Confirmed: Honda’s first body-on-frame ute to be based on Mitsubishi Triton

Honda some speculation, Honda has confirmed its first proper body-on-frame ute will be built in collaboration with Mitsubishi. 

The two brands have reportedly signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Mitsubishi’s Triton serving as the base. 

Honda is reportedly making this move to increase its presence in the South East Asian market, where utes play a large part. 

The Triton is built at Mitsubishi’s plant in Thailand, the same factory that produces the Nissan Navara, itself based on the Triton. A Honda version would make it the third badge on the one ute.

“Through this collaboration, Honda will add a pickup truck model to its lineup primarily in the ASEAN market, where it does not currently offer pickup truck models, enabling Honda to enhance its product lineup quickly and efficiently in the market,” said Honda in a statement. 

“Meanwhile, this collaboration will enable Mitsubishi Motors to increase production volume and improve capacity utilization at its production plant in Thailand.”’

While it’s not the first ute Honda has produced, that title goes to the Ridgeline, which is sold exclusively in North America, it’s Honda’s first “proper” ute. 

The Ridgeline is built on a unibody platform, one that is shared with the Honda Pilot and Passport SUVs. 

The Triton on the other hand is a true body-on-frame ute, which provides better towing and off-road abilities. 

It is available in other markets with either a petrol or diesel-powered 2.4-litre turbocharged engine, which keeps Honda’s options open. 

It remains to be seen as to whether or not this Honda ute will make it to the New Zealand market once it goes into production. 

In saying this, Australia is one of the biggest markets in the world for utes, and most of the time, when a brand sends vehicles to Australia, we also end up with them here. 

So it seems we’ve got a pretty good chance of seeing a Honda-badge ute appear on our shores in the near future.