The new-generation Mitsubishi Triton has only just hit been revealed, with a local launch currently penned in for February 2024, but the Japanese automaker has already confirmed the first details of that model’s next evolution.

Speaking to media at the Japan Mobility show, a senior Mitsubishi engineer said that the Triton will add an electrified alternative to the 2.4L turbodiesel powertrain that will power it at launch, with a petrol-electric plug-in hybrid (PHEV) layout being preferred by the company. Why not a diesel-electric? Besides the extra cost, Mitsubishi cited the increased difficulty of achieving emissions compliance for diesel powertrains as the reason for going the petrol route with its greener Triton variant.

It won’t, however, be related to the petrol-electric hybrid hardware that’s already offered by Mitsubishi in its Eclipse Cross and Outlander SUVs. Those vehicles mount their powertrains in a transverse unibody installation rather than the Triton’s longitudinal ladder frame, and the engine/motor combo would need to be engineered differently to achieve the same durability requirements of a medium utility. Integration with a traditional off-road driveline was also cited as a must-have by Mitsubishi, so expect a typical 4×4 system and live-axle rear suspension to still be part of the package.

A timeline for the Triton PHEV has yet to be announced, but Mitsubishi Australia has confirmed pricing for the Triton’s conventionally-powered range. Opening at $43,690 for the entry-level 4×2 GLX (the only 4×2 model in the range), the Triton range tops out at $63,840 for the GSR 4×4. With the exception of the Club Cab GLX+, all Triton variants are dual-cab utilities, with no cab-chassis and single-cab variants on offer. Manual transmissions are also a thing of the past, with every variant in the 2024 Triton range coming as standard with a six-speed automatic.