It looks like the Mitsubishi Pajero will make a comeback

The name Pajero may mean something else entirely in Spain, but to most people around the world, this was the crown jewel sitting atop Mitsubishi Motors’ lineup. A legendary, very capable body-on-frame SUV that couldn’t be bothered whether it had to climb up very steep and rocky terrain.

Most fondly remember the second-generation as the peak of the Pajero nameplate; it went toe-to-toe with the likes of the Toyota Land Cruiser or Nissan Patrol, before it switched over to a unibody platform and chased luxury for the third and fourth generation before disappearing entirely in 2019.

Now, according to multiple reports around the internet and most notably, NHK World, Mitsubishi is planning to revive the Pajero nameplate to boost falling sales, with a target date of December 2026 for its debut.

Interestingly, it’s aimed specifically at Japan’s falling sales, and instead of being assembled in its home country like previous models, it will be manufactured in Thailand, then re-imported into Japan, similar to what they do with the Triton that they sell domestically.

What makes this more interesting is that there have been spy shots worldwide of a large, body-on-frame SUV in camouflage. Whether or not this is the new Pajero or the next-generation Montero Sport, one thing is for certain: Mitsubishi is dedicated to reinvigorating its brand over the next few years.

^{Photos from Mitsubishi}