Pajero Evo

[jessef]

Having a difficult time refraining from bringing one onto Canadian soil after driving a stock one in Hungary.

These rigs are epic. Basically a shorty Pajero that feels like a subaru with long travel arms and a supercharged power plant to slam your ass back in the seat.

Anyone grabbed one yet (October this year)?

The Pajero Evolution was introduced in October 1997, which was developed in response to new entry requirements for the Paris – Dakar Rally’s T3 Class. The Pajero Evolution came standard with a 3.5 liter 24-valve DOHC V6 with Mitsubishi Innovative Valve Timing and Electronic Lift Control (MIVEC). A new, dual plenum variable intake helped increase power and a new suspension made the ride even smoother.

[Big-Bird]

I waffled on an Evo Paj......the Spacegear won that battle but only by a narrow margin...sweet when the dump valve opens at 9.5 seconds into the clip.

[yojimbo]

I hate be pedantic, but I am that's a dump valve opening, not the wastegate, great way of saying, "Hey look at me!"

I have one on my Scimitar

[jessef]

I can't wait until Oct.

Maybe I'll dress it up as a pumpkin.

Pajero vs Evo dance



more juicy sounds



'slightly' modified but keeps the Evolution F/R IFS

[jessef]

sweet, sweet Mitsubishi music



Rally



Group of evo's

[CREGAN]

Hey what engine code would this be? Just looking at Jap Auctions to see if any are up. Do they make it in the 4 door version LWB?

Craig

[mararmeisto]

If I didn't have so much invested into my '94 diesel SWB, I would totally love to get one of these.

Of course, the Evo featured in the Dakar video is not the one you could buy from the dealership: all tube frame construction and an engine most of us could only dream of.

[jessef]

Craig, this is it. Only this model. Tiptronic auto and manual versions were available. The track is a lot wider than a stock Pajero as well. Looks 'fat' from the rear and front.

The Pajero 'Evo' was Mitsubishi's answer to the Dakar Rally for vehicle in stock format.

They used 4 or 5 bone stock Evo's in the Dakar both years.

Not many vehicles have close to 300HP and a rally-based chassis/suspension system that is developed specifically for rally racing.

You should see the crazy rallies the Hungarians and Russians race the Evo's with.

For a 2ton vehicle the shape of a brick to accelerate 0-60 under 6 seconds 15 years ago and be rally competitive in stock form is amazing.

The first time I drove one the owner said to floor it from stop, keep my toe down and wait for the surprise at 5,000rpm. He wasn't kidding. At just a hair over 5k rpm, the mivec kicks in and throws you back in your seat and then doesn't stop pulling. The best I can describe it is like a powerband on a 2stroke bike.

pics : http://www.lancerregister.com/showthread.php?t=226528

[CREGAN]

Somewhere down the road I can see myself in one of these bad boys. When the kids grow up of course- that is why I bought a Deli!

Craig

[Brave Auto International]

Having a difficult time refraining from bringing one onto Canadian soil after driving a stock one in Hungary.

I know the feeling…..lol, I have had mine for about five years and I keep it in OZ.

They cannot be imported to OZ unless the importer has owned it and lived outside of OZ for 12 months so therefore they are rather rare to find over there. My one was originally sourced from the auctions by me for a friend who was an Australian school teacher who owned it in Japan while working here. He then imported it to OZ (legally) and then six months later he decided to sell it and what do you know, I was looking for one…wink.

He was based in Brisbane and I have a small collection of personal cars in Perth (4,500km's apart). I flew into Brisbane from Japan and arrived before lunch time on a Friday and he meet me at the airport where we had a cup of coffee, exchanged paperwork and I then set off for Perth. Got lost trying to get out of Brisbane city for a couple of hours, the TomTom kept sending me down a road that was blocked off with road works. I arrived into Perth at 2am on the following Monday, the fastest I have ever been across OZ in something that does not have wings. Was I speeding, yes but I do not have a problem with speeding when I am the only person in the car at 11pm - 4am on the desert roads (that are paved, would not dream of taking it off road…lol). And to be honest, it is hard not to speed, the Pajero EVO does not really come alive until 100km's and from there on it will pull all the way to 180km's until it bounces off the factory 180km speed limiter. Without the speed limiter, it would go even higher without even struggling.
They will cruise at 120-140 without you even realising you are doing that speed and when you are on the open road with nothing else, it is very easy to creep and creep higher in speed.

But, they do suck fuel like there is no tomorrow if you push them, I was getting 250-270km's per tank and it holds about 70 litres. Around town, they are just as good as a normal 3.5L Pajero as long as you stay off the Mivec. But staying off the Mivec is not that easy, they just sound so good on it.

