The Japanese Mitsubishi Motors has officially announced the return of its globally recognizable SUV – the new model will retain the historical iconic name Pajero, and its world premiere is scheduled for the fall of this year. This announcement, accompanied by just a hint of the front fascia, marks the return of the famous name to the world stage after production of the Pajero for foreign markets was discontinued in 2021.
Historic successes
The first generation Pajero was launched on the market in 1982 as a recreational vehicle that combined the off-road capabilities of four-wheel drive with the comfort of a classic passenger car. Through a total of four generations, Pajero has grown into one of the most important models of the Japanese manufacturer. Its global acceptance is evidenced by the fact that more than 3.25 million copies have been sold in over 170 countries and regions around the world.
Mitsubishi Motors
A key part of this model’s reputation is built on sports fields. As early as 1983, Pajero started participating in the legendary Dakar Rally, which is reputed to be the most demanding rally race in the world. During the following years, he achieved a total of 12 victories there, which includes a streak of seven consecutive triumphs. These sporting successes directly contributed to building the image of a vehicle with exceptional off-road performance, handling stability and proven durability.
Pajero has a future
In the domestic Japanese market, Pajero led the wave of popularity of SUVs during the nineties of the last century and played an important role in promoting an active lifestyle and being outdoors. Due to the great interest of customers, the range eventually expanded to include a number of derivatives, among which were the smaller city car Pajero Mini, the compact SUV Pajero Junior and the Pajero iO model.
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The upcoming generation of Pajero is being developed on the basis of the durable “body-on-frame” chassis of the Triton truck, with specific development of the cabin and front and rear suspension adapted to the new model. According to the company, the vehicle will, as before, offer a combination of advanced off-road capabilities and a refined, comfortable ride. Within the production range, the new Pajero will be positioned as the brand’s new flagship model that embodies the adventurous spirit of Mitsubishi Motors. They have not yet announced anything about the type of installed drive, but the fact that the basis of the model is the existing Triton, it is likely that the basis will be internal combustion engines with the open possibility of a hybrid variant.