Celine Nolan

Mitsubishi Motors Company is determined to revive its iconic Pajero nameplate (or most certainly Montero or Shogun, reckoning in the marketplace) in 2026 with a colossal, luxurious physique-on-frame SUV.

The original model will effectively replace every the decade-extinct Pajero Sport and the greater, now-discontinued Pajero with one original-generation, off-toll road-succesful SUV.

In line with the most sleek Triton’s ladder-frame chassis, no longer the rumoured underpinnings of the original Y63 Nissan Patrol, the following-generation Pajero will likely be a extra sophisticated automobile than the also Triton-basically based totally Pajero Sport.

Successfully, it would per chance maybe well provide Mitsubishi with a upright Toyota LandCruiser Prado and Ford Everest rival, as effectively with no consideration flagship model.

While the shared Triton engineering facets to a much less advanced, more affordable 4WD than the monocoque-platformed Pajero that ended manufacturing four years in the past, Mitsubishi looks obvious to revive the dynamic and construct excellence of this a lot-loved Pajero model (1999-2021).

It obtained’t be the same-again, ute-basically based totally-wagon love the budget Pajero Sport.

Sticking to upright ‘Pajero’ (or Montero/Shogun) for the nameplate is yet to be formally confirmed, then again if Mitsubishi wishes to put its original colossal, ladder-frame SUV as a succesful, luxurious, high quality 4WD providing, then distancing this original model from the low-rent Pajero Sport would per chance maybe well be an wise technique.

These reportedly upright construct renders from Theottle repeat the original-generation Pajero contains several distinctive Mitsubishi construct cues.

Vertical head- and tail-gentle parts, the Triton’s broadly masculine grille shape, and the Outlander’s floating roof discontinue with blacked-out pillars, into a colossal and imposing, yet surprisingly gorgeous construct.

As published by camouflaged watch pics taken in Europe in July, the 2027 Pajero/Montero/Shogun will characteristic a clamshell bonnet, squared-off wheelarches, a beltline kick-up in the rear doorways, and a tapering glasshouse.

It has been urged that the original Pajero’s styling takes some inspiration from the Y63 Patrol, which you would possibly maybe watch in this render with its shoulder line and entire-width tail-gentle lustrous, even supposing Mitsubishi’s colossal SUV will likely be a long way from a clone.

If the manufacturing automobile manages to successfully capture the strong surfacing, classy percentage and restrained detailing considered here, then the original-generation Pajero will already be off to a colossal begin.

Pajero: Dash-in hybrid powerhouse?

While there would possibly maybe be an expectation that the original Pajero will provide some in discovering of hybridisation throughout its lifespan, precisely what in discovering that would possibly maybe steal is yet to be obvious.

Mitsubishi has an impressively prolonged and winning history with lunge-in hybrids so a ‘Pajero PHEV’ is quite a sure bet, even supposing per chance no longer from initiate.

A lunge-in hybrid Triton has also been mooted for the future, so given the shared platform between Triton and original Pajero, a PHEV model must be on the horizon.

The the rest of the powertrain line-up – and even the suspension structure – remains initiate to speculation at this level.

A PHEV model of the Pajero would work supreme with a cleaner, quieter petrol engine, similar to the MY25 Outlander’s mixture of a 2.4-litre petrol four-cylinder with two electrical motors (one entrance, one rear) and a 22.7kWh battery for a gadget power output of 225kW.

Nonetheless its adaptability to the separate-chassis Triton platform from the Outlander’s monocoque CMF-CD platform is yet to be obvious.

Being a Triton relative technique that Mitsubishi’s 150kW/470Nm 2.4-litre twin-turbo four-cylinder diesel engine is a easy inclusion, even supposing it would per chance maybe well require worthy calibration work – and a brand original computerized transmission with extra than six ratios – to entire justice in a colossal, luxurious, 4WD-succesful SUV.

Rival SUVs and 4WDs count on the same four-cylinder diesel powertrains, similar to the 148kW/440Nm 2.2-litre turbo-diesel in the Kia Sorento/Hyundai Palisade and the 150kW/500Nm 2.8-litre at ease-hybrid turbo-diesel in the Toyota Prado, even supposing all these vehicles characteristic eight-tempo computerized transmissions.

