Japanese scoop șite Best Car Web is reporting that rumours are building in Japan that Mitsubishi could revive the Pajero Mini nameplate in answer to the booming popularity of the Suzuki Jimny around the world.
The bite-sized 4WD is also the brand's
second-best-performing model in Australia this year, with almost 2000 units
finding homes in the five months to May. And reports are now pointing to
Mitsubishi joining the fray, reviving a nameplate last seen in June 2012. That
model was a tough-but-basic 4WD, and the reports suggest the brand will attempt
to capture that same spirit with a new model.
Though as yet unconfirmed, Best Car
suggests the new model could be built in conjunction with Nissan, thanks to
those brands' NMKV partnership which produces K Cars for the Japanese market. The
reports also suggest electrification will be included in the powertrain
options, hinting that an EV-only offering could be on the cards. More likely,
though, is the option of petrol and petrol-hybrid solutions, along with
Mitsubishi's S-AWC 4WD system.
Interestingly, the site also points to
Nissan launching its own version of a Pajero Mini, with Mitsubishi in charge of
overall design and engineering, and Nissan responsible for personalising its
vehicle.
