Mitsubishi locally remains quiet about plans for largely all-new one-tonne.

MORE grunt, tougher looks and technology from a top-selling sports utility wagon are touted for the next-generation Mitsubishi Triton utility, unveiled today in Thailand.

Pictured here in its top-grade specification, the new one-tonne optimally runs a 2.4-litre four-cylinder diesel engine with twin turbos, producing 150kW and 470Nm - increases of 17kW and 40Nm on the current model, which is set to retire after having put in 12 years’ service.

Surprisingly, given all the build-up to yesterday’s grand occasion in Bangkok, Mitsubishi Motors New Zealand has yet to say anything in respect to the rig, which presents in single, ‘club’ extra cab and full double cab configurations with rear and full time-wheel-drive.

Manual and automatic transmissions are both six speeds. Mitsubishi says it has revised its Super Select II four-wheel drive.

The new design path brings a big bluff frontage and curtails a design signature of the two previous generations - the weirdly curved rear door.

LED headlights and tail-lights come with the top-of-the range editions. The flagship here -called ‘Athlete' in Thailand but more likely to be a GSR here - has a body-coloured grille, black highlights on the grille surround, door handles and bumpers, a sailplane sports bar, black wheel-arch flares, black roof rails and an orange-accented interior.

The cabin features a similar dashboard to that in the Outlander SUV.

At 5320mm long, it is 15mm longer than the current edition and 50mm wider, at 1865mm. The wheelbase has been stretched by 130mm, to 3130mm, height remains unchanged from today’s edition, at 1795mm.

The tray is 35mm longer than the present model’s, with 1555mm cited. It’s 75mm wider, at 1545mm).

Mitsubishi says the body is lighter thanks to the use of new high-tensile steel and also claim a stiffer frame; bending rigidity improving by 40 percent, torsional rigidity by 60 percent.

Triton will continue to source from Thailand, where domestic market edition also offer with two single-turbo versions, respectively developing 135kW/430Nm and 110kW/330Nm.

The model will become the basis for the next-generation Nissan Navara, an outcome of both makes being part of the alliance with Renault.

It’s expected the vehicles are expected to share underpinnings, technology and mechanical components but have unique bodywork.

MMNZ has signalled the current Triton is now on runout, but has yet to say when the replacement will land.