton / L200 pickup, coming later this year to rival the likes of the Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux.
The concept looks like a camouflaged prototype of the Triton fitted with off-road accessories. A special wrap inspired by “lava rocks packed with condensed energy” is covering the entire bodywork, side windows, and lighting units, sending military vibes, while the Ralliart logo on the profile is a reminder of Mitsubishi’s motorsport heritage.
Read: Mitsubishi To Launch 16 New Models In Five Years, New Pickup Coming Soon
Despite the livery, we can see the entirety of the new model’s design, including the split headlights, the boxy grille, and the heavily sculpted profile with toned-up fenders. The greenhouse looks very similar to the Nissan Navara which is sharing the underpinnings with the next-gen Mitsubishi Triton. Additionally, the concept comes fitted with grippy mud-terrain tires, a tubular structure on the rear bed with two spare wheels, a snorkel, side steps, and wide fender extensions making it look quite rugged.
Mitsubishi didn’t give us the specifications of the vehicle but we expect the Triton to be based on a reworked version of Navara’s ladder-frame chassis and come fitted with a turbodiesel powertrain. The automaker has also teased a fully electric pickup, but this is most likely going to be a different model.
The Mitsubishi XRT Concept will be on display at the 2023 Bangkok International Motor Show in Thailand from March 21 to April 2. The company didn’t give us a specific date for the launch of the production version but said it will arrive in Thailand in fiscal 2023, followed by ASEAN, Oceania, and other global markets.
The debut of the sixth-generation Triton/L200 will mark the first full redesign in nine years since the fifth-gen model was introduced in 2014 before receiving a facelift in 2018. The pickup is Mitsubishi’s top-selling model, manufactured at the Laemchabang factory in Thailand and exported to around 150 markets around the world.
Takao Kato, Mitsubishi Motors president, and CEO said: “The all-new Triton is going through final touch-ups in preparation for its release, as we have performed rigorous endurance tests around the world while also incorporating the know-how gained from rally activities”. Speaking of motorsports, a rally-prepped version of the new Triton will take place at the Asia Cross Country Rally 2023 with Team Mitsubishi Ralliart and the official technical support from Mitsubishi Motors, hoping to repeat last year’s win.
