Mitsubishi Pajero (Japan, 1982-present)

The Mitsubishi Pajero is a sport utility vehicle, named after Leopardus pajeros, a Pampas Cat which inhabits the Patagonia plateau region in southern Argentina. Alternative names have been adopted for many overseas markets.

The first Pajero prototype was presented in 1973 a second prototype followed in 1978. In 1983, the first Pajero debuted at the Paris Dakar Rally and in 1985 the car achieved the first place in the rally.

The first generation production vehicle was launched in 1982. It was a three-door, short-wheelbase model available with a metal or canvas top and three different engines options. 1991 the second generation of the Pajero was introducedwith a new larger body in four different versions: Metal Top, Canvas Top Convertible, Semi High Roof Wagon and High Roof Wagon. The third generation Pajero reached the Japanese Market in 1999 and other markets in 2000. The biggest change was that the Pajero utilized a unibody construction, as opposed to the previous...