Mitsubishi SA plans to launch a 150 kW flagship version of the Triton bakkie in the opening half of 2026, complete with “Athlete” styling and extra in-cabin technology…
- New 150 kW flagship version of Triton coming in H1 2026
- Top variant will gain larger touchscreen as well as ADAS
- Outgoing MD says Triton demand initially “exceeded supply”
The outgoing head of Mitsubishi Motors South Africa says the Japanese brand’s local division plans to launch a 150 kW flagship version of the Triton in the opening half of 2026, a move he hopes will take the bakkie’s sales to “the next level”.
Thato Magasa, outgoing Managing Director of Mitsubishi Motors South Africa, made the comments during an interview conducted in Cars.co.za‘s custom-built podcast booth at Naamsa’s recent South African Auto Week 2025 in Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape.
“When we launched the new Triton last year [in November 2024], demand actually exceeded supply, so we’ve had some good take-up on new Triton,” said Magasa, who is in the process of transitioning into a new role as CEO of Tata Passenger Vehicles in SA (a brand that, like Mitsubishi, is distributed locally by Motus).
In December 2024, Mitsubishi Motors SA registered 126 units of the Triton, seeing this model rank 10th on the list of SA’s best-selling bakkies. However, sales fell to 75 units in January 2025, with a further 308 units registered over the following 8 months (translating to a monthly average of just 39 units). Magasa, though, says there’s more to come.
“We [previously] spoke about a 3-phase launch plan for how we want to bring our bakkies to market. You would remember, we [started] with our mid-trim bakkies, with 135 kW,” Magasa said, referring to the GLS derivatives available locally from launch. “Then we’ve spoken about the commercial [variants] that we plan to aggressively drive at a [later] point in time.”
“But also, on the other side, then speaking about our flagship – high powered with a lot of technology – that we’re planning to bring. I’m pleased to say that that is planned for the first half of next year [2026],” he confirmed.
“We’ve ordered our initial sets of ‘Super High Power’ Tritons that are planned to be launched in the first half of next year, which will boast 150 kW, the styling of the Athlete globally that you’ve seen as well as all the technology that you’d expect from vehicles in that segment.”
The upcoming 150 kW flagship version of the Triton looks set to receive a new, larger 9.0-inch infotainment screen as well as Mitsubishi’s so-called “Multi Around Monitor” (which provides a 360-degree bird’s eye view of the vehicle). It will also score advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) technologies.
“We’re quite excited about that launch for Mitsubishi and we think that it’s going to help pivot Triton sales towards the next level,” Magasa added.
As a reminder, the GLS versions of the Triton already available in Mzansi generate 135 kW and 430 Nm from a single-turbo version of the 2.4-litre turbodiesel engine. Meanwhile, the high-output iteration of this engine – which will feature in the upcoming flagship derivative – boasts 150 kW and 470 Nm courtesy of a 2nd turbocharger.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: When is Mitsubishi SA planning to launch the 150 kW flagship version of the Triton bakkie?
A: Mitsubishi Motors South Africa plans to launch the 150 kW flagship version of the Triton bakkie in the first half (H1) of 2026.
Q: What are the key features of the upcoming 150 kW Triton flagship?
A: The flagship version will feature the ‘Super High Power’ 2.4-litre turbodiesel engine producing 150 kW and 470 Nm. It will also boast Athlete styling, a larger 9.0-inch infotainment screen, Mitsubishi’s ‘Multi Around Monitor’ (360-degree bird’s eye view) and advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) technologies.
Q: What engine specifications do the current Triton GLS versions in SA have?
A: The current Triton GLS versions available in South Africa generate 135 kW and 430 Nm from a single-turbo version of the 2.4-litre turbodiesel engine.
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