Double trouble: All-new Y63 Nissan Patrol and reborn Mitsubishi Pajero to team up to take down Toyota LandCruiser - reports

The incoming Nissan Patrol could spawn a Mitsubishi Pajero twin, allowing the two brands to double-down on the off-road SUV space as they take on the might of Toyota, according to new reports.

We know that a Y63 Nissan Patrol is coming, and Mitsubishi in Australia recently confirmed to CarsGuide that the brand is "working on a large SUV", and now international reports suggest the latter could borrow from the former to deliver a sibling to the Patrol.

In fact, according to reports, the new Pajero might actually take more of its cues from the Infiniti QX80, with Japanese media suggesting the brand is keen to move the model into a more premium Land Rover-style space when it relaunches in 2027.

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The two brands are part of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance, allowing them to save costs by sharing platforms and technology, and so a new Patrol or QX80 feeding a new Pajero is a real possibility.

That said, each is reportedly expected to offer a different powertrain, with the Nissan expected to follow Infiniti's lead (with the QX80) in downsizing from a V8 to a twin-turbocharged V6, while the Mitsubishi is expected to pursue its own plug-in hybrid technology.

Mitsubishi in Australia won't be drawn on exactly what the model will be called yet, but has made no secret of its requests to head office to revive the Pajero moniker.

"Mitsubishi Motor Corporation announced its line up for the next couple of years... and under the shroud there's a large SUV in there. So the reality is yes, we have publicly announced, effectively, that we are studying a vehicle in that space," says Mitsubishi Australia CEO, Shaun Westcott.

"I cannot tell you what it is, what it looks like, what the powertrain is, whether there's a ladder frame, whether there's monocoque. I cannot give you any of that information other than to say that Mitsubishi has announced that we are working on a large SUV.

"I have put up my hand and said we would love to have one because it's a very valuable nameplate, because it is a fantastic product, because it's a halo product.

"For all of the above reasons, we would love to have one here."

Mitsubishi has previously told CarsGuide that, should the two models share a platform, a Pajero would keep its "Mitsubishi-ness".

“What our global CEO (said) is that we value… the distinctiveness of what we call Mitsubishi-ness. We can and will rebadge cars where we need to, but as we have done with the Outlander and the X-Trail, you can see (ours) is distinctively Mitsubishi," Mr Westcott says.

“We share a platform, and obviously that’s the benefit of the Alliance for us. It is even going further in the future with EVs. The platform – the skateboard – is what we need to share. And nobody cares if it is a Panasonic or an Eveready battery in your torch – a battery is a battery, mate!

“We want to distinguish and differentiate ourselves… so, even if we do use Alliance products, we will because that’s how we are going to keep costs down and make our cars more affordable for consumers.

“So, when you (ask about a Pajero based on Patrol), I can’t comment on that, but other than to say that if we do… we will aim to keep the Mitsubishi-ness, as said by our CEO.”

For now, though, you'll have to watch this space.