The new Mitsubishi Shogun Sport will go on sale in the UK in Spring following a launch at the end of this year, the brand has announced.
The seven-seat model, which is already on sale in Asia as the Pajero Sport, is currently going through the final stages of UK homologation.
"We expect to complete those tests shortly and then we just have to present the data to the engineers in Japan to ratify it," said brand managing director, Lance Bradley.
The large SUV will be sold here exclusively with a 2.4-litre diesel engine that develops 179bhp and 317lb ft. This will be mated to a new eight-speed automatic gearbox and Mitsubishi's Super Select 4WD II four-wheel drive system, which can operate in either two-wheel drive or all-wheel drive mode.
The Shogun Sport will be priced from about £26,000, ranking it between the Outlander and the full-sized, off-road-focused Shogun in Mitsubishi's range.
Bradley expects the Shogun Sport, which is based on the L200’s platform, to become one of the brand's biggest sellers, adding around 3000-4000 sales to its annual figures. This would rank it behind the Outlander PHEV (which is predicted to attract 11,000 sales this year) and the new Eclipse Cross, which is also due for launch next January.
Two specs will be available from launch, with hill descent assistance, trailer start assist,, hill start assist and an off-road traction control, with multiple drive modes to suit different terrains, as standard, as well as leather upholstery, keyless entry and push-button start.
"The Eclipse could actually overtake the Outlander," said Bradley, "because it's a much more mainstream model and will get a range of petrol, diesel and hopefully plug-in hybrid drivetrains."
The pictured Shogun Sport was spotted by Indianautosblog late last year at Twickenham Stadium. The sighting suggested Mitsubishi, which sponsors English rugby, was drumming up interest in the upcoming model.
The previous-generation Shogun Sport model was last seen in UK showrooms in 2006, before being discontinued.
Meanwhile, the fifth-generation Shogun, which will be available as a plug-in hybrid, is expected by 2019.
"The Shogun is slightly hard to justify for investment, being a small-volume car," said Bradley.
He added that one of the advantages of Mitsubishi's newly formed tie-up with Nissan was platform sharing, hinting that this would help to accommodate the next-generation Shogun.
Sam Sheehan and Rachel Burgess
Join the debate
winniethewoo
That engine is only Euro 5
Paj lover
Mitsubishi were caught napping and now they’ve come up with this
Shogun (Pajero) (proper) was so far ahead of the game in 2000, why Mitsubishi chose to ignore it is beyond comprehension. The main areas in need of evolutionary development since 2000 have been and continue to be:
(1) Modern, but solid up to date styling - think Range Rover.
(2) Improved low speed ride comfort - think Toyota Landcruiser Prado - but not at the expense of the Pajero’s class leading road handling.
(3) Refinement of Noise, Vibration and Harshness levels - think German, Toyota, or maybe even Korean.
(4) Improvement in body torsional strength - by modern standards. Don’t forget Pajero has well and truly proved its off road ability in some of the world’s harshest environments.
Just dealing with points 1 and 2 would have increased sales these last 10 years and make it easier to justify.
Pajero Sport has many names across the globe and started life in the 1990’s as lower spec basic 4WD based on the Triton utility. The Pajero Sport is still based on a commercial utility vehicle. It’s not Sporty, It’s a Truck! Ok and its ugly too.
Talking about ugly, where does Mitsubishi get their stylists from – have they ever read the comments on their Pajero Concept drawings? Overwhelmingly Ugly, Ugly, Ugly.
BTW. I love my very Pajero (the proper one with independent suspension and Monocoque body) just wish they put some effort into a proper replacement rather than renaming something based on a Commercial Utility vehicle.
courtster
Calm down dear, the Shogun
289
@ courtster
The Old Shogun Sport was always based on the L200 except with the addition of coil sprung rear end.
I had one as a company car for 3 years with the 3.0 V6 engine and auto box.
It was a great off road tool and not bad on road either. In all my 'off-road ventures, it never found anything to challenge its ability running BF Goodrich All Terrain tyres, and the frequent journies from the south of England to the Highlands was very comfortable. Cross winds could unsettle it a bit was the only fault, but it certainly was just as capable as a regular Shogun V6 which replaced it.
Greta tow car too pulled boats in and out of the water very easily.
smokescreen38
Shogun sport.
Jeremy
@ smokescreen
steve-p
What happened at the back
ianp55
2018 Mitsubishi Shogun Sport
Cheltenhamshire
Dribbly lights ....
typos1
OMG are they serious ? - it
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