Last year, Japan’s NHK reported that Mitsubishi Motors is preparing to bring back the Pajero to bolster the Japanese automaker’s appeal to the SUV market. They even went on as saying Mitsubishi is planning to reintroduce its flagship SUV by December 2026 as part of its efforts to boost sales.

Well, it turns out NHK’s report was spot on. During the Automobile Council event recently held in Japan, Mitsubishi Motors’ new president and COO Keisuke Kishiura shared updates about the brand’s upcoming cross-country SUV that’s highly likely to be the revived Pajero.

In his speech at the event, the new MMC president and COO spoke about the history of the Pajero as a cross-country SUV. While the executive did not exactly name the upcoming cross-country SUV as the Pajero, he reiterated that they are now making thorough preparations to launch it by the end of the year.

It’s also fitting that the Mitsubishi Motors booth in Automobile Council 2026 was all about the Pajero. The brand brought out the first and second generation models, the J11 Delivery Wagon that was the foundation of the Pajero, as well as the Pajero I concept and the Dakar-winning Pajero rally car.

Details are still scarce about the upcoming Pajero. But previous reports suggest it will share the same or similar body-on-frame platform as the Triton pick-up truck with rugged underpinnings, and will feature the Super Select II 4WD system to live up to that true “cross-country SUV” outlook.

Spy photographers have also spotted a camouflaged Mitsubishi large SUV in Europe last year. They spotted another one recently in Thailand where the all-new Pajero will reportedly be produced.

As for the engine, the 2.4-liter twin-turbo 4N16 turbodiesel is being tipped to power the Pajero, but other reports also suggest the Pajero could also have a plug-in hybrid powertrain shared with the Outlander.

2026 will be very interesting for Mitsubishi once they hold the grand reveal of the Pajero.