Mitsubishi Pajero Sport successor has boxy body, may drop Sport designation
Our spy photography agency snapped this car during hot weather testing in southern Europe recently. With live rear axle, running boards and chunky tyres it looks to be the successor to the Pajero Sport that's nearing its 10th birthday, and is based on the previous-generation Triton ute.
Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now.
Although the Pajero Sport remains in production, Mitsubishi Australia is relying on existing stock as the car can no longer be imported due to autonomous emergency braking regulations.
An earlier prototype spied in September 2024 had the front end of the current sixth-gneration Triton ute, but used the doors and rear body panels of the existing Pajero Sport.
This latest development vehicle, though, is wearing a production-ready body that shares nothing in common with the sixth-generation Triton that made its debut in 2023.
While the current Pajero Sport has a body that's distinct from the Triton it's based on, Mitsubishi is going the extra mile this time around to distinguish the SUV from its ute sibling.
Up front the Pajero Sport replacement has a bluff fascia with a tall, wide grille flanked by a ladder of LED driving lights. The main beam unit juts out and connects with the grille.
Around the side the new SUV has squared-off wheel arches, a clamshell bonnet, and a blocky silhouette. Interestingly the doors feature sharper window frames and a more upright-looking windscreen than the Triton.
At the back the current Pajero Sport's dripping eyeliner tail-lights have given way to more traditional set of tail-lights. The styling here doesn't seem a world away from the next-generation Nissan Patrol.
It's unclear what's powering this SUV, but the sixth-generation Triton uses a 2.4-litre four-cylinder twin-turbo diesel mill making 150kW and 470Nm.
It's paired to a six-speed manual or automatic transmission, and the choice of rear-wheel drive or full-time four-wheel drive.
With the design now more like a classic off-roader than a ute-based family wagon, a rumour is circulating the new model could adopt the Pajero name without the Sport suffix.
Whether this turns out to be true remains to be seen, as an earlier rumour indicated Mitsubishi was going to revive the Pajero name for a more luxurious model based on the plug-in hybrid Outlander.
If the Pajero does become an Outlander-based model, it will abandon the model's long history as a true off-roader. However, if the Pajero name is used on the car pictured here, it will see the model return to its body-on-frame roots, which it abandoned when the third-generation car debuted in 1999.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Perth Now
8 minutes ago
- Perth Now
Ram 1500 TRX supercharged V8 muscle truck coming back
The V8 is enjoying a renaissance at Stellantis. The SRT go-fast division is coming back, and now the wild supercharged V8-powered Ram 1500 TRX mega-pickup is reportedly returning, too. Mopar Insiders reports word from 'well-placed sources within the company' that the 1500 TRX will enter production in late January 2026, making it the first vehicle to be launched under the resurrected Street and Racing Technology (SRT) division. It'll also reportedly feature the same design and technology updates rolled out to the facelifted MY25 Ram 1500 lineup, including a new-generation infotainment system. The TRX exited production in 2023, and it closed out its run with a Final Edition that was also offered in Australia, where it was priced above $250,000 and where the locally remanufactured TRX range found almost 1000 customers. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new Ram 1500. Click here to get a great deal. Supplied Credit: CarExpert Calling it the Final Edition has evidently proved premature. While Ram was at the time in the midst of transitioning the 1500 from naturally aspirated 5.7-litre and supercharged 6.2-litre V8 engines in favour of a pair of twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre inline sixes, it has reversed course. Former Ram boss Tim Kuniskis came out of retirement late last year to take the helm at the light commercial brand once again, and has subsequently been appointed to head up Stellantis' American brands: Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram, plus the SRT division. Last month, he announced the 5.7-litre Hemi V8 was returning to the Ram 1500, calling its axing a 'mistake'. 