The Wildcat Rules on.. Review on Mitsubishi Pajero

Mitsubishi chose to name their concept SUV way back in 1978 during the tokyo motor show as Project ''Pajero''.This was because the engineers at Mitsubishi were fascinated by the by the wild cat named pajero that prowled the south american jungles.

The pajero went into commercial production in 1982 and was launched in Japan.Today in 2002 , the third and latest generation Pajero still embodies the same wild-wild-west spirit, but it has also become a high-tech machine with world-class safety and saloon car-like road manners. More importantly, the name Pajero is now probably as iconic as Gucci , Prada or a Swarovski which explains Mitsubishi's extensive use of it for its other off-roaders such as the Pajero Mini, iO, Pinin and Junior. - Hadi S .

I have always been fascinated by the Pajero like many millions of my fellow human beings.It epitomizes everything that stands for a wild spirit.Unlike other top off-roaders, the Mitsubishi Pajero feels more at home in the desert plains than the rain forests. With almost a yearly podium finish for every class it enters, the Pajero is mostly developed through Mitsubishi's annual participation in the gruelling Paris-Dakar Rally, where it first took part in 1983.

The latest model of the Pajero is the GDI 3500 , though India will be seeing the 3200 model (3200 CC 16 valve DOHC four cylinder with a turbocharger and intercooler to develop all of 159 bhp at just 3800 revs and a mind-blowing 38.1 kgm of turning force at barely 2000 rpm) landing on its shores soon.

The first thing that you notice in the Pajero is that it is BIG!!I MEAN REALLY BIG!!!It has a rigid superstructure befitting its attitude.Go have an accident with an 18 wheeler and you might still come out un-scratched.(though just don't try it, to prove me right).Leave alone its massive proportions, the Pajero definitely looks as if it's been on a regular diet of ANABOLIC STEROIDS.

Take a look at those exaggerated front and rear haunches, and you'll comprehend the description. Its got butch tyres with five-spoke alloys, a large glasshouse(tinted glass ceiling) that kinks upwards at the rear and longitudinal striations on the doors .

Peek under her hood and you'll find yourselves at awe with all that technological engineering that has gone into it.Clamber aboard ..Gun the ignition and it purrs like a tame wildcat.You do not even feel the 2000 odd kilos moving under your twist of the wheel.

The only small hitch , if you want to own this beast is that you need to shell out approximately 40,000 less than 4 million INR.Now that's a lot of money by Indian standards.(For all those who can't shell out 4 million INR , I've been hearing from the HM fellows that they plan to bring in another 2800 version of pajero to retail at 2.5 MILLION INR). But remember when u spend all this money , you get your money's worth just by knowing that you are part of an exclusive club of SUV owners , whose car has won the last 5 Paris-Dakar Rallies consecutively .

Now, That is no mean feat!! I had a chance to test drive this wild cat..and all I have to say to end this review is that..''this wildcat rules''.

drive safe...and take care

until next time ...its adios amigos from my side

moonraker