Mitsubishi’s Latest Teaser Just Proved Its Pajero Revival’s Rugged Ambitions

The automaker has confirmed some critical details regarding the forthcoming off-roader’s construction and drivetrain tech.

Rear view of a black Mitsubishi Pajero SUV with spare tire mounted on the back, parked on rocky terrain.

Add Gear Patrol as a Preferred Source on Google

By Gray Van Dyke

Published 2 hours ago

·

Mitsubishi hasn’t been shy in its efforts to drum up excitement for the relaunch of the Pajero. Between shadowy rollers, headlight signatures and triptych gauge clusters, there have been plenty of sneak peeks.

For good reason. As part of its comeback effort, Mitsubishi is setting its sights on rugged off-roaders like the Toyota Land Cruiser and the Nissan Patrol. It means a truly rugged SUV, not just a revival in name.

Just take the latest teaser, for example. As a show of good faith, Mitsubishi has offered a first look at the upcoming Pajero’s undercarriage and confirmed some key details.

Underside of a vehicle kicking up dust with the word "PAJERO" overlaid in white text. — The new Pajero will roll on a real-deal ladder-frame chassis.

Climbing the ladder

It’s just what you’d hope for in an authentically off-road-capable SUV. Along with a ladder frame construction, Mitsubishi has also stated that the forthcoming Pajero will tout the brand’s Super-All Wheel Control (S-AWC) tech.

In the case of the former, the benefits are obvious. Body-on-frame SUVs make for far superior off-roaders compared to their unibody counterparts, as they’re generally tougher and more capable.

Dark SUV with vertical LED headlights driving on a road at sunset with hills in the background. — Mitsubishi has kept the excitement high with frequent teasers.

However, the incorporation of the S-AWC system amounts to big news, too. Mitsubishi already makes use of it on upper-level Triton trims. It’s a feature that gives drivers the choice to run everything from RWD, full-time 4WD, a locked center diff and even low range.

What’s more, as it appears on the Triton, it touts seven different selectable Terrain Drive Modes. Along with Normal, Eco and Gravel, this includes options like Snow, Mud, Sand and Rock. Altogether it allows for better control across a range of surfaces and conditions.

Three Mitsubishi SUVs in different eras, black modern, red mid-generation, and vintage maroon, reflected on a glossy surface with trees in the background. — The new Pajero will keep with its predecessors while introducing a more modern experience.

A Pajero for today’s drivers

Towards that end, while Mitsubishi might be staying faithful to the Pajero’s capabilities, the forthcoming off-roader promises to be a far more modern experience than its predecessors.

Beyond the addition of its trick S-AWC system, Mitsubishi has also stated that the Pajero will bring a suspension system “engineered to deliver high road-holding performance.”

Three circular digital gauges showing altitude 254m, roll 6°, and pitch 17°, with a warm yellow-orange background. — Mitsubishi is taking care to reference the past with Easter eggs like the triple gauge cluster.

As such, the brand says this means that vehicle will be able to offer “refined on-road comfort.” By minimizing body movement and vibration on rough and uneven surfaces, it’s set to offer a much more stable and comfortable ride than its tip-happy predecessors.

It’s a kind of maturity that you’ll find in other aspects of the Pajero’s revival. From what we’ve already seen of the outer design to the digitalization of the gauges, it’s a vehicle that’s embracing change yet still echoing itself.

Even the powertrain will supposedly keep up the balancing act. Previous reports indicate that Mitsubishi will debut the Pajero with a twin-turbo diesel-four, but forthcoming variants will bring some kind of electrification in tow.

Bright horizontal LED light bar with vertical end lights and "PAJERO" text below in dusty environment. — Everything the Pajero brings to the table should be revealed in the forthcoming weeks.

More to come

In any case, Mitsubishi won’t be making us wait long if industry chatter is to be believed. The brand has its sights set on an autumn reveal, and some sources even cite September 2nd.

About the Author: Gray is an associate editor at Gear Patrol, covering cars, motorcycles and anything else with wheels. When he’s not chasing the latest industry news, he’s probably wrenching on one of many projects. For better or worse, he believes classics make perfectly practical daily drivers.

Want to stay up to date on the latest product news and releases? Add Gear Patrol as a preferred source to ensure our independent journalism makes it to the top of your Google search results.