A lot of people think they are turbo charged due to the bonnet, they are not turbo charged, they are just normally aspirated. The idea of the intake on the bonnet has two jobs, first is to feed air to the air box when in race trim. From factory, they have a standard enclosed air box (like most vehicles) but when used for racing the most popular induction system was ARC which worked in junction with the bonnet air vent. The ARC induction system was unique as it was a double sided air box (filter at the top & bottom). The idea of this was that air was forced (to a degree) into the air box and could also travel through the box and out the bottom. The enlarged induction system could draw in from the box the amount of air needed without upsetting the air/fuel ratio when air is "forced" into a induction system due to different speeds the vehicle is traveling.
With a ARC induction system, the Pajero sounds super mean at idle due to the sucking noise and it sounds better when driving.
Sadly, ARC closed down during the GFC so you can no longer buy the induction kit unless you can find one used. They were expensive, I paid just under 100,000yen for mine and that was with trade discount.
The other reason for the bonnet vents is for cooling. Air enters the engine bay via the bonnet vents and is expelled out the vents that are on the side guards.
However, from factory, the bonnet vents are blocked off (not needed for road use) with blanks but you can remove them in five minutes and most people do.

The Pajero EVO is a true homologation vehicle and everything that is different on them (and there is a lot) served a purpose strictly for racing. The huge spoiler tips at the back where to stabilize the vehicle at high speed (wind tunnel designed). The suspension was made of light weight alloy and has almost twice as thick arms compared to normal Pajero's and has a lot wider track which is why it has the added flares.

There are many other differences but one of them you will notice when you first sit in a Pajero EVO is the driving position. You feel like you are almost sitting on top of the vehicle and you are looking down at the dash rather than at it. The reason for this is due to the seat rails which had to be the same ones used for Dakar to get homologation. The rails are bigger and stronger and with a race seat you would sit at a normal height. But race seats come with hardly any bum padding where as the road user would complain about this. So Mitsubishi fitted standard road going Recaro seats to the rails and standard type seats have a lot more bum padding, this is why you feel like you are sitting too high up. But, you will soon get use to the driving position so do not let this put you off.

They come in 5spd or Triptronic Auto and really it is just a personal choice although 5spds are more rare therefore cost more. I went for a Triptronic, not due to price, more the fact in a SUV type vehicle I prefer auto over 5spd. The way auto's are these days, you can drive them just as quick as a manual so you get the best of both worlds.

As for their power, well they will not blow your mind from a standing still start. Although they are a 280bhp vehicle from factory (same as a GTR), they still weigh a lot more than a sports car. Do not get me wrong, they are still impressive off the mark compared to other off road type SUV's and a lot of cars but where they really shine is from about 4,500rev's on. There are not many vehicles at 100 or 120km's you can put your foot down and the rear sits down a little and the front rises. You will notice this at night with your headlight beam, if you come up behind a slower vehicle, just give the Pajero EVO a quick stab on the accelerator and your headlights will warn them you are there.

There are a couple of problem/design faults on them, one will cost you about 40-80,000yen and the other an easy 300,000yen. I have had the 300,000yen one with mine although probably sell inflected due to lack of use and super dry climate in Perth. However, they still would not put me off owning one, I have brought a good few over the years for export, some have been no problem and some have encountered the problem within 1-6 months. Many also have the problem at the time of buying and most agents should know what they are if they have brought them in the past or present.

Here is a video of mine, one of the first video's I had made which might explain the crappy quality.

Cheers

MB..

[jessef]

I knew you were going to drop in Mark

I've been lusting after one like yours for years. I never thought of getting one from Japan until I saw yours.

On my first drive when the mivec kicked in, I grinned from ear to ear.

[mararmeisto]

October this year, you say?

Although that fuel economy does scare me off a bit. Probably not much of a towing vehicle, either. A shame really, 'cause it looks so awesome! Maybe I'll have to do some body work to my GenII...

[jessef]

haha.. are you kidding ? You can tow a heck of a lot more with the Evo compared to a normal Montero/Pajero. The chassis is different as is the monster power plant underneath.

Imagine doubling the horsepower in your Pajero. Towing would be bumped up considerably.

Fuel economy can be good or bad depending on your foot.

cruising on the motorway at 70mph approx 23/24 mpg, city average 20mpg. when mivec kicks in, you can cut that figure in half or less

pretty in pink

[tonydca]

Looks like there's a few out there:

http://auc.jdmconnection.ca/aj-YFBPPspT6On0Hm.htm

As Borat would say - "Very niiice!"

[CREGAN]

Just saw these ones up on JDMConnection:

42CfXTw5tBUJfjqdw9Hor5DtIwZDexIgnhETZaXNdZOa11CJ47lYE91qNtIlJ-6JrZonWnDZ1xVg9.jpg (233.85 KiB) Viewed 7544 times

4oHZ1bwcqTluKPp0dsfJlU1kRtZX8jqUTgmkJiLKIyH91z7gEyDuXrdK-VwPQPR3CcCaSi.jpg (48.04 KiB) Viewed 7541 times

Man these would be fun to play with, but my Delica is enough of a hobby toy to keep me busy

Hey- what does the GDI mean on the grill of some of the Pajeros?

Craig