Engineered Beyond Tough: The New Mitsubishi Strada

January 26, 2019, Saturday morning found members of the local motoring media (including yours truly) trooping to the Pradera Verde Resort in Lubao, Pampanga, to join officers and personnel of Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation (MMPC) and members of various Mitsubishi 4×4 clubs to witness the launch of the new Mitsubishi Strada. For those who don’t speak Italian, strada mean “street”, which is where Mitsubishi wants the New Strada to dominate – the streets of the Philippines.

MMPC organized a little drama before presenting the new pickup truck to the audience: They let Japanese rally driving legend and Paris-Dakar Rally winner Hiroshi Masuoka drive the new Strada around the designated course, which was a man-made lagoon that was drained of its water just for the event. Masuoka drove the white pickup with gusto, subjecting it to jumps, high-speed drifts, and leaving behind a trail of dust in its wake. Then, as a fitting finale, it made a high jump that catapulted it into its stage, where it stopped right in front of an arc that describes it as the “New Strada“.

Tough Heritage

Although the New Strada premiered in Bangkok, Thailand just late last year, it is endowed with 40 years of pickup truck heritage. Produced at the Mitsubishi Laem Chabang Plant in Thailand, the New Strada (also known as the “Triton” in other countries) is being marketed as “Engineered Beyond Tough” and is designed to be more durable, more reliable, more capable, and more comfortable. MMPC is confident that the New Strada will exceed most of their customers’ expectations, more so since they know that this pickup truck will be used for both private and commercial purposes – as a reliable daily driver and as a untiring workhorse.

Mitsubishi used its 4 decades of pickup truck expertise by refining the New Strada to deliver unmatched performance and off-road capability. During our drive around the off-road course inside the resort, the 2.4-liter inline 4-cylinder 16-valve double overhead camshaft (DOHC) Clean Diesel 4N15 engine, which produces 185 horsepower at 3,500 rpm and 430 Newton-meters of torque as low as 2,500 rpm, made easy work of the terrain with the help of Variable Geometry Turbo (VGT) and Mitsubishi Innovative Valve timing Electronic Control system (MIVEC).

Transmission choices include 6-speed manual (M/T) and automatic (A/T) gear boxes while the GT 4×4 A/T variant comes with the Super Select 4-Wheel Drive and the GLS 4×4 M/T is fitted with the Easy Select 4-Wheel Drive. Larger front discs and caliper pistons are found on the GT 4×4, GLS 4×4, and GLS 4×2 while the suspension on all variants benefits from the use of larger rear dampers for improved shock absorption.

Tough Inside and Out

Under the design concept “Rock Solid”, which embodies a strengthened and toughened pickup truck inside and out, the New Strada features the new-generation “Dynamic Shield” design language that communicates a powerful and reassuring sense of protection. The high hood and lamps layout provide a sturdy look while the LED projector-type headlamps, grille, and projector lamps (GT 4×4 and GLS 4×4) express width and stability. The newly sculpted body curves with contrasting sharp lines express modernity and toughness while the front to-back character line expresses space and emphasizes the thickness of the overall body.Inside, the New Strada features a roomy interior that with comfortable seating for five adults and generous legroom, thanks to the unique JLine design. The functional and modernized center panel houses a multi-media system with a 2-DIN Touch Screen monitor, AM/FM tuner, MP3 player, USB, iPod-ready AUX jack, Bluetooth with Mirror Link feature, and GPS navigation system. Passengers will appreciate the front and rear smartphone trays with USB terminals located at the center console. The New Strada also boast of a unique air-conditioning system that routes cool air for the rear passenger from the ceiling.

Increased Safety Standards

The New Strada hosts an array of advanced passive and active safety features. It carries Mitsubishi Motors’ proprietary Reinforced Impact Safety Evolution (RISE) body, which absorbs the impact of collision and retains the high durability, high reliability ladder-type frame, and high-impact safety cabin structure. The Mitsubishi Active Stability Traction Control (MASTC), Hill Start Assist (HSA), and Trailer Stability Assist (TSA) are now standard on all variants of the New Strada.

The top-of-the-line New Strada GT 4×4 variant is equipped with an impressive array of safety and driver-aid features. The Forward Collision Mitigation (FCM) system can detect vehicles and pedestrians in front of the vehicle to prevent or reduce the probability of a collision. The Ultrasonic Misacceleration Mitigation (UMS) system prevents accidents resulting from improper use of the accelerator pedal when driving off or reversing. The Blind Spot Warning (BSW) prevents  sideswiping when changing lanes by detecting vehicles behind or at the rear quarter and alerting the driver thru an audible alert and flashing light.

Are You Tough Enough For It?

The New Strada will be available in seven exterior colors – Graphite Gray Metallic, Sterling Silver Metallic, Jet Black Mica, Red Solid Clear, Grayish Brown Metallic, Impulse Blue Metallic, and White Diamond, which cost P15,000 extra – and six model variants with their respective suggested retail prices: GT 4×4 A/T – P1,670,000; GLS 4×4 M/T – P1,445,000; GLS 4×2 A/T – P1,300,000; GLS 4×2 M/T – P1,225,000; GLX Plus 4×2 A/T – P1,240,000; and GLX Plus 4×2 M/T – P1,165,000.

With the introduction of the New Mitsubishi Strada and with all the refinements it features, MMPC is optimistic that it will become one of the most preferred vehicles in its segment, which will propel MMPC to once again dominate the pickup truck segment.To know more about it, visit your nearest Mitsubishi Motors Philippines dealer or register at www.newstrada.mmpc.ph to get exclusive updates.