All-new Mitsubishi Triton goes camping

A display of three ‘week-end warrior’ style vehicles at the launch of the 2024 Mitsubishi Triton in Thailand last week provides a hint of what off-road and other accessories buyers can expect to be available, either from local dealers or aftermarket specialists, when the all-new ute model arrives down under in early-2024.

Mitsubishi Australia executives were tight-lipped about whether all or any of the TJM off-road accessories fitted to display vehicles at the launch would be available as ‘genuine’ accessories through Mitsubishi dealers, or solely from TJM aftermarket stores in Australia.

However, TJM parent company Aeroklas said in a statement that its engineers in Australia and Thailand have developed 46 different products for the new Triton, in the same way that Ford offers genuine Ranger and Everest accessories co-developed with ARB.

Indeed, senior Mitsubishi executives told Australian media at the Triton launch that the company worked with TJM more closely than ever to develop factory-sanctioned accessories for the new ute, and would continue to develop its relationship with the Australian-founded company in the same vein as the Ford-ARB tie-up.

“Before the launch we have been working with TJM about accessories for the new Triton," said Hiroshi Nagaoka, Mitsubishi’s global executive vice-president in charge of engineering and product strategy.

"This time our design department was deeply involved so we are improving how we work with accessory suppliers. On the other hand, we know how Ford is working with ARB and that's really significant. They are actually one team already so compared with that we are not enough, so we are going in that Ford direction... and in the future we will catch up."

The TJM and XGS custom designed products, along with other products from the Aeroklas ‘stable’, include enhanced vehicle protection options, suspension upgrades, recovery gear, snorkel, camping gear, lighting and other related accessories.

The three ‘exhibition’ vehicles decked out in the latest Aeroklas, TJM, and XGAS-branded accessories included a tough-looking, grey single-cab model fitted with upgraded shocks and coil springs, shiny black alloy wheels and mud terrain tyres, checkerplate-covered ‘rock slider’ side steps, twin front LED driving lights, a new rear bar and a bull bar with integrated bash plates, along with an enclosed ‘farmers cage’ attachment for the rear tub to increase storage options.

Another white single-cab 2024 Triton was more kitted out for camping, with a custom bed rack and canopy with built-in storage lockers, kitchen unit and water storage, along with LED light bars, a snorkel, rear bar with tow kit, and a hard-lid rooftop tent and side pull-out awning. The Triton ‘tough truck’ also boasted special THM alloys and BF Goodrich mud tyres along with colour-coded tubular side steps and a bull bar with electric winch and twin LED driving lights.

There was also a grey, dual-cab 2024 Triton fitted with roof bars and a storage platform, as well as a front LED light bar and front bar with integrated LED lighting, and a rear bar with built-in step and a tow kit. There were also a couple of rear bars positioned across the hard-tonneau cover for carrying a swag or surfboard.

TJM owner Aeroklas said it distributes 4x4 aftermarket accessories to 116 countries around the world, including Australia, “making them well placed to service the global needs of Mitsubishi”.

“Here in Australia, the birthplace of TJM, we’re really excited by the prospect of this announcement and what this will mean for our customers,” said Aeroklas Asia Pacific Group (AAPG) CEO, Greg Kelly. “The Triton has consistently been a top-ranking vehicle in Australia and through this collaboration we can assist Triton customers do a lot more with their vehicles.

“The team at AAPG is looking forward to working with dealers right across Australia to ensure the success of the all-new Triton,” he said.