Yet another recognizable Japanese automotive nameplate could be returning from the dead and this time it is the Mitsubishi Pajero. Yes, that probably won’t get you as excited as the prospect of the Toyota MR2 being revived, but it could prove to be a big deal for the Mitsubishi brand.
With the exception of the Outlander, the Mitsubishi range is outdated and in desperate need of a compelling new vehicle. That model could be a new-age Pajero, a report out of Japan claims, and it could be quite unlike its predecessor and more akin to a Japanese Land Rover.
Mitsubishi is thought to have investigated building the new Pajero around the ladder frame of the Triton but concluded it couldn’t reach the desired level of comfort with this set-up. As such, it has reportedly switched focus to the same electrified platform from the Renault Nissan Mitsubishi alliance that will underpin the next-generation Outlander and decided this will best serve to underpin the new Pajero.
If the new model does indeed use this platform, Best Car notes it will almost certainly be sold exclusively as a plug-in hybrid. Powertrain details are not yet known at this early stage, but it could have an improved version of the 2.4-liter plug-in hybrid four-cylinder as the current Outlander PHEV. Whatever the case may be, the powertrain should be coupled to the brand’s S-AWC all-wheel drive system.
Read: Mitsubishi Sells Former Pajero Factory To Toilet Paper Company
The Japanese publication where the report originated from asserts that like its predecessor that was discontinued in 2021, the new Pajero will be larger than the Outlander, exceeding 4,900 mm (192.9 inches) in length, standing 1,850 mm (72.8 inches) tall, and sitting 1,900 mm (74.8 inches) wide. It could be priced from around 8 million yen (~$53,000) and may be ready to hit the market as soon as 2027.
While the idea of a luxurious PHEV SUV from Mitsubishi sounds intriguing, it’s worth noting the marque has not commented on the report, so we’ll have to wait and see if such a model materializes.
