Rumour: New-gen Mitsubishi Pajero Sport India launch in 2018

Mitsubishi will reportedly be launching the new-gen Pajero Sport in India in April 2018. The company is yet to make an official announcement about the same. The new-gen model was unveiled in 2015 and is already on sale in multiple markets, including Thailand, Indonesia, Qatar and Middle East.

The new Pajero Sport is based on a ladder frame chassis and shares its underpinnings with the Mitsubishi Triton pick-up truck. Major design cues include a wide air dam, chrome 'Dynamic Shield' grille, bi-LED projector headlights and multiple character lines running around the bonnet and front fenders. The new-gen model is 90 mm longer than its predecessor, though the wheelbase has been kept unchanged.

As a result, majority of the length increment has gone into the rear overhang, which helps in liberating more space for the third seat occupants. The side profile also houses squared wheel arches and a sharp recess near the wraparound taillights. The rear end houses large, vertically stacked taillight clusters, a shallow rear bumper that doesn't jut out from the body and a curved tailgate with the number plate housing in the centre.

For India, the new-gen Pajero Sport is expected to be powered by a 2.4-litre, four-cylinder MIVEC turbocharged diesel engine, which will be mated to an 8-speed automatic gearbox. This powertrain will likely be able to churn out 178 BHP and 430 Nm of torque.

Once launched, the new-gen Pajero Sport will compete against the Toyota Fortuner, Ford Endeavour and Isuzu MU-X.

Source: Autocar India