TMR TRITON CONCEPT ROAD TEST REVIEW

THE LAST TIME that we were handed the keys to a concept vehicle and told to “take it away for four days and let us know what you think…” was, well, never.

Most concept cars are either touring the car show circuit or parked in dark corners of mysterious sheds, located on properties that don’t exist on maps.

It was therefore logical to conclude that there was more to this offer than was immediately obvious, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

The concept vehicle in question is the TMR Triton which debuted on the Mitsubishi stand at the 2008 Sydney Motor Show.

For Mitsubishi fans and Triton owners, the concept and its creators need no introduction, but to tell the story behind TMR is to take a stroll through one of the golden ages of Australian motor sport.

The Team Principal of TMR is a man who will need no introduction to motorsport fans, Alan Heaphy.

Alan has enjoyed a career spanning more than 20 years at the pointy end of Motorsport team management, including heading Nissan Motorsport Australia’s Touring Car program in 1991 and 1992 with Fred Gibson as Team Principle.

Both ’91 and ’92 were memorable years for Nissan motorsport in Australia. The R32 GT-Rs dominated on the track, and the team that Alan managed remains the most successful ever in Australian touring car history.

Another member of that now famous team was Peter West, TMR’s Team Manager. Peter was the Engine Project Manager for Gibson Motorsport from 1990 to 2003 and worked with three manufacturers during this time - Nissan, Ford and General Motors.

In 1994, Alan set up a V8 Supercar team for former World 500cc Champion Wayne Gardner and Neil Crompton and has since been involved with a number of other big name teams, including Wynn’s Racing (’99 FAI 1000 Bathurst winners), Cat Racing and Gibson Motorsport (before they were re-named the team 00 Motorsport).

It was in 2004 that Alan established a new look TMR for Mitsubishi Australia. The new TMR’s first foray into motorsport was with two all-wheel-drive Mitsubishi Magnas that competed in the 2004 Globalstar Australian Rally Championship. They dominated their class with six wins from six starts.

A string of Evos followed the AWD Magnas, with TMR preparing Evo 8s, 9s and now Xs for road and motorsport use. TMR-prepared Evo Xs have recently dominated at the Bathurst 12 Hour and proven their mettle in other tarmac and track events.

Despite the hectic schedule, TMR found enough time in 2007 to develop a road going supercharged version of the Mitsubishi 380 - the TMR380.

A significant increase in output, huge brakes and revised suspension turned the humble 380 into a focused driver’s car – and a very rare one. Only 20 were ever produced and all were sold through Mitsubishi dealers.

In 2008 that TMR turned its attention to Mitsubishi’s ML Triton 4WD Dual-Cab ute. A style trend-setter, the Triton received an engine ECU upgrade, larger brakes, retuned suspension and a host of detail changes to create what is possibly the ultimate, road-going Triton.

Unveiled to the public at the 2008 Sydney Motor Show, the TMR Triton concept was a crowd pleaser, but one destined never to be more than a one-off prototype.

Never before driven by the press, we were handed the keys. Was this a last hurrah before the TMR Triton concept is retired to gather dust in the corner of a shed?

Not quite…

Styling

The ML Triton’s styling is polarizing, you either love it or hate it. To some it is just too different to the square boxy trucks they are used to. For others the styling is a breath of fresh air in a sector that really needs some change.

Wherever you sit, there is no argument that the ML has proven to be a popular choice for dual-cab ute buyers and an outstanding sales success for Mitsubishi.

TMR approached the unique exterior styling of the Triton with a deft hand, keeping the enhancements subtle and low-key.

Using the top-of-the-line GLS Triton as a starting point, the concept adds a sports head-lamp kit, chrome upper and lower sports grilles and unique ‘TMR Enhanced Triton’ badging to the mix.

The rear tub of the concept is fitted with the same Fastback hard cover that was available on the ML range, but is now a discontinued Mitsubishi accessory.

Wheels have been bumped up a size to 18” x 8” shod with Pirelli Scorpion ATR 255/55R18 tyres that feature a symmetrical All-Terrain tread pattern.

TMR’s ‘stealth’ approach to the exterior styling provides just a hint of what lies beneath.