Mitsubishi teases new Challenger
Next-generation Mitsubishi Challenger debut confirmed for August 1Mitsubishi has released the first official teaser image of its redesigned Challenger ahead of its world debut, which is now confirmed to take place in Thailand next month.
The third-generation Challenger – known as the Pajero Sport in countries including Thailand, where it will be built – will be revealed along with full details at the 2015 Bangkok International Grand Motor Sale on August 1.
This single backlit teaser shot shows the new Challenger will wear different front-end styling to the new Triton on which it's based, although it also wears the company's new 'Dynamic Shield' frontal design theme that has been adopted for the new Triton, which was launched in Australia in June.
Seen previously in patent images, the MkIII Challenger is almost certain to be powered by the fifth-generation Triton's 133kW/430Nm 2.4-litre turbo-diesel.
As we've reported, it will also benefit from local suspension tuning, but is now not expected to arrive Down Under until early next year following advice from Mitsubishi Australia that a "late 2015 [release] would be optimistic".
Mitsubishi has also previously said the new Challenger will be a 'game-changer' because it heads upmarket in the same way its donor vehicle, the Triton, has done.
Whether it will be sophisticated enough to challenge established ute-based off-road SUVs like the Holden Colorado 7 and Isuzu MU-X – and upcoming ladder-frame 4x4 wagons the likes of Ford's all-new Ranger-based Everest and Toyota's all-new HiLux-based Fortuner – remains to be seen.
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