Is Mitsubishi Pajero Final Edition a farewell to the Pajero line?

MANILA: As Mitsubishi is going on a different route in terms of their design philosophy and leaning more towards hybrids and electrification, there are fears that the Mitsubishi Pajero will soon retire.

As a final hoorah, Mitsubishi released the Final Edition model for the beloved off-road SUV as it will soon no longer be available in its home market. Mitsubishi plans to release only 700 units in Japan, and the price starts from ¥4.53 million (Php2.14M).

The Pajero Final Edition comes equipped with a 7” infotainment display mounted at the center just beside the instrument cluster leather seats, roof rail, electric sunroof, and an optional larger screen console. Under the hood is a 3.2-litre diesel engine that can produce 190 hp of power and 441Nm of torque.

It comes in a Super-Select 4WD II all-wheel-drive system, mated with a five-speed automatic gearbox, and a lockable rear differential. And depending on the market, you can get an engine option in 3.0-L V6, 3.5-liter V6, and 3.8-liter V6, as well as two four-cylinder diesel.

Despite the prominence of the Pajero label, the demand for the SUV in Japan waned in 2018. The slump in sales was partly due to the economic downturn and the brand’s more efficient offerings. Moreover, because of the demand for more green and fuel-efficient vehicles, the trend now is to let go of big, gas-guzzlers in preference for hybrids, crossovers, and EVs.

However, Mitsubishi clarifies that it has no plan to kill off the name just yet. Hiroshi Nagaoka, senior vice president of engineering at Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC), admits that there are no plans yet to create an all-new generation Pajero but insist that the name can be used in the future once there is a solid plan in place.

During the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show, Mitsubishi debuted a mid-size electric SUV concept—Mitsubishi Engelberg Tourer, which some avid car enthusiasts speculated if the Engelberg Tourer would be the ‘new’ Pajero. But the recently unveiled electric SUV is a predecessor for the same nameplate.

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