Mitsubishi Ralliart Unveils Triton Rally Car, Hints At Tuned Variants Of Pickups And SUVs

A specially prepared Mitsubishi Triton / L200 rallycar signals Mitsubishi’s returning involvement in motorsports in the form of technical support to the privately-owned Team Mitsubishi Ralliart which will participate in the 2022 Asian Cross Country Rally (AXCR). The announcement also included a few Easter eggs for Mitsubishi fans, hinting at Ralliart-tuned variants of pickups and SUVs.

Hiroshi Masuoka, a 21-time participant and two-time champion in the Dakar Rally, is the team director of Thailand-based Team Mitsubishi Ralliart owned by Tant Sports. While highlighting the rich motorsport heritage of Mitsubishi in WRC and Dakar, Masuoka said: “Mitsubishi Motors’ participation in the AXCR in the form of technical support will strengthen our product uniqueness, especially for ASEAN strategic models including pickup truck and SUVs. Team Mitsubishi Ralliart will make preparations to meet the expectations of our fans, so please stay tuned”.

Those comments could hint at upcoming performance-focused variants of high-riding production models, with Masuoka openly suggesting that they can “refine the strengths of the Triton / L200 and SUVs” on the official video. The press release also mentions that “Mitsubishi Motors will leverage the feedback earned through this rally competition to further hone its strengths, especially in terms of body and chassis rigidity, vehicle control and off-road performance”.

A beefed-up Triton / L200 with a motorsport-inspired engine and chassis modifications would make a great competitor for the Ford Ranger Raptor, or for the more subtle Toyota Hilux GR Sport. The rally-prepped Triton comes with lifted suspension, off-road tires, a snorkel, mud flaps, tow hooks, a roll cage, a set of spare wheels on the rear bed, and a special livery with grey, red, and black shades plus tons of stickers.

Another model that could benefit from Ralliart tuning would be the Outlander PHEV, as previewed by the Mitsubishi Vision Ralliart Concept in the 2022 Tokyo Auto Salon. This SUV featured an aggressive bodykit, 22-inch wheels, and a tuned PHEV powertrain with “higher motor output, sportier 4-wheel control tuning, and enhanced battery capacity”.

The AXCR cross-country rally will take place from August 6 to 12 and will be held in Southeast Asia, predominantly in Thailand. The rally includes grueling off-road courses in the mountains and jungles.

Besides the aforementioned concept and the forthcoming motorsport involvement, Ralliart’s comeback resulted in a series of stickers and accessories for the current Mitsubishi range. Those are already available for the Triton and the Pajero Sport in Thailand, and for a wider range of models including the Outlander PHEV, Eclipse Cross, the RVR (ASX), and Delica D:5 in Japan.