Mitsubishi Shogun return on the cards as new Pajero SUV set for 2 September reveal
Serious body-on-frame 4x4 will rival Toyota Land Cruiser and wear a different badge for certain markets
We could be about to see the return of the Mitsubishi Shogun, as the Japanese brand has confirmed the next-generation of its Pajero 4x4 – the car known as the Shogun in the UK – will be revealed on 2 September.
The last Shogun went off sale in August 2019, marking the end of a 37-year run for the Land Rover Discovery and Toyota Land Cruiser rival, during which time more than 114,000 examples were sold. Hopefully the recently revitalised Japanese brand will bring the new fifth-generation model here to continue that legacy.
It’ll come as no surprise to anyone that the teasers for the new model show it has the full-width front lighting arrangement that’s so in vogue at the moment, but this is not going to be a family SUV dressed up with lots of chunky cladding. The new Shogun will be a serious 4x4 like its predecessors, featuring a body-on-frame construction - potentially the new stiffer ladder-frame chassis used on Mitsubishi’s latest L200 pick-up truck.
If so, the ladder-frame will be shortened, and without the need to be able to handle high payloads, most likely fitted with more sophisticated suspension. Specifically, we would expect the Shogun to swap the existing L200’s solid rear axle for an independent set-up.
It’s worth remembering that Mitsubishi is part of an alliance with Renault and Nissan, which means the Shogun could share its underpinnings with the forthcoming Nissan Terrano 4x4. This is another name that’s being resurrected, having already been revealed as a concept at this year’s China Auto show in Beijing.
The new Shogun/Pajero is also going to feature Mitsubishi’s Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC) vehicle dynamics and four-wheel drive system. This manages power distribution, braking and traction to maximise stability and improve handling on different surfaces.
The final detail we’ve been told about is inside where there will be a modern interpretation of the three off-road instruments that featured on the dashboard of the original Pajero and Shogun from the eighties. Also inspired by the car’s rally heritage, there’s going to be an altitude, roll and pitch dial, presumably displayed on the central touchscreen with the others.
It’s unknown what will be under the bonnet, but Nissan’s Terrano Concept had a plug-in hybrid powertrain, and it’s not unrealistic to expect the same might be fitted to the new Pajero. Whether this is the only style of powertrain that will be available, however, is harder to know. Traditional markets in Asia and Australia will have demand for a more robust diesel variant, but it remains to be seen whether Mitsubishi will be able to answer that particular call.
The use of a hybrid powertrain would significantly increase the chances of the model coming to Europe. A plug-in hybrid Pajero – which would be renamed Shogun in some markets due to the unfortunate and rather rude meaning of Pajero in Spanish – could act as a perfect flagship model for the brand’s relaunch into the UK.
Mitsubishi has confirmed that there are no immediate plans to offer a new Shogun in the UK unfortunately, but it hasn’t totally ruled it out, either. For now, the brand is focusing on the new Outlander and L200 that have just launched, and re-establishing its dealer network after a five-year hiatus from Britain.
The new plug-in hybrid Mitsubishi Outlander is available to lease now through the Auto Express Buy A Car service, with deals available from £562 per month for the seven-seat SUV...
