Mitsubishi’s next-generation vehicles, the all-new Triton and Xforce, are already making their presence felt as these vehicles were deemed worthy to be included in Japan’s 2023 Good Design Award.
The Good Design Award, established in 1957, is organized by the Japan Institute of Design Promotion. For this year’s installment, the committee screened a total of 5,477 entries but only a total of 1,548 entries were awarded with the Good Design Award, and among those are the all-new Mitsubishi Triton and Xforce.
The all-new Mitsubishi Triton debuted last July 2023 in Thailand featuring a major design overhaul. It has an aggressive appearance that’s integrated with an assertive Dynamic Shield grille, three-bar LED daytime running lights, and a pair of sharp-looking LED headlights.
Prominent fender flares don the next-gen Triton’s side profile, which further adds muscle to the pickup truck’s overall look. The black alloy wheels then complement the truck’s beefy appearance.
The rear is fitted with T-shaped taillights as well as a subtle tailgate spoiler for improved aerodynamics. According to Mitsubishi, the tailgate gets an upgraded damper system for easier access to the bed.
Step inside the cabin and you’ll be greeted by a straightforward dashboard layout that features horizontal lines. This creates a robust interior theme, which complements the Triton’s aggressive exterior.
The next-gen 2024 Triton is powered by a 2.4-liter turbodiesel engine that comes in two different tunes. First, it can deliver up to 201 horsepower and 470 Nm of torque while the more conservative tuning generates 181 hp and 430 Nm.
Mitsubishi Motor Philippines Corporation (MMPC) announced that the next-gen Triton will be arriving in the country in January 2024. MMPC will also be dropping the Strada name as it will market the said midsize pickup truck as the Triton moving forward.
On the other hand, the Xforce is also included in the 2023 Good Design Award in Japan. The Xforce is a crossover that Mitsubishi developed specifically for the ASEAN market, which includes the Philippines.
The Mitsubishi Xforce debuted at the 30th Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show. It is the production version of the Mitsubishi XFC concept. The Xforce comes with a modern yet assertive exterior, which is highlighted by its front lighting system. It also has a large mesh grille as well as a beefy front bumper, which gives the vehicle a bold stance.
The rear is equally striking as the Xforce’s front design. It is equipped with distinctive taillights, a spoiler, and a bulky bumper.
Inside, the instrument panel where the eight-inch digital driver display is mounted has been designed based on the Horizontal Axis concept. The Xforce has drink holders that can accommodate 21 plastic bottles (600 mL), a console box with a drink cooler, Type-A and Type-C ports, mélange fabric padding for the instrument panel, and 40:20:40 split rear seats. It also has a 12.3-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Powering the vehicle is a 1.5-liter inline-four engine good for 103 horsepower and 141 Nm of torque. The engine sends power exclusively to the front wheels via a continuously variable transmission (CVT).
Meanwhile, another Mitsubishi vehicle made the cut in being included at the 2023 Good Design Award in Japan–the new Delica Mini. The Japanese automaker said that the Delica Mini follows the design theme of “Daily Adventure,” which explains the vehicle’s SUV-like styling.
Get more of the latest automotive news and traffic updates in Philkotse.