Mitsubishi is all set to launch the Pajero Sport in India by February 2012. The news has been confirmed by Hindustan Motors MD, Mr. Manoj Jha. Mitsubishi had previously planned on unveiling and then going on to launch the new Pajero Sport in India at the upcoming 2012 Indian Auto Expo. However, the launch was delayed as the auto maker had to pull out owing to the floods in Thailand.
The Mitsubishi Pajero Sport will be assembled at Hindustan Motors-Mitsubishi’s Chennai manufacturing unit. The company is also planning to increase the localization of the SUV to price it competitively. It has placed it under the Rs. 20 lakh range so that it can give fair competition to Toyota’s Fortuner and Ford’s Endeavour amongst others.
The all new Mitsubishi Pajero Sport will have 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. The engine is likely to be mated to either a 5 speed manual transmission or a 5 speed automatic transmission. Interestingly, Mitsubishi’s tried and tested Super Select 4 WD is expected to be standard on the Pajero Sport. The Pajero Sport will also come as a 7 seater and is expected to be a capable off-roader. Further details will be announced shortly.
The Pajero Sport will arrive in India as a completely knocked down (CKD) kit from Thailand. The CKD kits will be assembled at Mitsubishi’s Chennai assembly unit. It will have competition in the premium SUV segment with the best selling Toyota Fortuner SUV and the 2012 Chevrolet Captiva which is also gearing up for a launch in the coming months. The Pajero Sport will join the party with the much in news Endeavour. The new SUV from Mitsubishi will be a sales puller if it manages to position the entry level Pajero Sport at a decent Rs. 1-1.5 lakh below the soon to be launched 2012 new Toyota Fortuner.
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