At the debut of the all-new 2024 Mitsubishi Triton/L200 in Bangkok, Thailand, the production pickup truck was joined by a beefed-up rally version, designed to compete at the Asia Cross Country Rally. Team Mitsubishi Ralliart Team aims for a second consecutive title in this year’s event, taking advantage of the improved characteristic of the new-generation model. Hopefully, Mitsubishi’s motorsport involvement will inspire a rugged Ralliart-branded production variant of the new Triton to rival the Ford Ranger Raptor or the somewhat softer Toyota Hilux GR Sport.

The Mitsubishi Triton AXCR recently completed over 2,000 km of endurance testing in Japan and Thailand, in order to be ready for the cross-country rally. Hiroshi Masuoka, Team Mitsubishi Ralliart director said that during testing they confirmed that the new truck provides “even better performance than last year’s model in every stage, from flat dirt high-speed stages to muddy low-speed stages”. The rally truck is based on the double-cab Mitsubishi Triton, with a series of upgrades in line with FIA’s Group T1 regulations for cross-country vehicles. The exterior is wrapped in a red and black livery reminiscent of “gushing lava”, with a prominent Ralliart logo, racing decals, and sponsor’s stickers. The hood, doors, and cargo bed are made of carbon fiber. The lighter components combined with the stripped-out interior allow the weight to be equivalent to the previous rally car despite the larger body.

Another highlight is the black 17-inch aluminum wheels by Work which are shod in narrow Yokohama Geolandar G003 mud-terrain tires. The pickup also got a set of red mudflaps, a snorkel, a metal bar on the side of the windshield, and a full roll cage inside the cabin. At the back, the tailgate has been removed, allowing easier access to a set of full-size spare wheels and a winch. Predictably, the rally-prepped pickup comes fitted with the most powerful version of the turbocharged 2.4-liter engine found under the bonnet of its road-going counterpart, producing 201 hp and 470 Nm. In order to cope with the multiple river crossings of the special stages in this year’s Asia Cross Country Rally that takes place during the rainy season, Mitsubishi engineers improved the powertrain’s sealing in addition to the snorkel.

 

The turbodiesel engine is mated to a six-speed manual gearbox, sending power to all four wheels through the Super Select 4WD-II system. Those are also present in the road-going model but the race version gets special front and rear limited-slip differentials by Cusco. Additionally, it benefits from a tuned suspension setup with Cusco’s twin adjustable dampers featuring hydraulic bump stoppers. The layout combines independent double-wishbone with coil springs at the front and rigid leaf springs at the rear. Brakes are sourced from Endless with ventilated discs and 4-piston calipers all around, using Fortec brake fluid. The ladder-frame chassis is carried over from the Triton benefiting from the increased rigidity of the new generation.

The 2023 Asia Cross Country Rally will take place in Thailand and Laos between August 13 and 19. The team will compete with a trio of pickups aiming for overall victory. Drivers include defending champion Chayapon Yotha from Thailand, Rifat Sungkar from Indonesia, and Asia-Pacific Rally Championship winner Katsuhiko Taguchi from Japan. Mitsubishi offers technical support for the Team Mitsubishi Ralliart, with engineers accompanying the team in four Delica D:5 models. One of them will transport Team Mitsubishi Ralliart director and two-time Rally Dakar winner Hiroshi Masuoka. The specially-tuned minivan rides on Work wheels shod in grippy Yokohama mud-terrain tires, and comes equipped with a beefed-up suspension from JAOS. Exterior highlights include the roof rack with integrated LEDs and the lava-inspired livery that mirrors the Triton AXCR.