'Everyone makes mistakes, but how you handle them defines you. Ram screwed up when we dropped the Hemi – we own it and we fixed it,' he said at the time. 'We're not just bringing back a legendary V8 engine, we're igniting an assertive product plan and expanding the freedom of choice in powertrain for our customers.' Supplied Credit: CarExpert The Hemi V8 will now be offered alongside the Hurricane six. It's worth noting V8s hadn't been entirely excised from the Ram lineup, as a 6.4-litre V8 had continued to be offered in the brand's heavy-duty pickups in markets like the US. Mr Kuniskis was arguably the biggest supporter of the Hellcat supercharged 6.2-litre petrol V8, which in the 1500 TRX produced 523kW of power and 822Nm of torque, making it the world's most powerful pickup when it was launched. While that's a healthy 120kW and 115Nm above even the High Output tune of the facelifted 1500's Hurricane six, even if it comes back unchanged the powerful TRX will fall short of the Ford F-150 Raptor R. The Blue Oval's hottest pickup uses a supercharged 5.2-litre V8 producing 537kW and 868Nm. The TRX was more than just a 1500 with a bigger engine wedged in, as it also received unique suspension tuning, adaptive Bilstein dampers, and 18-inch alloy wheels wrapped in chunky 35-inch Goodyear Wrangler Territory tyres. Supplied Credit: CarExpert Ram confirmed earlier this year it plans to make 25 product announcements in 18 months, and the revived TRX will reportedly be one of them. However, there's no guarantee V8 engines will return to the local Ram lineup, according to Ram Trucks Australia, which said in June that it would continue to review and evaluate what options were made available. The company also noted customers had embraced the new Hurricane sixes, and that they remain an 'integral part of Ram's future' because they offer more power and torque along with lower fuel consumption than the 5.7-litre Hemi V8. Ram Trucks Australia has previously indicated it takes 12-18 months to complete a local engineering program for a new model variant that will be remanufactured locally in right-hand drive. The 1500's facelift not only brought Hurricane six-cylinder power and aesthetic tweaks, it also saw other changes including upgraded infotainment and a new electrical architecture, which would necessitate a fresh local development program. Mr Kuniskis confirmed earlier this year the Hemi was never designed to be offered with the updated 1500's revised electrical system. In addition to returning V8s to the 1500, the Ram brand is going racing. It'll return after a 13-year break to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2026. In case you didn't realise Ram was an American brand, it's wrapping itself in the stars and stripes. It kicked off a 'Never Stop Being American' marketing campaign with an ad featuring a version of The Star-Spangled Banner and a voiceover from UFC's Dana White. MORE: Explore the Ram 1500 showroom
7NEWS
2 hours ago
- 7NEWS
2026 Hyundai Kona price and specs: Turbo AWD axed, new Elite trim added
Hyundai has reshuffled its popular Kona lineup, axing a powertrain and adding a new mid-range trim level, among other changes for the small SUV. The revised 2026 Hyundai Kona petrol and hybrid range is on sale now, ahead of first customer deliveries from early August. Hyundai hasn't released details for the 2026 Kona Electric lineup. The 146kW/265Nm turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine – previously the only way to get all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic in the Kona – has been axed. Hyundai says it has been axed as part of a strategy to simplify the Kona lineup. