In this industry, there is no shortage of rumors about new and upcoming cars. Sometimes those rumors are well-sourced and come from someone who definitely knows what they’re talking about, but that’s not always the case. With Japan’s Best Car, the rumors it publishes can sometimes be grounded in reality and sometimes they’re wild speculation. There’s often no way to tell which is which until years later. So take it with a giant grain of salt, but apparently, Best Car believes Mitsubishi plans to bring back the Pajero as a luxurious plug-in hybrid aimed at Range Rover.
Yes, you read that right. According to this wild rumor that allegedly originated with an inside source at Mitsubishi, the Japanese automaker best known for selling inexpensive vehicles that offer a lot of features for the money, may actually try to build a luxury off-roader based on the Outlander plug-in hybrid. According to Best Car, the new Pajero will go on sale in 2027, and, instead of being based on the current Outlander platform, will use the upcoming next-generation platform.
We’re not exactly sure we buy the idea that Mitsubishi can legitimately take on Range Rover with a new Pajero, but you know what? We say go for it. We love a little ambition. Shoot for the moon, Mitsubishi. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars. At least as long as it’s priced fairly and provides good value for the money, we’re not going to complain about another automaker offering a comfortable off-roader. Especially if it’s a plug-in hybrid that has a legitimately useful all-electric range for daily driving.
If it doesn’t happen, we’re not exactly going to be heartbroken. After all, there’s no guarantee that the new Pajero would come to the U.S. At the same time, though, we want to believe. Come on, Mitsubishi. Make it happen. You know you want to.
H/T: Drive.com.au