Filed under: Trucks/Pickups
Mitsubishi to begin mass export of Triton/L200
By the second half of this year Mitsubishi will begin exporting its Triton pickup, also known as the L200 in Europe, to 140 markets around the world. The truck was developed as a global model and is produced in Thailand where Mitsubishi has produced and exported more vehicles than any other manufacturers.
The Triton, a curious-looking little pickup, will be sold in such markets as Australia, the Middle East, Latin America and Japan. We here in North America are offered the Mitsubishi Raider based on the Dodge Dakota midsize pickup instead.
[Source: Mitsubishi]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Source1 3:14PM (2/14/2006)
Plant manager to loaders: 'hey, guys, get that truck back in here...we forgot to put the bolts on the ass-end of that thing.'
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Jason 3:21PM (2/14/2006)
Eww. Are they charging money for that thing?
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Puff Chippy 3:22PM (2/14/2006)
Mitsubishi's just keep getting fuglier and fuglier...
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Erik 3:23PM (2/14/2006)
Could they make that tiny bed look any more like an afterthought? Glad we got the Raider.
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klaatu 3:24PM (2/14/2006)
Ever wonder why we don't get these import pickups? Or, if we do, why the manufacturers have to fabricate and add the beds in North America?
It's because of the "Chicken tax war" of the mid-1960's between the U.S. and West Germany.
German farmers got their government to place a big tariff on American chickens being sold there cheaper than they could provide chickens to the German hausfrau.
The American government got p-o'd over it, and since this was the era when trade wars still occurred, passed a law to specifically punish Germany's most prodigious manufacturer, Volkswagen. VW had been selling a handful of VW Transporter pickup trucks here in the USA, so that was the "target" for a 25% tariff.
The law still stands, even though VW doesn't even make pickups any more, and for some 4 decades, our choices in small pickups has been limited because of it.
Just goes to show that our government works with the same "efficiency and speed" as a glacier, in getting rid of redundant and out-of-date rules, eh?
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JW 3:53PM (2/14/2006)
I like it! They shouldve brought it here instead of re-badging the dakota...atleast its more original than a re-badge.
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VW-Guy 3:53PM (2/14/2006)
A Triton L200? My gawd, who names these things? Hmmm, lets steal an engine name and a car model, yah, that'll work!
But my gawd (again), could they have designed a goofier looking vehicle?
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Jeff Crew 3:53PM (2/14/2006)
Mitsubishi would be smart to import it to North America because it is an authentic Mitsubishi product. I am not saying it looks good by any means, well it does all except that drooping ass on it... but my point is that at least they would have an original authentic product instead of a rebadge that fools no one.
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iQuack 4:07PM (2/14/2006)
Looks like a Wells Fargo stagecoach with a truck bed on the back.
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Domo 4:09PM (2/14/2006)
Not my cup of tea
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RossL 4:10PM (2/14/2006)
Not that I'd want to be seen in one - perish the thought - but they must be doing something right if they can sell it in 140 markets around the world.
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AJ 4:19PM (2/14/2006)
It looks like something ran into the rear of this truck. I bet this thing looks terrible from the back. The front looks ok. I wouldn't want one, but i'm sure somebody people would.
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your name 4:26PM (2/14/2006)
Forget that island truck, I want this: http://lc78.toyota.com.au/toyota/vehicle/Gallery/0,4667,1975_702_0_4,00.html
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S1500 4:42PM (2/14/2006)
That truck bed looks way too small. It looks like an afterthought. Okay, we got the 4 doors on, wait, I forgot something. Oh yeah, cargo bed. Uh...
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VW-Guy 6:34PM (2/14/2006)
S1500, no kidding! Also, note the bed practically starts at the rear axle and goes back from there. I can just imagine how poor the handling will get once even a light load is put in the bed. Keeps getting worse!
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Brian W 6:40PM (2/14/2006)
It is a rather popular truck in other markets, it is not full size and is right hand drive. It's designed for foreign tastes and not for the US.
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dz 7:13PM (2/14/2006)
I'm not saying it the best thing since sliced bread, but if most of the people on these forums were designing vehicles we'd all be driving around in a box with four wheels... Get over it people! times are changing and everything isn't going to look like the modest styling of the domestics. Get over it Domestic Fanboys.
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Russell 7:14PM (2/14/2006)
So who'll sue first? GM or Ford - Triton engines or Lousy Mid-size sedans.... lets put the odds at 3:2 Ford......
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crazy88since88 9:13PM (2/14/2006)
U.G.L.Y...!!!!!
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Andrew 1:08AM (2/15/2006)
So Mitsubishi says the Raider is better than the Frontier in their commercials but then they turn around and totally rip off Nissan's styling?
Well, I guess whatever you gotta do to keep your head above water...
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