2006 Paris Auto Show: Mitsubishi Pajero
- September 29, 2006
- Mitsubishi, New Model Introductions
- Posted by George Peterson
- 3 Comments
Though Mitsubishi dropped the Montero from its North American lineup with the 2007MY, the vehicle continues for international markets. In Europe and Japan it has been seen as the Pajero and as the Shogun, and Mitsubishi chose Paris for the worldwide reveal of the latest iteration.
This Pajero is evolutionary, as Mitsu claim a 70 percent loyalty rate in Europe and does not want to mess with success. The Montero by U.S. standards had grown old, inside and out. The new Pajero gets a revised interior with a cleaner, up-to-date look, but the package has been refined and revised rather than starting from scratch or creating an all-new platform. There are some new features that made the cut, allowing Pajero owners to keep up with many of the latest in-car entertainment features.
Evolutionary Changes for Pajero
The new SUV offers fenders with a little less bulge, but continues with two- and four-door models (the two-door was not on display). The Pajero adopts the hard-drive navigation/music storage system of the Mitsubishi Outlander. Other new-to-Pajero options include rear-view camera, rear-seat entertainment, steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, and Xenon headlights. The monocoque body-on-frame architecture carries over, though it is more rigid. The four-wheel-drive system (Super Select 4-II) is much the same, though a lockable rear differential was added and traction and stability control are standard. Europe had offered the Pajero with a four-cylinder diesel, and that engine carries over as well, though refined for emissions standards and better NVH. The prior 3.5L V6 was replaced by Mitsubishi’s newer 250HP 3.8L V6, seen in the North American Galant and Eclipse. Transmissions are still five-speed manual or five-speed automatic units.
Americans Probably Won’t Miss It
With the current trend toward softer, more fuel-efficient SUVs, it is not bad decision for Mitsubishi to not bring the latest Pajero to the States. After a peak sales year of less than 25,000 units in 2001, sales fell to well below 10,000 units each of the last three years it was available in the States. U.S. consumers clearly walked away from Montero, and an evolutionary product is not likely to bring them back. Better to spend North American development money on the Outlander, which goes on sale in November and is better suited to current customer tastes.
3 Comments
THIS ONE IS BETTER THAN OTHER ONE I AM GLAD TO SEE THE CHANGE IN PAJEROS NEW VERSION AND A LITTLE BIT JEALOUS ALSO BECAUSE THIS PAJERO IS BETTER THAN MY PAJERO MONTERO 2006
I have a 2003 Montero (Pajero) & would wait for the new model in the US. 2007 is a big improvement on the existing design and its moving in the right direction. It would be a huge mistake to redesign Montero and make it look like any other SUV. Mitsu probably does not spend enough on advertising in the US, thus the image and sales suffer. It seems the car magazines have a bias against Montero. Stability issues of previous models are a thing of past, but still dominate all reviews in the US. Mitsu will loose its presence in luxury market in US due to absence of Montero.
However Mitsu needs to work on the following:
1. Fuel efficiency 15 mile/US gal. is bad
2. Its tough to keep on course in cross winds
3. Navigation is a must in US market
4. US needs a 2 door Montero also
It’s a shame that the 2007 Montero will not be coming to the US. I bought my Montero in 2003 and I have enjoyed it.
In fact the same year I was debating buying a Land Rover Discovery, I’m glad that I bought the Montero. It beats the Discovery in a variety of aspects. Some other things can be said about the Montero in its influence on the market.
Now the fold-away 3rd row seat idea has been copied to some extent in the Nissan. The integrated side-step has been used on newer SUVs in its size. The Suzuki SUV looks like a mini-copy of a Montero.
With all these SUVs taking cues from the Montero in styling, I sure that they are glad this new Model won’t make it to the states.
Hey just put a powerplant in it to boast about 270 to 300hp and ship it to the US. This will satisfy those that only look at horsepower. In the meantime I’ll be keeping mine.