Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Triton - Macho 4x4 by Mitsubishi

John LINDGREN

Mitsu’s “Mann Maak” Triton Plus 4x4








The Mitsubishi Triton (Triton according to ancient Greek was a sea god, son of Poseidon portrayed as having the trunk of a man and the tail of a fish) is a commercial vehicle cutting a totally new design language among all the other ‘pick-ups’ rolling on Thai tarmac

The big front almost looks like a fist. This vehicle especially the 4x4 version has an aggressive stance with bulging wheel arches, rounded, smooth, muscular flowing lines; big triangular brake lights all carry the new curvaceous styling concept. Aerodynamically, too the Triton has a low 0.32 drag coefficient, less drag - less fuel (more money in the bank) and good looks included.

Step inside and be impressed - LCD deep blue ‘racing’ instrument dials, compass, altimeter and on-board computer showing the estimated driving range.

The Pattaya Coast demo unit came with a spacious steel grey cab and a firm fabric upholstery. Adding a CD and MP3 to the usual AM/FM radio in a float-bed pick-up truck is unexpected luxury. Mitsu’s new Triton Plus represents the new generation of one tonne pick-up trucks with passenger car ‘de-luxe’ interiors - plus high tech, high torque common rail kick-ass Diesel engines.

Our Triton Plus was the four wheel drive (4x4) Double Cab 2.5 GLS version with manual transmission (stick-shift), carrying a sticker price of TBH 754.000.

After firing up the 2.5 litre, 140 horse power engine and stepping on it I felt a slight tickling sensation down the spine when the turbocharger kicked in. Fuel consumption without too much ‘kick-down’ is 10-11 kilometer per litre. Highway 13-14 km/lt.

The view from the cockpit is high and commanding with 205 mm ground clearance. So overtaking, passing with this monster is a piece of cake.

On the Bagna Trat elevated express way and on the bumpy 10-wheel container truck chock-a-block Chonburi motorway (by-pass) the passengers were happy including mother in – law who usually enjoys test drives in luxury Teutonic imported sedans.

Beyond Trat near the Cambodian frontier a bit of low gear mud crawling and off-road exercises at a big water reservoir, construction site with steep slopes and swollen 4WD tracks.

The metallic grey Triton 4x4 passed test with flying colours. Mother-in-law did not join the off-road experience.

Factory owners, industrial estate operators here is an option if you want to up-grade your old fleet of pick-ups or just you want to switch from you dinky saloon and look macho in a macho 4x4 truck named Triton by MITSUBISHI.


END TEXT