It’s time to say goodbye to legendary Pajero

KUALA LUMPUR: Yesterday we bid farewell to Toyota Mark X, the 50 years old rear-wheel-drive sedan champ. And now it’s time to say goodbye to the Japanese marque Mitsubishi’s popular nameplate Pajero, ‘the off-road king’.

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) has started selling 700 units of Pajero Final Edition to hooray its great 4x4 off-road beast. The full-size SUV schleps a history of 37 years that began with the introduction of its first generation model in 1982. However, Pajero’s footprints are no less than 87 years old as the vehicle’s root can be traced back to 1934 with the commissioning of the Mitsubishi PX33 prototype for the Japanese government.

Coming back to the news, the coaster will be discontinued in the Japanese market in August. However, there are no words from the company’s side about the vehicle’s discontinuity in other markets, but we know that the sun is surely going to set in other regions too.

The first generation of Pajero became popular for its exceptional off-road capabilities. Then its second rocked the markets in 1991 with the featuring of the famous Super Select 4WD system. After that, the next generation carried tons of revision and was redesigned with a lower, wider stance and unibody construction along with integrated ladder frame chassis for high rigidity and less weight. This was followed by the fourth generation model, which debuted at the Paris Motor Show on 30 September 2006. This model retained the Super-Select 4WD II system from the third generation but equipped a revamped powertrain and refurbished exterior.
Also, who can forget the Dakar Rally, where Pajero reigns the race course. Since its first entry to the world’s toughest race, Pajero bagged 12 wins, which also includes an uninterrupted chain of seven victories in a golden spell for the 4×4.

The latest JDM Pajero Final Edition garners flagship specs that include a black leather interior, seven-inch touchscreen head unit, airbags on all sides, powered front seats, and what not. It sucks the necessary power from a 3.2-litre turbodiesel mill, and the power is delivered to all the wheels via five-speed Invecs-II automatic transmission.

Mitsubishi Pajero Final Edition carries a price tag of 4,530,600 yen (RM168,343) in Japan.