Mitsubishi Pajero Pinin (1998-2006): Kennen Sie den noch?

(Motorsport-Total.com/Motor1) – People know them. And somehow it isn’t. We are not talking about our neighbors, but about cars that have remained so invisible that only high-end fans know about them to this day. Such models may not have flown, but they flew under the radar of the average car buyer.

In an unusual series we bring you here under the title “Do you still know him?“Such old and young from the mists of oblivion.

New cars are getting bigger. Mitsubishi took the opposite route 25 years ago and scaled down the Pajero. Well, it’s not 1:1 including rustic technology. But visually. The result was a beautiful Pajero Pinin, 3.73 to 4.03 meters long.

Although the names were like this. Because there was a lot of SUV-heavy haberdashery. Mitsubishi itself called Wagejn “Pajero iO” in Japan. It was produced there as a three-door model since June 15, 1998 and as a five-door model since August 24, 1998. The name “iO” was derived from the Italian word “I”.

While on the subject of Italy: Pinin’s additional latitude name was a reference to the company Pininfarina, who made the European version. From 2001 to 2004, a total of 53,774 Pajero Pinin copies were built in a brand new factory in Bairo Cavanese near Turin.

There was also a Shogun Pinin (in Spain, Pajero stands for hand rest in the local area), and in Brazil the car was produced under license as Pajero TR4 from 2002 to 2015. The name was changed after the imported versions were known as “1.0” instead of ” iO”, which can cause confusion in engine sizes. And finally, this device was built in China by Changfeng Automobile under the Liebao (Leopard) brand as the Changfeng Liebao Feiteng CFA 6400.

So let’s give ourselves to our European Mitsubishi Pajero Pinin in peace and quiet. It was launched in this country in late 1999, initially as a short three-door model. After a successful first year with more than 3,000 new registrations in Germany, the brand added a five-door model with a length of 30 centimeters and a wheelbase of 17 centimeters longer.

But the trunk behind the hinged rear door was not that big: just 166 liters in standard condition for the three-door model and 358 liters for the five-door model. A maximum volume of 1,158 liters was possible.

In October 2003 said ADAC: “The Pinin is a Pajero in a compact format, equipped with as many accessories as the Motion Plus. This, together with its compact dimensions, adjustable all-wheel drive and gear reduction, make it an excellent climber. However, the engine suffers from the weight of the car and excessive fat intake.”

And in conclusion: “Car to the country of the mountains, where his strength is not appreciated only by the great shepherd.” The 2.0-liter vacuum cleaner with 129 hp drew 10.3 liters from the 53-liter tank.

Do you still know them?

Mitsubishi Tredia/Cordia (1982-1990): Do you still know them?
Mitsubishi Colt C10 and C50: Colt for all occasions

Under the hood were gasoline engines with a displacement of 1.8 and 2.0 liters. Performance: 114 or 129 hp already mentioned. Prices after the change to the euro in 2002: From 17,850 euros for the three-door to 25,970 euros for the five-door 2.0 Motion Plus. The special model 1.8 Motion, however, came cheaper at 22,190 euros. In total, Mitsubishi managed to sell more than 15,000 Pajero Pinin in Germany until sales stopped in 2005.