Category Archives: News

News

Mitsubishi Gives the Triton Street a New Face, but Keeps It Thailand-Only

Mitsubishi has quietly given the Triton pickup a new face, and like a concept car that accidentally slipped into production, it’s both intriguing and oddly limited. The catch? This redesign is reserved exclusively for the Triton Street—a Thailand-only, entry-level trim that looks like it showed up to the lineup wearing a completely different helmet.

The Triton Street is based on Mitsubishi’s Mega Cab configuration, a Goldilocks body style that splits the difference between the Single Cab and Double Cab. What really grabs your attention, though, is the front end. Mitsubishi has ditched its familiar “Dynamic Shield” design language in favor of a squared-off, high-contrast nose that wouldn’t look out of place in a Star Wars casting call. Stormtrooper chic, if you will.

The new look includes a reshaped grille, a chunkier black skid plate, and slightly reworked bumper intakes. It’s aggressive, modern, and noticeably distinct from the rest of the Triton family—almost to a fault. As this is the entry-level trim, the Street skips LED lighting in favor of halogen headlights and does without fog lights entirely. No frills, just face.

Despite the tough styling, the Triton Street is very much a pavement-first pickup. It rides at standard suspension height and rolls on 17-inch black alloy wheels that complement the monochrome vibe. Color options are limited to Solid White, Blade Silver, and Graphite Gray, each contrasted with black accents that lean into the urban theme.

Under the hood, Mitsubishi keeps things simple. Power comes from the familiar 2.4-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel, producing 148 horsepower and 243 lb-ft of torque. That’s the base-spec engine, not the more muscular 181-hp version offered elsewhere in the Triton lineup. It’s paired exclusively with a six-speed manual transmission driving the rear wheels. Four-wheel drive isn’t on the menu, but Mitsubishi does include an active limited-slip differential that uses brake-based torque vectoring to help maintain traction when things get slippery.

As the most affordable Mega Cab variant, the Street’s equipment list is predictably modest. Inside, you’ll find fabric seats, a two-speaker audio system, and a trio of airbags. There’s also hill-start assist, a Forward Collision Mitigation system, and—surprisingly—a large 10-inch infotainment screen that feels generous for the price point.

Speaking of price, the Triton Street is already on sale in Thailand, starting at 649,000 baht, or about $20,700. That positions it as an accessible, style-forward option for buyers who want a midsize pickup without venturing off the beaten path.

Whether this new front-end design will spread to other Triton trims remains an open question. It could preview a broader facelift—or it could remain a Thailand-only experiment that never leaves Southeast Asia.

Introduced in 2023, the current Triton is still early in its lifecycle, but a mid-cycle refresh around 2027 would make sense. A few strategic updates—styling tweaks like this one included—could help Mitsubishi keep pace in a fiercely competitive midsize pickup segment dominated by heavy hitters such as the Toyota Hilux, Ford Ranger, and Nissan Navara. Add the Isuzu D-Max, Mazda BT-50, Kia Tasman, and a growing wave of Chinese contenders, and it’s clear Mitsubishi is testing ideas wherever it can.

Even if the Triton Street never leaves Thailand, its bold new face suggests Mitsubishi isn’t afraid to experiment. Now the real question is whether the rest of the lineup will be brave enough to follow.

Source: Mitsubishi

News

Ford Bets Big on Level 3 Autonomy with 2028 Debut

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Ford is taking a measured but ambitious step into advanced driver-assistance technology. The automaker has confirmed it will introduce a hands-off, eyes-off Level 3 driver-assistance system in 2028, built atop its affordable Universal Electric Vehicle (UEV) platform, which itself is set to launch in 2027.

This move marks a notable pivot from Ford’s earlier autonomous ambitions. Back in 2016, the Blue Oval boldly predicted it would have Level 4 autonomous vehicles on the road by 2021, bypassing Level 3 entirely. Fast-forward to today, and the company, like many of its peers, acknowledges the technical hurdles of advanced autonomy have been more challenging than expected.

Ford’s forthcoming Level 3 system will lean on LiDAR to perceive the environment, a key ingredient for hands-off driving. While the company says the technology will debut on a vehicle built on the new UEV platform—a flexible architecture starting with a midsize electric pickup priced around $30,000—it has not confirmed if that pickup will wear the honor of hosting the first Level 3 system.

