Mitsubishi rolls out new Pajero Sport in Thailand
Mon, Aug 3 2015
Behind the imposing new Dynamic Shield front end sits a 2.4-liter turbo diesel driving all four wheels through a new eight-speed automatic transmission. The combination is said to be a good 17 percent more economical than the previous model's. Full specs have yet to be revealed, but it's expected to produce around 180 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque.
The new Pajero Sport also packs all the latest safety technologies, including automatic braking, blind spot monitor, and ultrasonic misacceleration systems. Rock-crawlers will also appreciate the off-road mode, hill descent control, and increased wading depth, all of which add up to make the Pajero Sport a very different kind of high-riding Mitsubishi than the new Outlander recently introduced on our side of the Pacific.
Here in North America, truck-based SUVs are steadily losing ground to car-based crossovers. But overseas – particularly in the Asia-Pacific region and Australia – they're not only surviving, but thriving. In addition to this Pajero Sport, Ford recently introduced its new Ranger-based Everest, and Toyota the new Fortuner based on the HiLux.
World Debut of the All-new Pajero Sport Mid-size SUV in Thailand
Popular SUV's first full redesign in seven years to reach some 90 countries
Tokyo, August 1, 2015 – Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) today announces the world premiere of first full-redesign of the Pajero Sport mid-size SUV in seven years in Thailand, where it is produced at Mitsubishi Motors (Thailand) Co. Ltd.'s*1 Laem Chabang Plant. Sales start in Thailand from this fall, and MMC plans to introduce the all-new Pajero Sport sequentially in Australia, the ASEAN nations, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America and Russia and, as with its predecessor, to sell the new model in some 90 countries.
*1: MMC's exclusive producer and distributor in Thailand
The all-new Pajero Sport is a new-generation mid-size SUV developed to a "Stylish & Comfortable Off-road SUV" concept. A full-feature off-road SUV inheriting the best of the Pajero brand, the all-new Pajero Sport brings with it a refined and high-quality exterior design, high-quality vehicle performance and a comfortable interior, environmental performance on a par with the best in its class, and a comprehensive advanced safety features.
In its appearance, the all-new Pajero Sport uses the MMC's new "Dynamic Shield" front face design concept, a further evolution of the design nurtured in successive models of the Pajero series. The high-quality stylish design uses both sporty and dynamic elements to set it apart from conventional cross-country SUVs. The interior uses a high console proportion dashboard, as befits a larger SUV, while dynamically styled silver-finish ornamentation and sculpted seats add to its luxurious feel.
Handling stability, ride and quietness have all been improved through optimization of the suspension and improvements to the body mounts. In addition, the use of a new diesel engine and upgraded sound insulation provide a significant reduction in interior noise and this together with further upgraded comfortable seats and climate control system has achieved an interior space offering a higher level of comfort.
The all-new Pajero Sport is powered by a 2.4L MIVEC*2 turbo diesel engine (first for a Pajero Sport). Mated to a new 8-speed automatic transmission (first for a Mitsubishi model) developed for the all-new Pajero Sport, this powertrain returns a 17-percent improvement in fuel economy over its predecessor. It also achieves CO2 emissions of under 200 g/km which puts it into the lowest bracket of the new excise tax structure to be introduced in Thailand in January 2016.
The all-new Pajero Sport comes with a very comprehensive active and passive safety features. MMC's own RISE*3 impact safety body design and a total of seven SRS airbags provide occupants with outstanding passive safety. Active safety features include Forward Collision Mitigation system (FCM), the Blind Spot Warning system (BSW, a first on a Mitsubishi model) and the Ultrasonic misacceleration Mitigation System (UMS). In addition the all-new Pajero Sport is fitted with many advanced features which go well beyond what normally found in this class such as an electric parking brake (first on a Mitsubishi model), a Multi-around Monitor and fully automatic climate control allowing different temperatures to be set for driver and front seat passenger.
The all-new Pajero Sport uses a further-evolved version of MMC's own Super-Select 4WD-II four-wheel drive system. This is complemented by the new Off-road Mode (first on a Mitsubishi model), which gives even better all-terrain performance and stability as the road surface requires, and by Hill Descent Control (first on a Mitsubishi model). Together with its greater wading depth, all these features combine to provide the kind of bad road or flooded surface performance only to be found in the Pajero brand.
