Tuesday 6th August 2019

Euro Mitsubishi Shogun sales end after 37 years

More than 100,000 have been sold in the UK since 1982, but now the Shogun's time has come to an end

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Despite never offering the cachet of something like a Land Rover Defender, or even a Toyota Land Cruiser come to think of it, the Mitsubishi Shogun has endured, endearing itself to buyers with a blend of sturdiness, dependability and go-anywhere ruggedness. It's been doing that for 37 years in the UK, in fact, but with European production ending, so the Shogun's time on sale has come to an end.

Since 1982, Mitsubishi UK has sold 114,164 Shoguns across four generations. The current model has been on sale since 2006 in various guises and, though it's fallen short of the class best for a while, has continued in the Shogun mould of off-road prowess, chunky towing ability and near-faultless reliability. It represents another of the breed of unpretentious, simple off-roaders that has suffered with the rise of the SUV. The white car you see here is the last Shogun to be imported - a SWB Barbarian - one that shall remain on Mitsubishi's heritage fleet.

Most on PH will surely know the Shogun for the Pajero Evolution of 1997, the legendary homologation special that ostensibly only served to fulfil changed entry requirements for the Dakar rally. In its near four decades on sale, the Shogun triumphed on the gruelling rally no less than 12 times in one form or another.
Those days seem a while ago now, however, the Mitsubishi range now jam-packed with trendier (and probably more competitive) SUVs: the ASX, Eclipse Cross, Outlander and Shogun Sport. We'll bid farewell to the Shogun, then, how we remember it best - demolishing the dunes on the Dakar.

 

 

[anonymous-user]

Local travelling communities will be mourning the loss

[anonymous-user]

irish boy said:

Workhorse 4x4’s are rapidly disappearing if you don’t want a pick up.

Don't worry the new Defender is coming soon...if you've got loadsa money and want a few toys..

I'd just go to the Land Cruiser of i were to buy one new - still a bit of money but the best in the business.

Shoguns hold their money well, so people still want them. I have access to (don't own it, it's in the family) a SWB 2007 facelift Warrior and it's fantastic. Especially for towing and obviously off-road work. I don't think they would have sold enough to justify redoing it so they slowly improved it over time.