Every time I talk about Mitsubishi’s topic selection, I will sincerely sigh that the 1990s were really good. Mitsubishi in that era was really full of flowers, and each model also had its own unique positioning and full of personality. If you don’t believe me, look at this comparison chart. The past and present are really different by more than one order of magnitude.
The protagonist I want to talk about today is still Mitsubishi Pajero Junior, the product of Mitsubishi’s most glorious period in the 1990s. For this model, it is far less well-known than its successor, the Pajero io. On the one hand, it is because Pajero Junior only appeared in the Japanese market, and on the other hand, it only existed briefly in the three years from 1995 to 1998. However, this does not prevent it from becoming a classic model, because Japanese cars born in the 1990s have their own classic aura.
After the Pajero Mini, which was born in 1994, gained wide recognition in the K-Car market, Mitsubishi launched the brand new Pajero Junior in October 1995. The new car is based on the model platform of Pajero Mini, which is the platform of Mitsubishi Minica after partial enlargement. However, unlike Pajero Mini, the product setting of Pajero Junior has not been developed in accordance with the regulations of Japanese light automatic vehicles. Compared with Pajero Mini, its larger body size makes it directly bought into the camp of small SUVs.
From the appearance point of view, Mitsubishi Pajero Junior basically continues the same body as Pajero Mini. In fact, the bodies of the two are basically the same. Based on the reduced image of the classic Mitsubishi Pajero, this series of models always presents the visual sense of a small tough guy with all internal organs. The setting of the three doors does not feel inconsistent under the effect of the small size of the body.
Compared with the Pajero Mini, which is restricted by the light-duty automatic vehicle regulations, the Pajero Junior has obviously improved in size after the restrictions are released. The body length reaches 3500 mm, the body width reaches 1545 mm, and the body height reaches The wheelbase is 1660 mm, and the wheelbase is 2200 mm consistent with Pajero Mini.
The larger body size of Pajero Junior is brought about by changes in the body cover and chassis size. Compared with Pajero Mini, the fenders of Pajero Junior have been significantly widened and an additional set of wide body kits has been added. Wrap the front bumper, wheel arches, side skirts, and rear bumper. The size of the matching tires has also been increased, which has also brought changes in the wheelbase.
This all-round optimization of the chassis is somewhat similar to the kit evolution of the Pajero V55 EVO. It’s just that the Pajero Junior is not as exaggerated as the Pajero V55 EVO. After this series of changes, Pajero Junior’s sense of body mass and the muscularity of an off-road vehicle have been fully improved, and the image of a tough guy has been fully presented.
Correspondingly, the power system of Pajero Junior has also been upgraded due to the escape from the limitation of light-duty automatic vehicles. It is equipped with a 1.1L inline four-cylinder engine internally code-named 4A31, which has a maximum output of 80 horsepower at 6500 rpm. It is mated to a five-speed manual or a three-speed automatic transmission. Top speed is 135 kilometers per hour.
As a small off-road vehicle, Mitsubishi Pajero Junior naturally also provides a set of four-wheel drive system that can be used. According to the official promotional materials of Mitsubishi at that time, the four-wheel drive system equipped on Mitsubishi Pajero Junior is “Easy-Select 4WD “, this is a small part-time four-wheel drive system with a low-speed four-wheel drive torque amplification mode. The base model offers a rear-wheel-drive layout.
In terms of chassis, the front axle of Mitsubishi Pajero Junior uses double-wishbone independent suspension, while the rear axle adopts coil spring non-independent suspension. The steering system is a more traditional rack and pinion structure. Thanks to the high ground clearance and the function of the four-wheel drive system, the off-road performance of Mitsubishi Pajero Junior is also quite good.
It is precisely because of its good performance that Mitsubishi Pajero Junior has been recognized by the market. Although it was only sold for the Japanese market, Mitsubishi found that the Pajero Junior was unofficially exported to other countries in the next few years, and it was also very popular. And this situation also prompted Mitsubishi to make up its mind to develop a brand new small off-road vehicle to the global market. This is the Pajero io we know later.
By June 1998, Mitsubishi officially launched a brand-new small SUV Mitsubishi Pajero io, which officially replaced the market of Pajero Junior, better bridged the market gap between Pajero MINI and Pajero, and replaced it with a larger engine And after matching the super-selected four-wheel drive system, Pajero io was officially launched on the global market. At this time, Pajero Junior also officially entered history.
During the three-year life cycle of Pajero Junior, a total of two models and three limited edition models have been launched.
During more than a year from October 1995 to January 1997, the internal code of Pajero Junior was ZR-I, which was equipped with air conditioner, ABS anti-lock braking system, driver’s side airbag and electric car as standard. windows, electric exterior mirrors, and keyless entry. Options include six-spoke aluminum alloy wheels, front bumpers, roof racks, and rear privacy glass. The functional configuration of the vehicle’s interior includes fully foldable rear seats.
The Pajero Junior, which was put into production between January 1997 and June 1998, was internally codenamed ZR-II. Compared with the ZR-I, the ZR-II adds a set of Mitsubishi multi-function instruments to the interior, which is the combination of the classic altimeter, compass, thermometer and clock on the second-generation Pajero.
At the Tokyo International Motor Show in 1997, Mitsubishi officially launched two limited edition models of Pajero Junior, Pajero Junior McTwist and Pajero Junior Lynx. Both models are based on the ZR-II. In the interior, wood grain trims are added, and the interior color scheme has been upgraded. The McTwist version is gray, while the Lynx version is beige.
In terms of exterior configuration, the McTwist Limited Edition uses a plastic A-shaped bullbar, and adds a 6-inch auxiliary light source to the front bumper. The Lynx limited edition is more delicate, but uses a stainless steel horizontal bracket to install a 5-inch auxiliary light source. Both models are limited to 1,000 units.
The most interesting limited edition is the Flying Pug limited edition launched in 1997. This model completely changed the image of Pajero Junior, but reshaped the whole car with a retro package that broke through the tradition. The entire front face has completely turned into a Mitsuoka-style classic car image. It is reported that the design inspiration of this limited-edition model comes from the PX33 launched by Mitsubishi in the 1930s. Mitsubishi wants to verify the retro in this way. Whether the fad is popular.
In order to get closer to the style of PX33 as much as possible, Pajero Junior Flying Pug Limited Edition even launched a two-color color scheme. The color scheme of the body and fender kit is distinguished by maroon red and black.
Under the classic car design concept of the PX33 standard, the headlights of the Flying Pug Limited Edition exist independently of the entire vehicle surface, the air intake grille adopts a vertical design, and the front bumper has also become a steel structure. The wheel eyebrows are made into the image of the fenders of a classic car. At the rear of the vehicle, the taillights have also undergone retro changes, and the rear bumper has also added stainless steel trim. The matching hub is also a multi-spoke design. It’s exactly the image of a classic car.
The interior of the vehicle is also embellished with a complete leather interior and wood grain trim. The retro effect really produces a lot of visual impact under the contemporary body structure. However, due to the retro appearance, only 139 Mitsubishi Pajero Junior Flying Pug limited editions, which were originally planned to be produced in 1,000 units, were finally released. From the launch of the Pajero Junior Flying Pug limited edition, we can also see how daring Mitsubishi Motors was to try a new style. It’s a pity that we can’t see such a wonderful idea in Mitsubishi now.
Pajero Junior is just a small part of the derivative models in Mitsubishi Pajero’s huge family. In the following time, let’s talk about the story of Pajero Mini and other derivative models.