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new Hyundai Kona. Click here to get a great deal. The company says it only accounted for 10 per cent of Kona sales across 2024 and 2025, against a 34 per cent take rate for the 1.6-litre four-cylinder hybrid, six per cent for the Kona Electric, and 51 per cent for the base naturally aspirated 2.0-litre four-cylinder. You can no longer get the N Line option package on the entry-level Kona grade, which also drops from 18-inch alloy wheels to 17-inch wheels (pictured above). However, there's a new Elite trim level, available with the carryover naturally aspirated 2.0-litre and 1.6-litre hybrid powertrains. It can be had with the optional N Line package. Over the base Kona, it adds features like power-adjustable, heated front seats and leather upholstery. The flagship Premium (pictured above) now has a sunroof with a power sunshade, resulting in price rises of $2200 for the petrol version and $2500 for the hybrid. The N Line package now costs $3000 on Premium variants, up from $2200 before. Otherwise, the Kona is unchanged for 2026. Pricing Drivetrains and Efficiency The Kona's turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine is now gone, leaving only the naturally aspirated 2.0-litre and hybrid 1.6-litre fours. The Kona Electric is covered separately. Dimensions Servicing and Warranty The Hyundai Kona is backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre vehicle warranty and an eight-year, 160,000km battery warranty. Servicing is required every 12 months or 15,000km. The first five services are capped at $402-407 each for the 2.0-litre petrol, while in the hybrid they're capped at $403, $593, $403, $613 and $627. Safety The Hyundai Kona has a four-star safety rating from safety authority ANCAP, based on testing conducted in 2023. Standard safety equipment across the range includes: Adaptive cruise control with stop/go Autonomous emergency braking Blind-spot assist Intelligent Speed Limit Assist Multi-collision brake Rear cross-traffic assist Safe exit warning Reversing camera Front and rear parking sensors 7 airbags, including front-centre airbag The Premium adds: Blind-Spot View Monitor Parking Collision Avoidance Assist Reverse Surround-view camera Side parking sensors Standard Equipment There are three trim levels in the 2026 Kona lineup. The base trim level – simply called Kona – comes standard with the following equipment: 17-inch alloy wheels (NEW) Automatic reflector LED headlights Automatic high-beam Dark grey roof rails Heated, power-folding exterior mirrors Proximity entry with push-button start Remote start 4.2-inch instrument cluster screen 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system Apple CarPlay and Android Auto DAB+ digital radio Over-the-air updates Bluelink connected car services Leather-appointed steering wheel Leather-wrapped shifter (2.0 only) Paddle shifters (Hybrid only) Shift by Wire (Hybrid only) 'Open-type' centre console (Hybrid only) Dual-zone climate control with rear air vents LED interior lighting Fold-down rear armrest Height-adjustable front seats 2-way driver lumbar adjust The Elite adds: 18-inch alloy wheels Rear privacy glass Silver-painted skid plates Rain-sensing wipers Leather upholstery Heated front seats 10-way power driver's seat 8-way power passenger seat Paddle shifters Shift by Wire 'Open-type' centre console Elecrochromic rear-view mirror The Premium adds: Remote Smart Parking Assist LED indicators Full-width front light bar Sunroof with power sunshade Acoustic laminated/solar windshield Power tailgate 12.3-inch digital instrument clusters Satellite navigation 8-speaker Bose sound system Ambient lighting Cloth headliner 'Premium Relaxation front seats Heated and ventilated front seats Driver's seat memory Heated outboard rear seats Heated steering wheel Options The N Line option package costs $3500 on the Elite and $3000 on the Premium. This package adds: 19-inch N Line alloy wheels High-gloss black rear spoiler N Line-specific bumpers, skid plates, side skirts Chrome twin tip exhaust Black mirror caps and belt line trim Body-colour cladding Leather and Alcantara upholstery Steering wheel with perforated grips Active Red air vent, seat highlights Dark Metal inlays Black headliner Alloy pedals 'Sport' scuff plates 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster (Premium only) Projector LED headlights with LED indicators, parking light (Premium only) Full-width front light bar (Premium only) Premium paint is a $595 option, while a Light Shale Grey/Sage Green interior is a $295 option exclusive to the Premium.
