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Hisham is a graduate from Institute of Technology MARA (UiTM) majoring in culinary arts. Since his early days at the Hotel Istana, Hisham embarked on an adventurous journey honing and shaping his culinary skills working at JW Marriott Kuala Lumpur, Villa Danieli Restaurant at Sheraton Imperial Hotel, SHOOK Restaurant @ Starhill Gallery, Prince Court Medical Center and Azamara Cruise Line under the parent company of Royal Caribbean International Cruise Line, to name just a few. So you guys already knowing me. Come On, Join Me Talking @Mamak

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Thursday 12 April 2012

Mitsubishi Triton VGT

MITSUBISHI has had a long and illustrious history in producing quality pick-ups. With the launch of its new Triton VGT, it has added yet another feather in its cap.
The Triton VGT's mighty 2.5-litre diesel engine with variable geometry turbo (VGT) currently makes it the most powerful pick-up truck in its class.
Cars, Bikes & Trucks attended the Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia's (MMM) launch of the new pick-up in Kuching and was taken on a 221km convoy up to the Kalimantan border and back.
Looks wise, the Triton VGT isn't that noticeably different from its predecessor, the only exterior change being a front bumper extender, which gave the truck a more robust look, and matte black roll bar, instead of chrome.
Its new 17-inch alloy wheels is a plus though which, as MMM says, does give it a "tough and stylish look".
Inside the cabin, you would be hard pressed to spot the differences in the new Triton VGT compared with its predecessor. Mitsubishi still maintained its silver accented dashboard and instrument panel and the configuration of its centre console was untouched.
It did add Bluetooth connectivity for your mobile to its media console and you can now hook up your iPod to listen to your favourite tracks which is a plus.
Also interesting to note was the Triton VGT's extra meter displays, which at the flick of a switch showed not only the plain vanilla travel data such as fuel consumption and range, but it also had a barometer display, altimeter as well as an electric compass.

The proof of the pudding is in the eating and to eat a Triton VGT, you have to drive it.
When the convoy headed off, what was immediately apparent was the fact that the pick-up was an easy drive.
Driving in city traffic was a breeze and according to MMM, the Triton VGT offers the best in class turning radius at 5.9m, which showed in the drive as the big monster was nimble in traffic and around corners.
Furthermore, the pick-up comes equipped with both front and rear sensors complete with a visual display which was a big help in parking.
The pick-up truly showed its stripes when the convoy entered the 49km offroad stretch of the drive.
With a mighty roar, the Triton tore up the mud, all 175 horses digging into the earth.
Driving this beast offroad felt more like a World Rally Championship, rather than the usual slow plod most 4WDs make you go through.
On certain stretches of the plantation we were driving through, we actually hit well over 110km/h, which should have been a hair raising experience. However, the combination of the pick-up's hybrid limited slip differential (LSD) worked together with its ABS and EBD so well that the truck felt steady and well grounded around corners.
The Triton VGT also sports Mitsubishi's new five-speed gearbox with Sports mode which has one forward ratio more than its predecessor and allows for manual selection of gears for better control.
Unlike many other pick-ups which sport a similar electronic drive train, there was hardly any lag when shifting up or down between gears.
This meant that you could instantaneously jump between gears, making for a more energetic, controlled drive.
The pick-up out did itself on inclines. Not only that, the pick-up enjoyed the benefits of having a flat torque range. This meant that all its 350Nm came in at 1,800rpm and stayed there all the way right up to 3,500rpm. The pick-up basically chewed up hills and spat it out again.
Even more impressive was the fact that you can switch from 2WD to 4WD (high) at just under 100km/h which no other 4WD in the market can do.
The pick-up performed very well around the trickier, more technical parts of the route, mostly due to its fast gear changing abilities and its outstanding turning radius.
In our opinion, the Triton VGT on the whole is arguably the best pick-up on the market right now. It provides the power, control and comfort that none of its competitors in its class can currently provide.
The pick-up is literally a wolf in sheep's clothing - in town, it performs like a soccer-mom's SUV but offroad, it's an unbridled beast to drive.
Saying that, the Triton VGT is the first of the new generation of pick-ups to be available in the market.
This means that while it does outshine the competition now, it is still a gamble if this stays being the truth later.

Variable geometry turbo 
Variable geometry turbochargers (VGTs) are designed to allow the effective aspect ratio of the turbo to be altered as conditions change. The VGT does this by using moveable vanes within the turbocharge to optimise airflow while the engine accelerates. As a result, engines with VGTs are more powerful and efficient compared with those with a standard turbocharger.
Hybrid LSD 
Developed by Mitsubishi, a hybrid LSD combines a gear type LSD with a viscous coupling unit (VCU). LSDs have clutch packs inside their differential cases and these serve to restrict wheel spin – hence the name "limited slip" differential. The heart of a viscous coupling is a silicon fluid that thickens when it gets hot and limit wheel spin, by restricting relative movement. Combined together, a hybrid LSD can sense both the torque and the speed of the drive shaft, thus giving the pick-up more control by ensuring the right wheel gets the correct amount of power in all circumstances.

Specifications of the Mitsubishi Triton VGT
Engine: 2.5-litre diesel engine with variable geometry turbocharger (VGT)
Max power: 175hp @ 4,000rpm
Max torque: 350Nm @ 1,800rpm to 3,500rpm
Transmission: Five-speed automatic with Sports mode
Safety features: Hybrid LSD, ABS +EBD,
Price: RM105,997.10 OTR with insurance (Peninsular Malaysia)

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