THE power feud in the truck segment has begin again.
Nissan has been at the top for quite sometime with its mother of all truckers, the 172hp Nissan Navara pickup truck.
Well, as expected, Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM) has put in the same VGT diesel engine they have in the recently launched Mitsubishi Pajero Sports into its stylish pickup, the Triton.
With the same engine, the Triton VGT now kicks out 176hp at 4,000 RPM, which means this is now the most powerful truck in the country.
In terms of torque, the Triton VGT gives out 350Nm from as low as 1,800RPM right up to 3,500RPM (Navara is higher here at 403Nm).
Just like the Pajero Sport, the Triton VGT only comes with a 5-speed automatic gearbox with Sports Mode – which means the driver can swap the cogs manually. Unlike the Pajero Sport, you do not get paddle shifters, something you won’t sorely miss in a pickup truck anyway.
To tell your neighbour that your Triton is the horsepower king of all truckers, MMM has included a unique front bumper extender with chrome slats, matte black roll bar and new 17-inch alloy wheels.
Inside, there is a new air-con system with an auto climate function, single DIN audio Kenwood audio player that has Bluetooth and iPod pairing ability plus a front corner sensors with display visual so that you won’t knock into the Kancil when parking.
MMM also claims that the Triton VGT gets you an impressive 14.4km/l at a 90km/h cruise, about the same as the 2.5L non-VGT engine (14.5km/l).
Like all other Tritons, it offers the best in class turning radius at 5.9 meters, a hybrid Limited Slip Differential using helical gears and speed-sensing viscous coupling, ABS, EBD, seat belts with pre-tensioners plus that cool RV meter on the top of the dashboard that gives information that can excite the Boy Scouts in us (altimeter, compass, barometer, temperature, etc)
Available in three colours (white, black and silver), MMM expects to see 250 units of the Triton VGT a month. Currently, it sells around 700 units a month.
Last year, MMM sold 8,299 units of the Triton, making it the number two pickup truck after the Toyota Hilux with a 18.9 share of the market. In Sarawak where the Triton VGT is launched, it is also currently at the second top spot.
The Triton VGT is priced at RM105,997.10 (On-The-Road, inclusive on insurance) and comes with a 3-year warranty and 2-year free maintenance package.
TopGear Malaysia will be driving it on and off the road today in a 200 km plus journey in the innards of Sarawak.
Wait for our report soon. – Hezeri Samsuri