Return of an icon: More hints of a new Mitsubishi Pajero emerge, could it be based on the Nissan Patrol Y63? - report

A new sliver of information from Japan had added more weight to the possibility of Mitsubishi bringing back the legendary Pajero, as well as firming up a possible timeline.

Reputable Japanese magazine Best Car reports that the Pajero is in development for a new generation, set to go into production by 2027.

While unconfirmed officially, the report from Japan combined with interviews undertaken by CarsGuide with top executives from Mitsubishi points to a Pajero return being increasingly likely.

The key facts that point to the possibility of a Pajero return include not only word from both international and local management that the Pajero name remains important to the brand, but also that Mitsubishi explicitly said more than one new large SUV is on the horizon.

Specifically, a teaser with shrouded model silhouettes and vague names labelled both a ‘PPV’ (Pick-up Passenger Vehicle) and a ‘3-row SUV’, which could suggest a Pajero Sport and Pajero respectively.

While a Pajero Sport based on the new Triton is all but locked in, the return of a Pajero to tackle the likes of the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series wouldn’t be too difficult for Mitsubishi to pull off.

Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited (MMAL) President and CEO Shaun Westcott told CarsGuide late last year that he would “like to see” a large SUV to sit above the Pajero Sport in its line-up.

“I believe there is a space in the Australian market for it. Australia is a country that likes their big SUVs,” he said.

“What Australians show us and demonstrate to us through where they walk and where they talk and what they do, is that there is a large aspirational desire to have large SUVs and large pick-ups in this country. That’s people voting with their feet.”

While it makes sense in theory for Mitsubishi to lean on its partner Nissan (thanks to the Renault–Nissan–Mitsubishi Alliance) and its upcoming Patrol SUV in terms of platform and development, Mitsubishi top brass says a new Pajero, hypothetically, would need to have more Mitsubishi DNA than a rebadge (as with the Euro-market ASX, a rebadged Renault Captur).

“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,” said Westcott

“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.

“But there will be another vehicle… and we had all the shrouded vehicles put out, and not every single car in that line-up will come to Australia, but there are some significant models or vehicles that are shrouded that will come to Australia.”