Goodbye Pajero - Shame on Mitsubishi!

[drey]

The dream of owning a Pajero someday and touring Africa in it is now at wreck.

Why? Here's why...

The purpose-built rally car that Mitsubishi fields in the no-longer-aptly-named 2009 Dakar (the venue for the race is now South America, remember) will shed its Pajero moniker as well as the nominal styling elements that tied it to the Mitsu SUV. Instead, the new MRX09 is the "Racing Lancer". As such, the front end gets the Lancer's "Run for your lives!" gaping maw grille and squinty headlamps. In its press release announcing the updated vehicle, Mitsubishi also reaches for another Lancer tie-in when it points out the happy coincidence that the MRX09's bodywork "is redolent of the Lancer Sportback", which is another way of saying, "it slopes down in the rear." In any case, the Lancerized bodywork is more appealing than the squareback rump the Pajero racer wore. The new race buggy's drivetrain consists of the erstwhile Pajero Evolution's competition-prepped e4WD system and 3.0L turbodiesel producing over 260 horses and 480 lb-ft of torque. Air will be caught, sand will be kicked, and if history is any indication, a trophy will be hoisted when all's said and done.

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/16/m...e-dakar-in-09/

Mitsubishi chose the Lancer Dakar version aka. MRX09. Shame on Mitsubishi for retiring the 12 time winner - Pajero just like that! Dakar isn't complete without a Pajero.

I'm just stunned and sad about this!

Mitsubishi! BOOO!!! :nono: