Bangkok 2025: Mitsubishi Ralliart ready for redemption with Triton AXCR

The Asia Cross Country Rally will be holding its 30th edition in August this year. The yearly event is a grueling challenge for competitors, but AXCR is best known as the event that paved the way for the return of Mitsubishi Ralliart in rallying back in 2022.

The Japanese manufacturer showed it hasn’t lost its touch when it comes to being competitive when they won on their return using the Triton. While they came close in the previous editions of AXCR, Mitsubishi Ralliart is still unable to repeat their victory three years ago.

That is what Hiroshi Masuoka and his team want to undo for the 2025 edition. Team Mitsubishi Ralliart has revealed the new Triton rally car at the Bangkok International Motor Show, sporting a new livery and a substantial upgrade package that they hope will be enough to take back the AXCR crown.

Like previous evolutions of the Triton rally car, the 2025 version complies with the FIA T1 specifications for modified cross-country vehicles. Mitsubishi is claiming that the Triton’s engine has improved its durability, and the truck features refinements to the chassis.

From the naked eye, the 2025 Triton AXCR does look to be shorter than previous evolutions of the rally car to improve its agility in the tight and twisty stages. Mitsubishi also looks to have carried over the rear four-link coil spring setup with adjustable Cusco dampers for better handling.

According to Mitsubishi, the new livery embodies Team Mitsubishi Ralliart's identity with its energetic red color. From the front to the center of the body sides, the rally car is adorned with a digital graphic of a sandstorm, which illustrates a cloud of dust swirled up by the vehicle. Additionally, the Ralliart logo is boldly displayed on the sides to further emphasize Mitsubishi Motors' passion for motorsports.

For the 30th year of the AXCR, the event goes from a six to an eight-day competition, covering approximately 2,500 km of stages as competitors race from Thailand to Cambodia. The rally will kick off with a ceremonial start on August 8 in Pattaya in Thailand, then full-on competition will begin on the 9th, proceeding north to Nakhon Ratchasima before heading south to Chanthaburi, then entering Cambodia on the 14th and reaching the finish line in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh on the 16th.

The driving distance has been extended by roughly 500 km from last year to a total of around 2,500 km on a course loaded with changes of terrain, including mountainous zones, dense forest areas, and river crossings.

"Last year, the Triton with significantly enhanced driving performance was able to hold its own against rivals with high displacement and took a large lead in first place overall on the first day of the second half. Unfortunately, it ran into trouble and ended up sidelined from the competition, but we affirmed that the Triton has more than enough potential to win the overall championship. This year, with an even more rigorous rally in terms of both days and distance for the 30th-anniversary competition, we have a vehicle with enhanced durability that can harness its fantastic potential throughout the rally as we aim for our first overall win in three years." said Hiroshi Masuoka, team director of Mitsubishi Ralliart.