*2: Mitsubishi Innovative Valve timing Electronic Control system
*3: Reinforced Impact Safety Evolution
The production of the previous Pajero Sport started in Thailand in 2008 and it was launched in Russia same year, after which it was rolled out sequentially in Thailand, the ASEAN nations, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, Australia and China. Local production of the model also began in Brazil in January 2011, in Vietnam in July 2011, Bangladesh in August 2011, in Russia in July 2013 and in China in October 2013. Cumulative unit sales had reached some 400,000 at the end of June 2015 and today the Pajero Sport enjoys a broad user base in a wide spectrum of regions.
Popular SUV's first full redesign in seven years to reach some 90 countries
Tokyo, August 1, 2015 – Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) today announces the world premiere of first full-redesign of the Pajero Sport mid-size SUV in seven years in Thailand, where it is produced at Mitsubishi Motors (Thailand) Co. Ltd.'s*1 Laem Chabang Plant. Sales start in Thailand from this fall, and MMC plans to introduce the all-new Pajero Sport sequentially in Australia, the ASEAN nations, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America and Russia and, as with its predecessor, to sell the new model in some 90 countries.
*1: MMC's exclusive producer and distributor in Thailand
The all-new Pajero Sport is a new-generation mid-size SUV developed to a "Stylish & Comfortable Off-road SUV" concept. A full-feature off-road SUV inheriting the best of the Pajero brand, the all-new Pajero Sport brings with it a refined and high-quality exterior design, high-quality vehicle performance and a comfortable interior, environmental performance on a par with the best in its class, and a comprehensive advanced safety features.
In its appearance, the all-new Pajero Sport uses the MMC's new "Dynamic Shield" front face design concept, a further evolution of the design nurtured in successive models of the Pajero series. The high-quality stylish design uses both sporty and dynamic elements to set it apart from conventional cross-country SUVs. The interior uses a high console proportion dashboard, as befits a larger SUV, while dynamically styled silver-finish ornamentation and sculpted seats add to its luxurious feel.
Handling stability, ride and quietness have all been improved through optimization of the suspension and improvements to the body mounts. In addition, the use of a new diesel engine and upgraded sound insulation provide a significant reduction in interior noise and this together with further upgraded comfortable seats and climate control system has achieved an interior space offering a higher level of comfort.
The all-new Pajero Sport is powered by a 2.4L MIVEC*2 turbo diesel engine (first for a Pajero Sport). Mated to a new 8-speed automatic transmission (first for a Mitsubishi model) developed for the all-new Pajero Sport, this powertrain returns a 17-percent improvement in fuel economy over its predecessor. It also achieves CO2 emissions of under 200 g/km which puts it into the lowest bracket of the new excise tax structure to be introduced in Thailand in January 2016.
The all-new Pajero Sport comes with a very comprehensive active and passive safety features. MMC's own RISE*3 impact safety body design and a total of seven SRS airbags provide occupants with outstanding passive safety. Active safety features include Forward Collision Mitigation system (FCM), the Blind Spot Warning system (BSW, a first on a Mitsubishi model) and the Ultrasonic misacceleration Mitigation System (UMS). In addition the all-new Pajero Sport is fitted with many advanced features which go well beyond what normally found in this class such as an electric parking brake (first on a Mitsubishi model), a Multi-around Monitor and fully automatic climate control allowing different temperatures to be set for driver and front seat passenger.
The all-new Pajero Sport uses a further-evolved version of MMC's own Super-Select 4WD-II four-wheel drive system. This is complemented by the new Off-road Mode (first on a Mitsubishi model), which gives even better all-terrain performance and stability as the road surface requires, and by Hill Descent Control (first on a Mitsubishi model). Together with its greater wading depth, all these features combine to provide the kind of bad road or flooded surface performance only to be found in the Pajero brand.
*2: Mitsubishi Innovative Valve timing Electronic Control system
*3: Reinforced Impact Safety Evolution
The production of the previous Pajero Sport started in Thailand in 2008 and it was launched in Russia same year, after which it was rolled out sequentially in Thailand, the ASEAN nations, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, Australia and China. Local production of the model also began in Brazil in January 2011, in Vietnam in July 2011, Bangladesh in August 2011, in Russia in July 2013 and in China in October 2013. Cumulative unit sales had reached some 400,000 at the end of June 2015 and today the Pajero Sport enjoys a broad user base in a wide spectrum of regions.
By Noah Joseph
See also: Mitsubishi ending US production, 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander First Drive, California adapts ZEV mandate with PHEVs for smaller automakers.