Right here within the U.S., we are inclined to lament that Mitsubishi doesn’t actually make something enjoyable or distinctive for us anymore. The present Outlander and its PHEV model are fairly good and the Mirage is reasonable. However for probably the most half the lineup is forgettable. Mitsubishi has at all times made fairly cool automobiles, we simply don’t get most of them. Take the cool and tiny Pajero Pinin.
Right here within the U.S. we knew the Pajero because the Montero and we solely ever acquired the 5 door model and the uniquely styled and barely smaller Montero Sport. Elsewhere on this planet the identify was used on a complete lineup of mini SUVs, probably the most distinctive of which was the Pajero Pinin/Pajero iO.
The Pajero Pinin was Mitsubishi’s reply to compact, off-road targeted opponents just like the Toyota Land Cruiser SWB and Suzuki Jimny. It began again in 1996, when Mitsubishi and Pininfarina met to speak about partnering to on a brand new car. These talks got here to a head in 1997 when the 2 firms entered an settlement. The businesses agreed to a seven 12 months, $187.4 million deal that may see Pininfarina design and construct the compact SUV for Mitsubishi. Two years later the completed product was unveiled on the 1999 Geneva Motor Present.
Whereas Pininfarina designers had been identified for pinning among the most stunning car designs ever made, they restrained themselves with the Pajero Pinin. The design was distinctly Mitsubishi/Pajero. It basically regarded like a shortened, squashed model of the common Pajero. And it was small. It had a wheelbase that measured simply 89 inches and it was solely out there in a 3 door physique fashion initially.
Pininfarina designed the inside as effectively, however you wouldn’t know by taking a look at it. It was tough and prepared Mitsubishi by and thru and its typical Nineteen Nineties inside was simply as plasticky, drab, and boring as you’d anticipate.
It wasn’t quick both, however that wasn’t a lot of a problem as this wasn’t a sports activities automobile to start with. Energy got here from a 1.8-liter 120 horsepower I4 and patrons may pair that engine with a five-speed guide or four-speed automated transmission. But it surely may deal with its personal off-road. The Pajero Pinin was fitted with a model of Mitsubishi’s Tremendous Choose 4 wheel drive system known as SS4-i. It was a fairly refined system. A viscous coupling setup, it included a locking heart diff and a Torsen restricted slip rear diff.
You’d assume a car like this may be superb, particularly from an fanatic stand level, but it surely wasn’t with out faults. For one, its compact dimension got here to be a draw back when it went on sale. It had a coupe-like cargo capability and rear seat room which led to Mitsubishi introducing the five-door model.
It was good off-road, however its four-wheel drive system — whereas refined — had a 4Low ratio that homeowners complained was too excessive at 1.54:1. It additionally had suspension journey that was too small. The distinctive design of the entrance suspension additionally proved to be an issue for homeowners who needed to suit their Pinin’s with greater tires. The Pinin was fitted with 215/70R16 tires from the manufacturing unit. These tires had been simply 0.7 inches under the underside plate of the McPherson strut. It was so shut that some homeowners even stated that you just couldn’t even match snow chains onto the tires in the event you wanted to.
Finally, the Pinin bought OK, however underneath market projections. Simply over 64,000 had been bought in Italy earlier than it was discontinued in 2005. It bought a lot better in Japan the place 177,132 had been bought from 1998-2007. It was finally changed by the Outlander and it’s variants. The Pinin was definitely a novel off-roader that was let down by issues that ought to have been solved earlier than it went into manufacturing. For those who’re , these items could be discovered for dust low cost now. However we’ll possible by no means see something as distinctive as this in Mitsubishi’s lineup in any a part of the world ever once more.
