Mitsubishi Triton could be going big, if America gets its way.

The Mitsubishi Triton might soon receive a significant boost to its future product development R&D.

Demand drives innovation and the required scaling for new features, on all vehicles. That includes bakkies.

When a specific bakkie model reaches critical sales mass, product planners can start negotiating better deals on equipment and advanced technical features. The more you sell, the more revenue you have to invest in better future vehicle upgrades.

In the bakkie world, America matters. A lot!Ford has illustrated how beneficial global bakkie demand can be, after returning the T6 Rangerto North America.

With the flood of Ranger sales that Ford has managed to harvest in North America, everyone benefits. Ranger has become a truly global bakkie since reentering the American market, and that scale has allowed Ford to furnish it with the latest driver aids and assistance systems.

Ranger has also enlivened the ‘small pick-up’ market in America, comparable to a standard bakkie in South Africa. With many more Americans now buying ‘global’ double-cabs, it has opened the opportunity for some familiar namesto return to the world’s most important bakkie market.

The latest among these might be Mitsubishi. The Japanese brand has experienced strong interest from its powerful North American dealer organisation, to introduce the Triton.

Great things are expected from the next-generation Triton. It will be part of an alliance project between Nissan, Renault and Mitsubishi – with the latter being responsible for most of the core engineering.

If Mitsubishi is serious about targeting the American market, again, Triton customers worldwide, should benefit. American bakkie owners have significant demands around cabin comfort and loadbox accessories.

The next-generation Triton could feature hybridisation. Mistubishi has proved the viability of its PHEV technology with Outlander and a 2.4-litre petrol PHEV could be an exciting optionfor Triton owners.

Even with a more robust version of the Outlander PHEV powertrain, Mitsubishi should retain its excellent SuperSelect transfer-case in 4×4 versions of the future Triton, with the ability to run in high range, with a locked centre-differential. SuperSelect is something that has always distinguished Triton from most of its double-cab rivals.

American bakkie owners are also among the most connected, anywhere. And that means Mitsubishi will have to improve its infotainment offering with the new Triton. A larger touchscreen interface, with better legibility and app connectivity,should please Triton owners in all markets.

An American influence always makes for a better bakkie. And with Mitsubishi angling for a return to the American market with Triton, future developments for the Japanese double-cab, could deliver a better bakkie for all.

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