Pajero ended production in 2021 after what had been 39 years and only four generations. Image: Mitsubishi.
Although it discontinued the Pajero two years ago, Mitsubishi has not given up hope of reviving its iconic SUV at some stage in the future.
Last month, the automaker detailed a range of 16 new models due for release between now and 2028 as part of the Challenge 2025 strategy, of which one was branded as a three-row SUV set for inclusion above the next generation Pajero Sport.
Despite not referencing the Pajero outright, Mitsubishi’s Product Strategy Head Koichi Namiki alluded to the Pajero at a media briefing in Australia this week by stating “in my mind it’s a high possibility” when asked about a possible return.
Back in 2021, Mitsubishi Motors South Africa claimed it has secured production of the Pajero with the aim of prolonging offset for the local market, something that eventually came to nothing.
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At the same time, speculation claiming the Nissan Patrol would provide the base for a new generation Pajero, which first came to prominence in 2019, has now officially been set aside with Namiki remarking that while the alliance, made-up of Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi, will continue to work in close harmony, “a vehicle like the Pajero, that’s our brand, that’s at the heart of our brand”.
“The alliance of course gives us a lot of opportunity. While we consider that a big success … we would not necessarily apply that sharing philosophy to all models in our line-up,” Australia’s drive.com.au quoted him as saying.
“If we do that [badge engineering], of course we want to control everything and we might utilise some of the alliance systems and components and so on, but we would like to produce the vehicle”.
In an interview four years ago about the Pajero, then Mitsubishi Chief Operating Officer Trevor Mann said the market was gravitating towards smaller crossovers and while “a lot of passion” still exists for the Pajero name, its competing in a shrinking segment of the market questioned its existence.
“That segment is shrinking because of emissions regulations mainly, so we need to make sure that when we do something we do it profitably. Can hybrid help us do that? In theory yes. But do we have a full business case that will allow us to spend our R&D money to take the next step? Not quite. We have the ingredients but we haven’t put them together and in the oven yet,” defunct Australian publication caradvice.com.au quoted him as saying at the time.
For now, it remains to be seen what will happen with the Pajero, not only in lieu of the confirmed new three-row model, but also after the brand’s President and Head of Vehicle Engineering, two-time former Dakar winner Hiroshi Masuoka, hinted back in January that the Pajero Sport’s platform could be “stretched” to possibly accommodate a larger vehicle above it.
“Pajero Sport has the potential to be stretched, to grow more. Performance, comfort, the bodywork, and the powertrain itself,” he told carsguide.com.au.
With Mitsubishi due to unveil to all-new Triton soon, the model which provides the base for the Pajero Sport itself due to be completely overhauled in 2025, and also the next generation Navara, expect developments surrounding a possible full-size Pajero return to become potentially more prominent around that time.
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