Mitsubishi Montero Comeback May Get The Hybrid Power It Needs For America

The New Montero is Coming

We’re not too far off the world premiere of the Mitsubishi Montero revival. It’ll first be shown in Japan as the Pajero, and will eventually make its way around the world. The reborn SUV was already previewed to select customers in Japan, while snippets of the interior have also been revealed.

We also know that there’s a strong chance of it coming to North America. Dealers stateside have already seen the final product, and saw that it was good. Mind you, it might take a while before it actually reaches showrooms, but the signs are promising.

Traditionally Diesel

While the Montero was never sold with a diesel engine in the U.S., it was the default choice for the rest of the world. Aside from the Middle East and parts of Latin America, you won’t find a lot of gas-powered Pajeros and Monteros. Some markets don’t even offer it in the first place.

But for the Montero to make its American comeback, a diesel simply won’t do. At the very least, it’ll need a hybrid given the current automotive climate. So far, Mitsubishi hasn’t confirmed anything about powertrains. But while the diesel is pretty much a given at this point, the possibility of an electrified model remains unknown – at least until now.

Confirmed by…the Thai Government?

Australian publication CarExpert recently came across a press release from the Thai government, saying that Mitsubishi is “studying the possibility of producing and exporting electric pickup trucks, including the Pajero, using Thailand as a production base.” Mind you, that’s a direct translation, and the site said the ‘electric’ bit may be a mistranslation.

Meanwhile, Nikkei Asia reported on Mitsubishi Motors chairman and CEO Takao Kato’s courtesy visit to Thailand’s Prime Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul. The Japanese automaker will be investing $470 million into its facilities in Thailand, said to be for the production of electrified vehicles. Again, the Pajero was mentioned in that report and, by the looks of it, the possibility of a hybrid-powered version of the SUV is looking more and more likely for this cruicial model.

A Significant Development

If true, it’s a huge deal for the Pajero/Montero as it expands its appeal in markets that are practically squeezing diesels out of existence (see: Europe). At the same time, it bodes well for the model’s return to the North American market. The question now is what kind of hybrid will be applied to the SUV.

The likeliest powertrain is the one from the Outlander PHEV. Mitsubishi isn’t exactly swimming in cash at the moment, and its in-house plug-in hybrid system is readily available and accessible. Let’s be real and say that it’s also the most cost-effective solution should the hybrid Montero/Pajero become reality.