5-door Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution Ralliart Homage

Thanks to its off-road racing heritage, the Mitsubishi Pajero (also known as Montero) became one of the most iconic Japanese SUVs of the 90s. While the homologation 3-door version known as the Pajero Evolution has made it to the JDM market, the sporty 5-door has never been an option, despite the more practical and spacious interior.

Kevin, the owner of our featured vehicle today and a big Pajero fan from the Philippines, decided to imagine what a sport version of a Pajero II could look like with racing livery and some exterior touches from the Evolution model.

About The Evolution Model

The Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution, also known as the Pajero Evo, was a high-performance, limited-edition variant of the Pajero (Montero in some markets) SUV. It was produced between 1997 and 1999 to meet the homologation requirements for the Paris-Dakar Rally’s T2 class. Only 2,500 units were manufactured, all of which were sold in the Japanese domestic market (JDM).

The Build

Building a 5-door Evolution clone with extensive body transformation was not part of his plan. Instead, Kevin wanted to create a homage to the Evolution and RalliArt racing heritage model that would stay true to the original Mitsubishi design of the 90s. Besides, his facelifted 1997-1999 model already comes with pretty cool-looking wide body fenders from the factory, which adds to the overall sporty look.

Exterior

He did incorporate a few Evolution exterior touches, such as the Ralliart front grille and signature red skid plates. The factory-equipped running boards were also removed for a clean, sporty look and feel.

Red Raid mud flaps and white OZ racing wheels with red lettering are iconic exterior elements of racing vehicles from the 80s and 90s, so they were the perfect upgrades for this project.

Wheels

Speaking of wheels, the owner installed a set of original 16″ OZ Racing Roulette rims wrapped in 265/75R16 off-road tires with aggressive M/T tread for ultimate performance on rough terrain. They fit within the original size specs for this model, so no lift was required to install them. Besides, it’s very unlikely that Mitsubishi engineers would have implemented a lift, as it would shift the center of mass upwards, which would negatively affect handling and performance.

Window Deflectors

It’s also nice to see those bulging window deflectors on all four doors of Kevin’s Pajero. These accessories were incredibly popular on Japanese SUVs of that era, and they most definitely came to us from off-road racing, where they served to protect drivers from the sand clouds of the Sahara Desert.

Racing Livery

The stylish red racing livery on top of the white exterior paint, combined with all the other exterior upgrades mentioned above, truly makes it resemble the Evo models and look like a factory homologation version of a 5-door Pajero that never existed.

List of Mods

Wheels

• 16″ OZ Racing Roulette rims
• 265/75R16 Off-road Tires

Exterior

• Raid mud flaps
• Stepboard delete
• Evo skidplate
• Evo grille
• Custom spoiler
• 3rd row sliding window replaced with a fixed privacy glass
• Wide 90s Window Deflectors
• Black LED Tail Lights
• Racing Livery

Conclusion

In conclusion, Kevin’s Mitsubishi Pajero 2 is a stunning homage to the iconic Pajero Evolution and RalliArt racing heritage. By incorporating carefully selected exterior elements such as the Ralliart front grille, red skid plates, OZ Racing Roulette wheels, and stylish red racing livery, Kevin has created a unique 5-door Pajero that captures the essence of the sporty and off-road-capable Evo models.

The attention to detail, such as the removal of factory running boards and the addition of bulging window deflectors, further enhances the vehicle’s overall appearance and functionality. Kevin’s Pajero stands as a testament to the enduring appeal of Mitsubishi’s off-road racing legacy and demonstrates how a passionate owner can transform a stock vehicle into a head-turning tribute to the brand’s motorsport heritage.