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03-10-2013, 07:39 AM
Filed under: Hybrid (http://www.autoblog.com/category/hybrids/), SUV (http://www.autoblog.com/category/suvs/), Mitsubishi (http://www.autoblog.com/category/mitsubishi/), Off-Road (http://www.autoblog.com/category/off-road/)
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/2006-mitsubishi-montero-silver.jpg (http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mellor.nsf/story2/90BA0FB4F4E0E1DFCA257B26000EC2B0)
You might not know it from looking at today's Mitsubishi (http://www.autoblog.com/mitsubishi/) showrooms, but the struggling Japanese automaker has a pretty enviable reputation for producing robust off-roaders. Its Pajero (http://www.autoblog.com/tag/pajero/) SUV built a solid reputation worldwide on the back of its durability in harsh climates, earning it consideration alongside the likes of venerable explorers like the Toyota Land Cruiser (http://www.autoblog.com/toyota/land+cruiser/) and Land Rover Range Rover (http://www.autoblog.com/land+rover/range+rover/). Unfortunately, the Pajero eventually succumbed to one particularly harsh climate - the North American truck market. After enjoying a long run, Mitsubishi finally pulled the plug on the SUV's Montero (http://www.autoblog.com/tag/montero/) twin after the 2006 model year. Blame evolving consumer tastes, low brand visibility, a lackluster marketing budget, or the need for updated product - in fact, go ahead and blame all of the above.
Despite its age, the current fourth-generation Pajero (itself arguably an extensive rework of the previous model) has been carrying a lot of water for the brand in other parts of the world since its debut in 2006. So it's pretty well time for a new one. Problem is, its replacement is still a ways off. That's according to Australia's Go Auto, which has learned that the next-generation Pajero could still be three years away, if not longer.
According to Go Auto, the next model will be a much-changed beast, with design targets including a major weight loss and increased efficiency to go along with more luxurious appointments. In order to make gains in fuel economy, the plug-in hybrid technology that the company has already introduced for its new Outlander (http://www.autoblog.com/mitsubishi/outlander/) crossover will likely be a part of the SUV's development program.
With the next generation still years away from completion, there is understandably no word on whether Mitsubishi will consider bringing back the Pajero/Montero to North America to boost its volume and image. Company execs have repeatedly pledged to stay the course (http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/12/mitsubishi-leaving-us-no-its-doubling-its-marketing-budget/) in North America despite disastrous sales totals, but as we're talking a few years from now, Mitsubishi will have to keep the lights on with new products like the Mirage (http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/12/mitsubishi-boss-confirms-new-mirage-for-us-starting-in-september/) subcompact.
Do you think bringing a lighter and more efficient next-generation Pajero/Montero here would help reverse the brand's course in this market? Have your say in Comments.Mitsubishi Pajero successor still years away, but plug-in hybrid tech likely (http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/10/mitsubishi-pajero-successor-still-years-away-but-plug-in-hybrid/) originally appeared on Autoblog (http://www.autoblog.com) on Sun, 10 Mar 2013 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds (http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/).
Permalink (http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/10/mitsubishi-pajero-successor-still-years-away-but-plug-in-hybrid/) | Email this (http://www.autoblog.com/forward/20495058/) | Comments (http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/10/mitsubishi-pajero-successor-still-years-away-but-plug-in-hybrid/#comments)
More... (http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/10/mitsubishi-pajero-successor-still-years-away-but-plug-in-hybrid/)
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/2006-mitsubishi-montero-silver.jpg (http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mellor.nsf/story2/90BA0FB4F4E0E1DFCA257B26000EC2B0)
You might not know it from looking at today's Mitsubishi (http://www.autoblog.com/mitsubishi/) showrooms, but the struggling Japanese automaker has a pretty enviable reputation for producing robust off-roaders. Its Pajero (http://www.autoblog.com/tag/pajero/) SUV built a solid reputation worldwide on the back of its durability in harsh climates, earning it consideration alongside the likes of venerable explorers like the Toyota Land Cruiser (http://www.autoblog.com/toyota/land+cruiser/) and Land Rover Range Rover (http://www.autoblog.com/land+rover/range+rover/). Unfortunately, the Pajero eventually succumbed to one particularly harsh climate - the North American truck market. After enjoying a long run, Mitsubishi finally pulled the plug on the SUV's Montero (http://www.autoblog.com/tag/montero/) twin after the 2006 model year. Blame evolving consumer tastes, low brand visibility, a lackluster marketing budget, or the need for updated product - in fact, go ahead and blame all of the above.
Despite its age, the current fourth-generation Pajero (itself arguably an extensive rework of the previous model) has been carrying a lot of water for the brand in other parts of the world since its debut in 2006. So it's pretty well time for a new one. Problem is, its replacement is still a ways off. That's according to Australia's Go Auto, which has learned that the next-generation Pajero could still be three years away, if not longer.
According to Go Auto, the next model will be a much-changed beast, with design targets including a major weight loss and increased efficiency to go along with more luxurious appointments. In order to make gains in fuel economy, the plug-in hybrid technology that the company has already introduced for its new Outlander (http://www.autoblog.com/mitsubishi/outlander/) crossover will likely be a part of the SUV's development program.
With the next generation still years away from completion, there is understandably no word on whether Mitsubishi will consider bringing back the Pajero/Montero to North America to boost its volume and image. Company execs have repeatedly pledged to stay the course (http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/12/mitsubishi-leaving-us-no-its-doubling-its-marketing-budget/) in North America despite disastrous sales totals, but as we're talking a few years from now, Mitsubishi will have to keep the lights on with new products like the Mirage (http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/12/mitsubishi-boss-confirms-new-mirage-for-us-starting-in-september/) subcompact.
Do you think bringing a lighter and more efficient next-generation Pajero/Montero here would help reverse the brand's course in this market? Have your say in Comments.Mitsubishi Pajero successor still years away, but plug-in hybrid tech likely (http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/10/mitsubishi-pajero-successor-still-years-away-but-plug-in-hybrid/) originally appeared on Autoblog (http://www.autoblog.com) on Sun, 10 Mar 2013 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds (http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/).
Permalink (http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/10/mitsubishi-pajero-successor-still-years-away-but-plug-in-hybrid/) | Email this (http://www.autoblog.com/forward/20495058/) | Comments (http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/10/mitsubishi-pajero-successor-still-years-away-but-plug-in-hybrid/#comments)
More... (http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/10/mitsubishi-pajero-successor-still-years-away-but-plug-in-hybrid/)