New Mitsubishi Pajero Secretly Previewed to Owners in Japan

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Mitsubishi previewed the new Pajero to select customers.

The interior features soft-touch materials and a beige finish.

Rugged SUV will rival the Land Cruiser and the Patrol.

Mitsubishi is drip-feeding the Pajero’s return this autumn with a teaser campaign that’s working better than most. After showing off the lighting signature and the triple digital gauges of its flagship SUV, the automaker staged a secret preview at an event in Japan, presumably to see how the faithful would react.

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It happened at Star Camp 2026, held on May 30th at Asagiri Kogen. Mitsubishi ushered a hand-picked group of Pajero owners and enthusiasts into a room and pulled the sheet off what looks like a production-spec prototype .

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The reactions look real enough. One attendee remembered the original being the first car he drove after getting his license, and admitted he’d struggled to picture what a new generation would even look like after all these years.

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Another called the SUV “cooler than expected,” while others singled out the wheel design and the way it walks the line between off-road toughness and premium polish.

More: Mitsubishi Showed US Dealers The New Pajero That’s Returning As The Montero

Guests also had the chance to step inside the cabin, which featured a beige color scheme. They came away talking about the soft-touch materials, the roominess, and an upmarket feel they reckoned would suit rough trails and the school run in equal measure.

One longtime owner said that despite everything that’s changed for the modern era, the car is still “unmistakably a Pajero at heart.” Another simply wanted to drive the prototype away.

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Leaked Information About The Lineup

Mitsubishi Motors TV / YouTube

According to CarsGuide , Australian homologation filings filings confirm four trim grades: GLX, GLS, Exceed, and GSR. Going by the rest of Mitsubishi’s range, expect the GLX and GLS to cover practicality, the Exceed to handle luxury, and the GSR to bring the rugged styling and the serious off-road hardware.

A range-topping Pajero Ralliart is also possible for the future, capitalizing on the nameplate’s illustrious history in Dakar.

Rugged Underpinnings

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Under the skin, the new Pajero rides on a ladder-frame architecture derived from the Triton pickup, albeit with bespoke development for its cabin structure and suspension layout. Thanks to these upgrades, Mitsubishi promises “outstanding off-road capability” as well as a “refined and comfortable ride.”

More: Nissan Slams The Door On A Nismo Navara, Mitsubishi Cracks One Open For Ralliart

Some reports point to the Triton’s turbodiesel making the jump, but an electrified setup looks more likely. Mitsubishi has committed to five self-charging hybrids and five plug-in hybrids over the next six years.

The new Pajero debuts globally in autumn 2026, with Australian deliveries starting by Christmas. North America will have to wait until closer to 2030, when it arrives wearing the Montero badge. Its targets are the Toyota Land Cruiser 300 Series and the Nissan Patrol .

Mitsubishi