Perth Now
2 hours ago
- Perth Now
2026 Hyundai Kona price and specs: Turbo AWD axed, new Elite trim added
Hyundai has reshuffled its popular Kona lineup, axing a powertrain and adding a new mid-range trim level, among other changes for the small SUV. The revised 2026 Hyundai Kona petrol and hybrid range is on sale now, ahead of first customer deliveries from early August. Hyundai hasn't released details for the 2026 Kona Electric lineup. The 146kW/265Nm turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine – previously the only way to get all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic in the Kona – has been axed. Hyundai says it has been axed as part of a strategy to simplify the Kona lineup. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new Hyundai Kona. Click here to get a great deal. Supplied Credit: CarExpert The company says it only accounted for 10 per cent of Kona sales across 2024 and 2025, against a 34 per cent take rate for the 1.6-litre four-cylinder hybrid, six per cent for the Kona Electric, and 51 per cent for the base naturally aspirated 2.0-litre four-cylinder. You can no longer get the N Line option package on the entry-level Kona grade, which also drops from 18-inch alloy wheels to 17-inch wheels (pictured above). However, there's a new Elite trim level, available with the carryover naturally aspirated 2.0-litre and 1.6-litre hybrid powertrains. It can be had with the optional N Line package. Over the base Kona, it adds features like power-adjustable, heated front seats and leather upholstery. Supplied Credit: CarExpert The flagship Premium (pictured above) now has a sunroof with a power sunshade, resulting in price rises of $2200 for the petrol version and $2500 for the hybrid. The N Line package now costs $3000 on Premium variants, up from $2200 before. Otherwise, the Kona is unchanged for 2026. The Kona's turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine is now gone, leaving only the naturally aspirated 2.0-litre and hybrid 1.6-litre fours. The Kona Electric is covered separately. Supplied Credit: CarExpert Supplied Credit: CarExpert The Hyundai Kona is backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre vehicle warranty and an eight-year, 160,000km battery warranty. Servicing is required every 12 months or 15,000km. The first five services are capped at $402-407 each for the 2.0-litre petrol, while in the hybrid they're capped at $403, $593, $403, $613 and $627. The Hyundai Kona has a four-star safety rating from safety authority ANCAP, based on testing conducted in 2023. Supplied Credit: CarExpert Standard safety equipment across the range includes: Adaptive cruise control with stop/go Autonomous emergency braking Blind-spot assist Intelligent Speed Limit Assist Multi-collision brake Rear cross-traffic assist Safe exit warning Reversing camera Front and rear parking sensors 7 airbags, including front-centre airbag The Premium adds: Blind-Spot View Monitor Parking Collision Avoidance Assist Reverse Surround-view camera Side parking sensors There are three trim levels in the 2026 Kona lineup. Supplied Credit: CarExpert The base trim level – simply called Kona – comes standard with the following equipment: 17-inch alloy wheels (NEW) Automatic reflector LED headlights Automatic high-beam Dark grey roof rails Heated, power-folding exterior mirrors Proximity entry with push-button start Remote start 4.2-inch instrument cluster screen 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system Apple CarPlay and Android Auto DAB+ digital radio Over-the-air updates Bluelink connected car services Leather-appointed steering wheel Leather-wrapped shifter (2.0 only) Paddle shifters (Hybrid only) Shift by Wire (Hybrid only) 'Open-type' centre console (Hybrid only) Dual-zone climate control with rear air vents LED interior lighting Fold-down rear armrest Height-adjustable front seats 2-way driver lumbar adjust The Elite adds: 18-inch alloy wheels Rear privacy glass Silver-painted skid plates Rain-sensing wipers Leather upholstery Heated front seats 10-way power driver's seat 8-way power passenger seat Paddle shifters Shift by Wire 'Open-type' centre console Elecrochromic rear-view mirror Supplied Credit: CarExpert The Premium adds: Remote Smart Parking Assist LED indicators Full-width front light bar Sunroof with power sunshade Acoustic laminated/solar windshield Power tailgate 12.3-inch digital instrument clusters Satellite navigation 8-speaker Bose sound system Ambient lighting Cloth headliner 'Premium Relaxation front seats Heated and ventilated front seats Driver's seat memory Heated outboard rear seats Heated steering wheel The N Line option package costs $3500 on the Elite and $3000 on the Premium. Supplied Credit: CarExpert Supplied Credit: CarExpert This package adds: 19-inch N Line alloy wheels High-gloss black rear spoiler N Line-specific bumpers, skid plates, side skirts Chrome twin tip exhaust Black mirror caps and belt line trim Body-colour cladding Leather and Alcantara upholstery Steering wheel with perforated grips Active Red air vent, seat highlights Dark Metal inlays Black headliner Alloy pedals 'Sport' scuff plates 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster (Premium only) Projector LED headlights with LED indicators, parking light (Premium only) Full-width front light bar (Premium only) Premium paint is a $595 option, while a Light Shale Grey/Sage Green interior is a $295 option exclusive to the Premium. MORE: Explore the Hyundai Kona showroom