Doug Field, Ford’s EV chief, told Reuters that the system won’t come standard on the entry-level $30,000 model. Instead, customers can opt in, though the company has yet to finalize whether it will be sold as a subscription or a one-time purchase. “Autonomy shouldn’t be a premium feature,” Ford emphasizes, noting that by developing the hardware and software in-house, it can offer more capability at roughly 30% lower cost than relying on outside suppliers. The move is aimed at making Level 3 driving more scalable and attainable.

Key to Ford’s strategy is its new unified vehicle brain—a compute powerhouse that consolidates infotainment, ADAS, audio, and networking systems. This brain not only accelerates complex computations and gives engineers greater control over semiconductors, but it’s nearly half the size of previous computers and significantly cheaper to produce.

Ford is also expanding its in-car technology beyond autonomy. At CES, the company unveiled a dedicated AI assistant, tailored specifically for Ford and Lincoln vehicles. Unlike general-purpose AI tools, this assistant understands the nuances of Ford ownership: snap a photo of firewood, and it can calculate how many logs will fit in your F-150 bed. Next year, the AI will move from app-based interactions to onboard screens, adding a new layer of intelligence to the driving experience.

Ford’s approach suggests the company is ready to embrace autonomy incrementally, pairing advanced driver-assistance with a platform designed for affordability and flexibility. For now, Level 3 won’t put hands-free driving in every driver’s hands, but it signals that Ford sees the future of autonomy as something everyone—not just the tech elite—can reach.

Source: Ford

News

Australia’s New-Car Market Has Changed Forever—and the Numbers Prove It

Fifteen years ago, Australia’s new-car sales charts read like a sedan hall of fame. Holden Commodores, Ford Falcons, Toyota Corollas, and Camrys ruled driveways and company fleets alike. Today, that world is gone. In its place stands a new automotive order—one dominated not by low-slung four-doors but by tall-riding SUVs, dual-cab pickups, and a growing wave of electrified newcomers.

At the top of the heap once again is the Ford Ranger. With 56,555 units sold last year, Ford’s midsize pickup claimed Australia’s best-selling vehicle crown for the third consecutive year. That achievement puts the Ranger in rarefied Blue Oval company. According to Drive, it’s the first Ford in 37 years to lead the national sales charts three years running, surpassing the Falcon’s 21st-century tally and cementing its place as one of only two Ford nameplates ever to dominate Australia’s market for that long.

Toyota, predictably, wasn’t far behind. The RAV4 secured second place with 51,947 sales, while the Hilux followed closely at 51,297. Both figures represent year-over-year declines—down 11.5 percent and 4.1 percent respectively—but neither suggests weakening relevance. Instead, Toyota appears to be in a holding pattern, with next-generation versions of both models waiting in the wings. If history is any guide, the Ranger won’t enjoy uncontested dominance for long.

The rest of the top 10 reinforces a clear message: Australians want vehicles that look ready for work, adventure, or both. The Isuzu D-Max finished fourth with 26,839 units, followed closely by the Ford Everest and Toyota Prado—two ladder-frame SUVs that blur the line between family transport and off-road tool. Crossovers like the Hyundai Kona, Mazda CX-5, and Mitsubishi Outlander remain popular, while the Tesla Model Y holds onto its place as the country’s best-selling EV.

Despite softening demand for several top sellers, the overall market didn’t flinch. Total new-vehicle sales reached a record 1.241 million units, edging up 0.3 percent year over year. Much of that growth came from an influx of new models from China, many of them electrified—and increasingly competitive.

Electric vehicle sales climbed again, with Australians buying 103,270 EVs in 2025, a 13.1 percent increase over the previous year. But the real headline belongs to BYD. The Chinese brand posted a staggering 156.2 percent sales jump, delivering 52,415 vehicles and landing just shy of GWM, which sold 52,809. At this pace, BYD looks poised to become Australia’s top-selling Chinese automaker sooner rather than later. MG, meanwhile, felt the squeeze, with sales falling 18.4 percent.

Electrification isn’t limited to full EVs. Traditional hybrid sales rose 15.3 percent to nearly 200,000 units, while plug-in hybrids surged an eye-opening 130.9 percent to more than 53,000. Australians may still love big utes and SUVs—but increasingly, they want them with a battery on board.

At the brand level, Toyota remains untouchable, moving nearly 240,000 vehicles despite a slight dip. Ford, Mazda, Kia, and Hyundai round out the top five, while Chinese brands continue their steady climb into the mainstream.

The takeaway is unmistakable. The sedan era is over, and Australia isn’t looking back. Pickups rule, SUVs reign, and electrification is no longer a fringe movement—it’s baked into the market’s future. The only question now isn’t if the landscape will keep changing, but how fast.