Mitsubishi wants to build new Pajero

In a significant change in tone compared to previous pessimism, the global boss of Mitsubishi has talked up the potential for a new-generation Pajero off-roader.

And if it does happen, Mitsubishi Chief Operating Officer Trevor Mann was clear he wants it to be a petrol-electric plug-in hybrid using rear axle-mounted electric motors rather than a traditional mechanical 4x4 system.

The last time Mann spoke about the future of Pajero, he rated it only a 50/50 chance to continue beyond the ageing current generation, which traces its history back to 2000.

But in an exclusive interview with motoring.com.au at the Geneva motor show this week, Mann said Mitsubishi had an "intent" to develop a new Pajero.

The catch? He's not quite sure how to do it yet.

"It's still an intent," Mann said. "We don't have a firm plan as yet, but I would say we have an intent.

"We want to find a solution for a number of reasons; it's a car people still want to drive, particularly in places like Australia, and it's part of our heritage.

"For every reason, we tick every box in terms of intent. But finding a practical solution we are still working on."

Since Mitsubishi was annexed by the Renault-Nissan alliance in 2016, a co-development involving Pajero and the Nissan Patrol has been mooted as a way to amortise costs across two iconic heavy-duty 4x4s situated in a declining sales segment.

Mann confirmed that co-development remained under study, but agreed it was a challenge.

"There's a number of things," he cautioned. "They are two very different vehicles, but also we would want to keep a level of Mitsubishi-ness and our heritage in what we do.

"And, also, in order to get a vehicle of that size to be compliant from an emissions point of view is very difficult.

"So, these are the balls we have in the air if you like, but how we make them come down the way we want to is still a work in progress."

Mann was at Geneva to spruik an upgrade of the Outlander PHEV mid-size plug-in SUV, which has an all-wheel drive system with an electric motor operating on the rear axle.

He clearly favours a similar arrangement for a future Pajero because it would resolve emissions issues and deliver boot-strap torque via electric motors usually supplied by turbo-diesel engines.

"You get more torque out of an electric motor than you do out of a diesel engine, so it can provide the solution," Mann said.

While the current Pajero is only offered with a 3.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine in Australia, electrification is a key part of Mitsubishi's powertrain strategy going forward.

"For larger vehicles, plug-in hybrid to me is the logical answer," said Mann. "So this is where we need to be going towards, because plug-in hybrid as we are delivering with the Outlander is not just an environmental solution — it's a driving experience solution.

"When you combine the two technologies of your powertrain plus your electric motors you get significant acceleration, performance and feeling.

"It means you can control the four-wheel drive system electronically through the motors we have on the rear wheels, so it's a driving experience solution.

"It happens also to give you an environmental solution and a cost solution if you are charging at home and using less fuel.

"So, something like that can be the solution for the larger vehicles that people enjoy today and want to drive in the future."

Mann made it clear he wasn't ruling out diesel engines altogether, acknowledging there were markets where it still had its place, and in industry sectors such as mining and petro-chemicals where diesel-powered vehicles were preferred for safety reasons.

"Diesel still has a place in some vehicles in some countries," Mann said.