Mitsubishi Pajero Sport to be launched in India by February 2012
Mitsubishi will be launching the Pajero Sport in India by February 2012. This has been confirmed by Hindustan Motors MD, Mr. Manoj Jha. Earlier Mitsubishi was planning on unveiling and then going on to launch the new Pajero Sport in India at the upcoming 2012 Indian Auto Expo but had to pull out eventually due to the floods in Thailand thereby delaying the launch.
The Mitsubishi Pajero Sport will be assembled at Hindustan Motors-Mitsubishi’s Chennai manufacturing unit. The company is planning to increase the localization of the SUV to price it competitively placing it under the Rs. 20 lakh range so that it can give fair competition to Toyota’s Fortuner and Ford’s Endeavour amongst others.
Powering the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport will be a 2.5-litre, 16-valve intercooled turbocharged CRDI diesel motor capable of producing peak power of 135 Bhp and 320 Nm of peak torque. This engine is likely to be mated to either a 5 speed manual transmission or a 5 speed automatic transmission.
As with the current Pajero on sale in India, Mitsubishi’s tried and tested Super Select 4 WD is expected to be standard on the Pajero Sport. The Pajero Sport will come as a 7 seater and is expected to be a capable off-roader with decent road manners as well. Further details are yet to be announced and if Mitsubishi manages to position the entry level Pajero Sport a decent Rs. 1-1.5 lakh below the soon to be launched 2012 new Toyota Fortuner, the new SUV should be a sales puller.
Stay tuned for more updates.
