The Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, also sold as the Montero Sport in some markets, received a minor facelift earlier this year and now spy photographers have snapped the first photos of the redesigned SUV. It’s instantly recognizable and unsurprisingly follows in the footsteps of the latest L200 / Triton. Caught undergoing testing in Europe, the model features an all-new front end that appears identical to the one used on the pickup. The rest of the design largely carries over and this has spy photographers believing the SUV is a mule rather than a traditional prototype. That certainly seems to be the case as it looks like someone grafted a new front end onto the current vehicle.
However, we can expect the production
model to echo the pickup and this likely means a boxier design. The cabin
should also join the 21st century by adopting a modern design and a
freestanding 9-inch infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay. We also
wouldn’t be surprised to find analog gauges, a 7-inch multi-information
display, and higher-quality switchgear. Since the model is essentially a
Triton-based SUV, the Pajero Sport should ride on the pickup’s new ladder
frame. It uses high-tensile steel for improved rigidity and reduced weight.
We can also expect a 2.4-liter turbodiesel
engine with an assortment of outputs. In the pickup, it’s rated at 148 hp and 330 Nm, 181 hp and 430 Nm, as well as 201 hp and 470 Nm. It should
be connected to a six-speed transmission and an available four-wheel drive
system.
Beyond the Pajero Sport, Mitsubishi is
gearing up for a mid-cycle facelift of the Outlander, set to debut this fall in
Japan, with other markets to follow. Meanwhile, there’s growing buzz about the
possible return of the Pajero nameplate (not to be confused with the Pajero
Sport seen here) as a luxurious large SUV featuring a plug-in hybrid
powertrain.