The most sleek 4WD class benchmark, the Ford Everest, parts a 10-tempo computerized and two diesel powertrain alternate suggestions – a 154kW/500Nm 2.0-litre twin-turbo diesel four-cylinder and an effortless 184kW/600Nm 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6.

Among the stable of alliance powertrains (Mitsubishi, Nissan and Renault), no person in the period in-between offers a diesel V6 engine.

The Ford Everest also parts a 5-link, coil-sprung model of the Ranger’s dwell-axle rear suspension – upright love the Ranger Raptor – while the coil-sprung Prado enjoys a the same profit over the leaf-sprung Hilux.

If the original-generation Pajero is to augment on the underdone scoot quality and disappointing load administration of the most sleek Triton, then its rear suspension hardware would require entire re-engineering and upgrading for it to match the dynamic abilities of the Everest and Prado.

In its heyday, the distinctive Mitsubishi Pajero became as soon as a grand success – reaching its Japanese manufacturing memoir of 174,708 items with the second-generation model in 1992.

It maintained a fixed following in Australia throughout a few generations from its initiate in January 1983 to its eventual departure in 2022.

The Pajero’s all-time Australian gross sales memoir became as soon as performed in 1993 with 9285 items. The final time its annual gross sales exceeded 7000 items in our market became as soon as 2007.

Quiz the original-generation Mitsubishi Pajero (if that nameplate will get favorite) to look in Australian showrooms at some point in late-2026, as a 2027 model.

Honda Australia’s new president and CEO Jay Joseph is responsive to the ute-shaped void missing in its native lineup, which is decided to develop in 2026 with a litany of hybrid and fully electric autos (EVs).

The latter would maybe be the principal instrument that would possibly maybe well in the end elevate a ute to Australia, as Honda prepares to originate its ‘Zero Series’ and assorted subsequent EVs, with the new devoted platforms doubtlessly opening the door to a accurate-hand power tray-reduction.

“Clearly, twin-cab utes are mighty sellers here in Australia, and we are responsive to that, even supposing it would possibly maybe well now not peek admire it from the originate air,” Joseph counseled Chasing Cars.

Joseph pointed to the achieve’s new generation EV platforms that can reduction as a smooth sheet for no longer accurate the capabilities of its autos, however also new potentialities in assorted segments.

“[The new platforms] would maybe be some distance more amenable to assorted body constructions built off of that,” he mentioned.

“We haven’t presented any autos on that platform. Zero Series can be a mighty step in that route, after which beyond that, there’s one more step that’s already deliberate.

“So, it very well would possibly maybe well, however it’s a small bit early to be explicit.”

Tesla has pointed to its steer-by-wire setup within the Cybertruck as making it more uncomplicated to interchange between accurate- and left-hand power markets. Right here’s due to there would possibly be no physical connection to the wheels or structural invent for the steering column.

Steer-by-wire is a technology also confirmed for Honda’s Zero Series EVs, however talking more broadly, manufacturers usually have in thoughts fully electric platforms to be more uncomplicated to adapt to accurate-hand-power than a combustion-engined vehicle.

With gross sales down 6.4 p.c thus some distance this one year and the bulk of Honda’s gross sales resting on the HR-V, ZR-V and CR-V SUVs, its no longer magnificent that it’d be eyeing the section that makes up 22.7 p.c of your complete market

The choose-up section is currently dominated by the Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux, though it’s growing lickety-split including new names admire Kia Tasman and BYD Shark 6.

What would a Honda ute peek admire?

With Honda’s Zero Series serving as a pivot point for new salvage at some stage within the vary, Chasing Cars worked with digital artist Theottle to factor in what a capability ute would peek admire.

Honda’s ute is probably going to be fully-electric, plus its choose-ups (such because the US market Ridgeline) are more daily life than bush bashers. Our render’s styling reflects this.

At the front, the Honda ute borrows its fascia from the Zero Series SUV however with raised belt and bonnet strains matched with a steeply raked windscreen.

The ute also sits severely elevated than the low-slung SUV belief, with chunkier tyres to elevate its off-boulevard functionality. Its electric underpinnings aren’t too hidden, then one more time, with a charging flap chanced on accurate within the help of the motive force’s aspect front wheel.

