Mitsubishi’s new SUV sparks speculation, all signs point to the next Pajero
Mitsubishi chose a familiar and proven tactic to introduce its next model. No press release, no straightforward reveal, just a carefully hidden clue buried inside a corporate promotional video. The strategy worked. The car world is now buzzing with speculation over whether the briefly glimpsed, unnamed SUV signals the long awaited return of the Pajero. If the hints are accurate, a reveal could come as early as this week.
Mitsubishi produced the video in cooperation with its motorsport arm Ralliart. The clip celebrates the brand’s rich racing heritage, drawing on archive footage from marathon rallies and the World Rally Championship. At its climax, a competition prepared Pajero charges across the desert, followed immediately by the appearance of a previously unseen new model.
That final moment captured all the attention. The car is never named, yet the context suggests this is no random silhouette dropped in for effect.
The advert also gives prominent screen time to Mitsubishi’s current pickup, the Mitsubishi L200, known as the Triton in several markets. The same model plays an active role in the factory’s racing programme and secured victory at the Asia Cross Country Rally in 2025. Given that the Pajero Sport historically sat on the L200 platform, it is entirely possible that the teaser points towards a new generation of that model instead.
Still, the Pajero name carries far greater symbolic weight. The legendary off roader left production years ago, yet it lived on through rally victories and in the memories of loyal fans.
The video itself paints a fairly clear picture. The mystery SUV appears to feature a boxy body, an almost vertical front grille reminiscent of the L200, strongly flared rear wheel arches and Mitsubishi’s new T shaped lighting signature. These cues suggest a robust, traditional off road vehicle rather than a road focused crossover. That design language would fit neatly with the Pajero badge and with Mitsubishi’s desire to underline its off road credentials.
One theory suggests Mitsubishi may share more details on 9 January at the Tokyo Auto Salon, which opens its doors this week. The timing aligns neatly with talk of an imminent reveal, although the company continues to guard its secret closely.
Japanese manufacturers are increasingly reviving iconic names to stand out in an SUV market that risks becoming visually and conceptually uniform. If Mitsubishi does bring the Pajero back, it will not be as a nostalgia act. It would be a clear statement that the serious off roader still has a place in the modern line up, and that not everything has to soften into yet another urban SUV.
