New Challenger headed this way

When will the Mitsubishi Pajero stop being treated as a medium SUV? It's just 50mm shorter than the Toyota LandCruiser 200, which is undeniably a large SUV. The Pajero stopped being 'medium' at least as far back as the introduction of the monocoque NM model 10 years ago.

Around that time also, Mitsubishi introduced a true medium SUV (except they weren't called SUVs then) and named it 'Challenger'. The Challenger slotted in between the Pajero and the small Pajero iO.

Now, Mitsubishi is set to reintroduce the Challenger to the Australian market. The vehicle pictured here will be unveiled at the Moscow Auto Salon 2008, badged as the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport.

In other markets -- it won't be sold in North America or Europe, west of Russia -- the production version of the Pajero Sport will be marketed as the Montero Sport or the Nativa, but the company has already committed to the new SUV coming to Australia, badged Challenger.

Whilst it's too early to tell much about the Australian specification for this vehicle, it could be available locally with up to three different engines -- 2.5-litre and 3.2-litre common-rail turbodiesels or a 3.5-litre petrol V6 -- and will likely offer three rows of seats to accommodate seven.

Unlike the Pajero, the Challenger sits on a full chassis -- inherited from the Triton LCV as we reported earlier (more here) -- but will feature some of the bespoke offroad drive systems of big brother Pajero, including Super Select 4WD.

The Moscow Auto Salon 2008 opens to the public on August 29 and runs to September 7. Mitsubishi will begin rolling out the Pajero Sport to the various markets from our spring.

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