The Mitsubishi Pajero Sport 4×2 AT will be priced lower than the top-end 4×4 variant and is expected to the attract more buyers towards the SUV.
Mitsubishi will be launching the Pajero Sport 4×2 Automatic variant on 15th November in the country. Currently, the Pajero Sport comes only in a single variant powered by a 2.5-litre diesel engine paired to a 5-speed manual gearbox sending power to all four wheels via the four-wheel drive system. The new automatic variant will offer far more stress free driving in our heavy traffic conditions and will be positioned lower than the 4×4 manual version attracting a larger set of buyers. The automatic variant will also be assembled alongside the manual version at the company’s facility in Chennai.
Coming to the specifications, the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport 4×2 Automatic will be using the same 2.5-litre turbocharged CRDI diesel engine from the current model producing 178 PS of power and 400 Nm of torque. The transmission is a 5-speed auto unit sending power to the rear wheels alone. The automatic variant is expected to retain all the creature comforts from the top-end manual version while the manual gear shift knob and transfer case will be replaced by an auto gear shift unit.
The Pajero’s sales have not really been something to be too happy about for the company. A widely acclaimed and potent SUV globally, the lack of dealer support and after sales service in India have been a huge deterrent in bringing the numbers for the Japanese automaker. Nonetheless, the Pajero Sport AT will certainly be a more viable option for the convenience seeking lot, while marginally better fuel economy can also be expected (due to the lower weight). The automatic version will be competing against the segment leader Toyota Fortuner AT, Ford Endeavour AT and the likes in the segment. The Pajero Sport 4×4 MT is currently priced at Rs. 23.50 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi).
