Is Mitsubishi teasing a new Montero?

There are plenty of indications that Mitsubishi is preparing to launch a new SUV. In October, the automaker unveiled the Elevance Concept, which we suspected was a preview of a new Pajero that will stop production in 2021. Spy photographers captured a boxy prototype in July, and this week an official video shows a brief silhouette of a new high-riding model.

The clip, placed on the Mitsubishi Motors TV YouTube channel highlights the automaker’s involvement in motorsports and ends with a brief look at the SUV. You can clearly see the square shape and it looks exactly like the SUV in the previous spy photos. The hood line, headlight layout and C-pillars appear identical.

Mitsubishi offered the Pajero in the United States as the Montero, but the automaker discontinued it after the 2006 model year. But with the return of the Pajero, Americans could also get a new Montero. Mitsubishi has filed a trademark for the name Montero with the US Patent and Trademark Office in 2024.

The Japanese carmaker has not yet confirmed the return of the Pajero, but has announced that it plans to launch a new model every year from 2026. Mitsubishi will likely collaborate with Nissan on the Pajero/Montero revival, as Nissan is preparing a new Xterra, and the two models could be closely related.

Without any confirmation from Mitsubishi, we’re left to speculate about the powertrain. We expect the new Xterra to use a version of the Frontier’s 3.8-liter V-6 engine that makes 310 horsepower and 281 pound-feet of torque. It might even get a hybrid option, and a Montero would likely have the same setup.

Mitsubishi doesn’t have a strong lineup in the United States: It currently offers the Outlander, Outlander PHEV, Outlander Sport and Eclipse Cross. It doesn’t necessarily need another SUV, but it does need something to tempt enthusiasts, and a new Pajero/Montero could serve as the halo model the brand needs right now.