At the rear, the ute one more time takes inspiration from the SUV belief with the sweeping U-shaped tail-gentle salvage. It doesn’t accurate peek splendid, it also permits the tailgate to be folded down for longer loads whereas driving, because the hind lights restful remain seen.

Eagle-eyed readers would possibly maybe furthermore field the shadow signs of a multi-link, self reliant rear suspension salvage equal to the new Ridgeline, to provide more car-admire handling than a conventional are residing-axle, leaf-sprung ute.

When it involves what’s under the bonnet, that continues to be maybe maybe the most advanced to predict, with Honda but to suppose its new generation of EV hardware, however outputs of around 200kW and 500Nm would possibly maybe well be anticipated for the kind of vehicle in twin-motor configuration.

Honda has promised its Zero Series will provide around 500km of vary, though electric pickups are an increasing number of gravitating towards hybrid or vary-extender vogue systems to provide higher versatility, which would possibly maybe well maybe better swimsuit the tastes of Australian investors.

Why no longer accurate elevate the Ridgeline to Australia?

On sale since 2005, Ridgeline is a Honda ute made within the US, for the US, however Joseph counseled Chasing Cars this unibody salvage in a combustion vehicle makes it drastically more advanced to reengineer for accurate-hand-power.

Throw on top of that the must promote the Ridgeline in more than one accurate-hook markets to clarify the dialog, adverse commerce rates between the US and Australia and the newly announced tariffs under President Trump, and Honda says it faces an uphill war to elevate the ute here.

Perchance more importantly, Joseph doesn’t mediate it suits the Australian market, which is currently dominated by a desire for diesel engines, heavy towing capacities and accurate off-boulevard functionality — one thing the more daily life Ridgeline would strive towards to match.

“The Ridgeline can be a broad vehicle, I’ve driven them a lot within the States and basically like it. But that doesn’t mean it’s maybe the most helpful fit for this market necessarily,” Joseph mentioned.

Veritably coined because the distinctive mass-market daily life ute, the Ridgeline’s unibody building is credited with its more car-admire driving demeanor and refinement that construct it a less advanced ute to power each day.

Ford noticed further capability on this section and launched its occupy competitor in 2021 within the Maverick, which has been a scuttle away success for the achieve.

Hyundai followed swimsuit, and launched the Santa Cruz the identical one year.

Love Honda then one more time, Ford and Hyundai comprise opted towards bringing their daily life utes to Australia of their fresh kinds, with the utes offering either tainted, or too complex to elevate to our market whereas preserving a lovely price that can provide them the sting over a more conventional body-on-body ute.

Ford Australia started taking orders on the present time (August 19) for the MY26 Mustang, which has had its core four-variant line-up confirmed for 2026 – Ecoboost Fastback auto, GT Fastback handbook and auto, GT Convertible auto.

A peculiar flee of the little-version Mustang Murky Horse Fastback – to be provided totally with a Tremec six-tempo handbook in Australia for MY26, if Chasing Vehicles’ crystal ball is reading precisely – is anticipated to be announced within the approaching months.

While the Murky Horse remains to be an in-quiz, paunchy-time variant in Ford’s US Mustang line-up, it would over again be provided as a little version in Australia due to production availability and build complexities.

When first announced in 2022, the outdated Murky Horse provided out nearly straight away, even earlier than Aussie customers knew the volume restrict would be capped at 1000 items for the MY24 Murky Horse.

When it does obtain officially announced, the MY26 Murky Horse is doubtless to face same volume restrictions, though no restrict has to this level been communicated.

The MY26 Mustang is most effortlessly identified by the introduction of two unusual colours, Orange Fury tri-coat metallic and Adriatic Blue metallic (both replacing Intense Lime Yellow metallic). But not just like the US mannequin, the Australian-market Mustang will continue with an Onyx Murky interior as the handiest offering, even when fitted with optional Recaro entrance buckets.

The People also accept as true with the preference of mild-colored Command Grey or rich Carmine Crimson seating inserts, every with suede-luxuriate in aspect bolstering, with or without the Recaros.

