New Mitsubishi Pajero just the beginning!

Mitsubishi in Australia says it has its hand in the air for an expanded Pajero family as it plots a new model line that it hopes will elevate it to the upper echelon of off-road brands in this market.. That's the word from Shunichi Kihara, Mitsubishi Australia CEO, who says the brand's global HQ has confirmed there will be a series of Pajero models, and that he wants them in Australia.. "MMC made the announcement that there will be a Pajero series," he says..

"We have asked for them in Australia.. We want additional Pajero models." The news follows Mitsubishi in Japan confirming at least two additional models will wear the Pajero badge;. a Toyota RAV4 Hybrid-sized mid-size SUV, and a small SUV..

"Going forward, with the all-new Pajero leading the lineup, we will expand the Pajero family to include a compact and small SUV.. We hope you look forward to these future additions," Mitsubishi Motors President and COO Keisuke Kishiura said at the time.. We won't know yet how off-road focused each model will be - though the Pajero nameplate suggests each will have at least some 4WD capability -but the mid-size model is expected to sport a monocoque platform and plug-in hybrid power..

That is by far the most likely to arrive in Australia, given it plays in one of our biggest and most established vehicle segments.  The latest reports point to the mid-size Pajero arriving in late 2028 or early 2029.. The next option is smaller again, and reports suggest it might fit into Japan's kei class of vehicles.. That would give it maximum dimensions of 3400mm, 1480mm and 2000mm, while also putting a strict cap on its engine size and output..

If that's deemed Japan-focused, the small SUV could instead emerge as a rival to something like the Suzuki Jimny, which would make it a hot property in Australia..