An old 4WD rivalry is about to be re-ignited.
Mitsubishi is preparing a new off-road focused four-wheel drive, which is likely to be a replacement for the discontinued Pajero.
Japanese outlet, BestCar, which is known for its sources inside the car industry, claims the Pajero replacement will burst onto the scene next year.
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Best Car has given a glimpse of what a Pajero replacement might look like with some sharp-looking digital renders.
The Japanese magazine claims the next-generation Pajero will be based on the new Triton, which means a rugged ladder-frame chassis and the brand’s capable 4WD set-up.
The report said the Pajero would use the Triton’s existing twin-turbocharged diesel engine that currently makes 150kW and 470Nm, which is good enough to tow a max 3500kg.
That performance easily trumps the V6 petrol and the four-cylinder turbo-diesel grunt of Pajeroes past.
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It is also likely the 4WD could come with plug-in hybrid power. This would likely be the same set-up featured in the Outlander PHEV, which pairs a petrol engine with an electric motor and a sizeable battery to deliver all-paw grip, plenty of torque and low fuel use.
This would also give the Pajero a point of difference to the twin-turbo, six-cylinder Toyota LandCruiser and coming new Nissan Patrol.
The chance of a future Pajero were strengthened by comments from Mitsubishi Australia boss, Shaun Westcott, to CarsGuide earlier this year.
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Westcott said Mitsubishi’s intention was to provide people with vehicles that will help them explore Australia.
“The future is very much focused towards off road adventure, four-wheel drive, SUV, large SUV in the portfolio. We’d like to see all of them.”
“So in that 2030 plan you’ll see the outline or the silhouette of a large SUV. And I know there have been some spy photos, some of you guys have picked them up, of the Pajero Sport replacements running around in mule form.
“We are doing a lot of work on a lot of platforms and a lot of models, so that 2030 Momentum plan includes a number of new products that you’ve seen the silhouette of that we are working on. There’s a lot happening at the moment,” he said.
Westcott said electrification for those vehicles was “absolutely” in the brand’s future.
The chance of any future large 4WD going plug-in hybrid were also boosted by Mitsubishi Australia’s GM of Product Planning, Bruce Hampel.
When asked if full electric or plug-in hybrid would work best for utes and four-wheel drives, Hampel’s answer was clear.
“I think in the body on frame space, like commercial vehicles and large SUVs, the PHEV technology is a good stepping stone to full BEVs,” said Hampel.
“It is going to be very challenging to have full BEV vehicles of that size deliver what the customers are looking for.
“I think that’s the challenge we've all got in the industry at this point in time, especially in a market like Australia, where once you’re outside the cities and into the regional areas.
“The charging infrastructure is really not in place to give you that reassurance that you can continue your journey uninterrupted going forward.
“So I definitely think PHEV is going to be the bridging technology in those large vehicle classes,” he said.
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