The Mustang GT’s 5.0-litre V8 drivetrain continues with 345kW and 550Nm, with both a Getrag six-tempo handbook or Ford’s 10-tempo computerized.

The Murky Horse bumps strength to 350kW while conserving the GT’s 550Nm torque output and will get a particular, shut-ratio Tremec six-tempo handbook transmission with a shorter remaining-drive ratio.

The MY26 Murky Horse also will get same outdated MagneRide adaptive damping and winged Recaro semi-electric entrance buckets, both of which stay alternatives on GT V8 Fastback.

Other changes for MY26 contain the removal of remote open from the keyfob (though this might peaceful be executed by the Ford Pass app) and the disappearance of an auto-dimming rear-survey contemplate (it’s now a handbook prismatic form). This follows the deletion of wireless charging from all global MY25 Mustang models.

While Ford Australia is but to officially blow their non-public horns pricing and alternatives for the Australian MY26 Mustang, all Ford sellers will accept as true with those limited print obtainable as of August 19.

Following a massive $5000 across-the-board mark upward thrust for all MY25 Mustangs on July 1, customers can seek files from an spectacular smaller amplify for the MY26 Mustang when its pricing is lastly announced.

Skoda has published a brief teaser video of its upcoming ‘Imaginative and prescient O’ conception car, which aspects swish ‘up to the moment stable’ styling cues and a production-ready form.

The teaser displays the silhouette of a mid-sized wagon, with a liftback-vogue tailgate adorning “SKODA”-lettered badging. Skoda claims the modest safe of the Imaginative and prescient O is a conception car that is ready ‘exhibiting up…in express of exhibiting off’.

Skoda’s ‘up to the moment stable’ safe language, which consists of aspects of contemporary and minimalist, prevails in the swish, aerodynamic form of the Imaginative and prescient O. The physique aspects a sloping roofline, smash up rear spoiler, and swish ‘T’ fashioned rear tail-lights.

Skoda says the Imaginative and prescient O will characteristic an EV powertrain, and will expose “the long term of Skoda in the property model segment.”

The safe and philosophy of the Imaginative and prescient O match the description of a nameless Skoda model teased earlier this year. Described by Skoda as a ‘gargantuan household car’, this model furthermore incorporates ‘up to the moment stable’ safe and ‘T’ fashioned rear lights. It is unconfirmed if this car is genuinely the Imaginative and prescient O.

The Imaginative and prescient O will premiere in Munich on September 8th.

Alternatives for sensible EV station wagons are scarce in Australia, with elongated homely-overs equivalent to the Volvo C40 and Polestar 3 typically filling the void. Top class options like Porsche’s Taycan 4 Despicable Turismo or BMW’s i5 Touring are extra ‘pure’, however come at a hefty place.

Project supervisor Daniel Edr claims the Skoda Imaginative and prescient O’s ‘functionality-first’ safe drew inspiration from early Skoda Octavia items. He went on to keep in touch about how the Imaginative and prescient O need to nonetheless embody the handy, work-centered values which surround an property physique form.

Exterior vogue designer Jounggeen Kim said that extra inspiration for the Imaginative and prescient O’s safe came from aspects of the Roomster and Yeti, particularly the bumpers and B-pillar.

Skoda published in a 2022 press liberate that three electric autos would rapidly be announced which would both incorporate ‘up to the moment stable’ safe and express beneath the Enyaq midsize electric in the model hierarchy.

The Skoda Elroq itsy-bitsy EV SUV, which was as soon as announced dull final year, indubitably suits this pledge, and so too need to nonetheless the Imaginative and prescient O. Which procedure pricing need to nonetheless fall between $50,000 and $80,000 outdated to on-street prices.

We await that the production model Imaginative and prescient O will characteristic a connected powertrain options as the Elroq, chiefly, a lithium ion battery with a nominal skill of round 80kWh, a WLTP vary between 500-600km, and rapid 10-80 p.c DC cost time of round half-hour.

Ask the Imaginative and prescient O vary to span as a minimum two items, with options of a performance dual-motor all-wheel power or long-vary single-motor rear driver. We await high strength outputs to repeat the Enyaq; 210kW/545Nm for the RWD, and 250kW/679Nm for the AWD.