PAJERO
DNA

“For us, the stronger feeling was, ‘we finally proved it,’” recalls Hiroshi Masuoka.

In its early years, the PAJERO was not universally regarded as a serious off-road vehicle. Compared to the heavy-duty 4x4s of the time, its passenger-car comfort led some to doubt its capability. The Dakar Rally became the platform to challenge that perception. The PAJERO won the Production Class on its debut in 1983, the Modified Class in 1984 and claimed Overall Victory in 1985 — just a few years after its launch.

From that point on, the PAJERO gained a reputation as a winning vehicle. Private teams increasingly chose MITSUBISHI MOTORS, with about 50 of the rally’s 300 entries competing in our vehicles. The trust established in the desert soon extended beyond motorsport, helping to position the PAJERO as a 4WD that customers could rely on anywhere in the world.

In the Dakar Rally, the true finish is reaching the shores of the stunning pink lake, ‘Lac Rose’. Regardless of how fiercely you race through the most challenging terrain, the essence of adventure is ‘completing the course to the very end’.

This philosophy, cultivated in this sacred rallying ground, continues in the road-going PAJERO. From daily city driving to weekend outdoor adventures, every journey is an adventure in itself. What truly matters is ‘returning home safely in the end’, no matter the adverse weather or rough terrain encountered.

The PAJERO’s unmatched off-road capability and reliability, engineered to support your journeys and adventures with loved ones until the very last moment, ensure you return safely to your everyday life.

During the 1980s outdoor boom, the demand for four-wheel-drive vehicles surged, and the first-generation PAJERO revolutionized the belief that such vehicles were ‘robust on rough terrain but offered a poor ride.’ The Dakar Rally, known as the world’s toughest rally, set the stage for its development.

The rally demands ‘safety, peace of mind and comfort’ to navigate unfamiliar, rough terrain. Instead of focusing solely on speed, the emphasis was on excellent visibility, maintaining the front-engine layout of production cars and prioritizing ease of handling in drivetrain settings — all aimed at integrating these features into production models. The PAJERO’s true value lies in its ability to combine the collective expertise of ‘All MITSUBISHI’ and continuously incorporate field-tested technology into mass-produced vehicles.

Launched in 1991, the second-generation PAJERO enhanced the all-terrain capability of its predecessor, evolving into a 4WD vehicle with outstanding control and confidence.

Central to this evolution was the introduction of the world’s first Super Select 4WD system, enabling effortless transition between drive modes and enhancing handling. Improved suspension, engine performance, ride comfort and stability further elevated the driving experience.

These strengths were proven on the world’s toughest stage. The PAJERO won the 1997 Dakar Rally with a production-based vehicle, then repeated the achievement in 1998 with the PAJERO EVOLUTION, cementing its reputation as one of the most capable off-road vehicles of its era.

To stay competitive in the Dakar Rally, the PAJERO continuously evolved. In the 1990s, it embraced innovative technologies like four-wheel independent suspension and the high-performance MIVEC engine to challenge a new wave of competitors.

Tested in the toughest conditions, the PAJERO’s proven capability and reliability became integral to its identity. The insights gained from racing were swiftly integrated into production vehicles, ensuring each generation was more robust than the previous one.

The PAJERO’s ruggedness and comfort are not just for competition wins; they are essential for the peace of mind in daily life, ensuring you can embark on adventures confidently and return home safely, while also offering ease in everyday driving.

It represents the culmination of engineers’ knowledge and expertise, honed through field experiences and fueled by passion. The legacy of MITSUBISHI MOTORS engineers’ challenges and aspirations is still passed down to younger generations today.

The third-generation PAJERO shifted from the first-generation’s focus on ‘drivability’ and the second-generation’s on ‘handling’ to adopting a monocoque structure, a decision made after intense internal debate over durability. Driver Hiroshi Masuoka championed this change, emphasizing high-speed stability. The PAJERO’s success in the Dakar Rally demonstrated its excellence in harsh real-world conditions.

The advanced technology developed in this demanding rally is not just for winning races; it is meant to enhance ‘everyday strength,’ ensuring safe travel regardless of road conditions. Insights from extreme environments are integrated into production vehicles to aid daily life, embodying the PAJERO’s DNA of relentless challenge and authentic value.

The PAJERO was built on a straight-forward philosophy*: only a car that doesn't fatigue the driver can perform at its peak, hour after hour, on punishing terrain.

Skill alone isn't enough. Even the best drivers are human, and maintaining focus through endless miles of brutal, unfamiliar roads demands everything from the person behind the wheel. That's why we engineered around driver comfort — prioritizing commanding visibility, a natural driving position and intuitive handling that works with you, not against you.

The result is a vehicle that keeps the driver sharp, unlocking consistent, maximum performance when it matters most. This same philosophy that conquered Dakar now lives in every production vehicle we build.

In extreme racing, ‘victory or defeat is determined by the basic performance of production cars.’ The engine, the heart of the car, plays a crucial role in determining its success.

The PAJERO’s relentless progress was driven by the introduction of the ‘V6 MIVEC’ engine, which balanced high-power output with ease of handling. It delivered powerful torque to tackle harsh desert terrains and demonstrated rugged reliability that endured extreme conditions, forming the foundation for an unprecedented seven consecutive victories at the Dakar Rally.

This ‘high level of basic performance and reliability as a production car’ attracted not only professional teams but also privateers worldwide. At its peak, the PAJERO received overwhelming support, with around 50 of the participating vehicles being PAJEROs. This engine technology, refined in extreme testing conditions, and its unwavering reliability represent the authentic value of the PAJERO.