Next-Gen Mitsubishi Pajero Envisioned With Modern Boxy Looks And An Appetite For Land Cruisers

You’ve probably read the rumors about the return of the Mitsubishi Pajero/Montero which is expected hopefully sometime in the next few years. Now an independent designer shows his vision of what a new Pajero could look like.

The project comes from Filipino designer Enoch Gonzales, who recently created a modern reincarnation of the Mitsubishi Endeavor. For the Pajero, Gonzales chose a boxier shape, taking styling references from previous generations of the popular off-roader.

More: What We Know About The Luxed-Up 2027 Mitsubishi Pajero

The front end features a set of T-shaped LEDs, a large grille, and a simpler interpretation of Mitsubishi’s Dynamic Shield. The profile is less intriguing, featuring straight lines and classic SUV proportions. This leads us to the upright tailgate with a bump reminiscent of a spare wheel cover.

The designer used body-colored cladding, flush door handles, and a clamshell hood, for the Pajero to appeal to “luxury SUV buyers”. This direction was chosen by no accident, as the latest information from Japan suggests that the next-gen Pajero will likely move upmarket.

Staying true to its heritage, the Mitsubishi Pajero was envisioned to ride on ladder-frame underpinnings. One can only dream about a new ladder-frame SUV and the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance certainly has the parts bin to support one. The new Pajero could share many bits with either the Infiniti QX80 or the upcoming Nissan Patrol, creating a worthy rival to the Toyota Land Cruiser J300. The same could apply to the Infiniti-sourced twin-turbo V6, mated to a beefy 4WD system.

However, the most recent reports claim the new Pajero might ride on the unibody CMF-C/D architecture of the smaller Mitsubishi Outlander, featuring a hybrid powertrain. It pains us to say, but this could be more plausible than an old-school ladder-frame SUV, especially if Mitsubishi wants to market the new Pajero worldwide.

As ever, it remains to be seen if the Mitsubishi Pajero looks anything like the renders we’ve seen over the years. The automaker has yet to provide a timeline for its launch, but we wouldn’t be surprised if it appears on our radar sometime around 2027.

Note: These independent renderings are off-the-record and unrelated to Mitsubishi.

Illustrations by Enoch Gonzales