Finally Official
We’ve seen the trademark filings, as well as the speculative stories. Now, we can finally say that Mitsubishi is bringing back one of its esteemed names. The company recently released a teaser for its upcoming flagship SUV, and it bears the name Pajero. It pretty much confirms what’s been on everyone’s minds ever since the spy shots came out.
But here’s the interesting part. Aside from Pajero, the name Montero also appears in Mitsubishi’s official teaser. This hints at the SUV being a truly global product rather than just a region-specific model. If you’re wondering why it needs two names, you can Google the meaning of Pajero in Spanish-speaking countries.
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What We Know so Far
Now that the name has been confirmed, we can slowly but surely piece together everything we know so far about the reborn Pajero and Montero. We know for a fact that it’ll return as a body-on-frame SUV, unlike the last two generations. It’ll ride on the same chassis as the Mitsubishi Triton, and the main production hub is touted to be Thailand.
Another piece of evidence pointing to Thai production is a document from Australia showing its VIN. The file showed MMA at the start of the VIN, and VINs starting with ML to MR hail from The Land of Smiles.
Some spy shots have shown bits of the Pajero and Montero’s undercarriage. A rear live axle has been seen in previous photos, ditching the independent arrangement from before. Should that be the case, it’ll be the first Pajero/Montero with a solid rear axle since the second-generation model. A previous report also mentioned that the Pajero/Montero will spawn different versions.
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What We Expect
Since it’ll be made in Thailand, it’s a safe bet it’ll be available with a diesel engine. After all, Southeast Asia, as well as Oceania, is still a strong market for those. However, some regions might end up getting gas engines, such as the Middle East and parts of Latin America. A hybrid might also be in the cards given the current market, but what kind it could be remains a mystery.
The Pajero/Montero stands to benefit from tech already found in the Triton pickup. There’s the Super Select 4WD-II system that allows four-wheel drive engagement even on paved roads, as well as a terrain management system for optimized settings. Advanced driver assists are, of course, included.
It’s exciting news and all, but what are the odds of it coming to the U.S.? Given that it’ll be made primarily in Thailand, tariffs will surely get in the way of Mitsubishi’s final answer. Still, it would be great for the Montero to return stateside, as it has been 20 years since the last one was sold in the country. Fingers crossed there will be an Evolution model, too.
Mitsubishi