Ahead of next month’s opening of the Japan Mobility Show (formerly known as Tokyo Motor Show), Mitsubishi Motors has hinted that a new 3-row seat active lifestyle vehicle could be making its world premiere there.

No details were provided but the company’s press statement says its theme for this year’s show will be "Awaken the adventurous spirit within you. Adventures for all – anytime and anywhere."

The single teaser photo showed the silhouette of a large, high ground clearance type vehicle, with a utility box on its roof, and a head rest that clearly shows the vehicle has 3-row seats. Six people carrying outdoor activities gear are also pictured to be leaving the car.

We still don’t know if it’s an off-road-capable SUV or an MPV / minivan. The latter is not unusual for Mitsubishi, which already sells a high ground clearance all-wheel drive, 2.2-litre turbo diesel-only Delica D:5 in Japan.

Mitsubishi has previously announced that it will re-introduce an MPV, which will include a hybrid variant. Also, Japanese manufacturers usually make a distinction between minivan (sliding doors) and MPV (conventional hinged doors), thus lending credence to the Grandis revival theory.

However, we think that the concept car is more likely to point the new generation Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, which is a logical follow up to the recently launched in Thailand new generation Mitsubishi Triton.

Historically, the Pajero Sport has always made its global debut in Thailand, but with the new generation Triton – which forms the basis for the Pajero Sport – making a return to Japan after a 13-year hiatus, it’s quite possible for the new Pajero Sport to be introduced there too.

Or, it could also be that this is a standalone model that's not related to the Pajero Sport, but it is a genuine successor to the real Pajero, one that is a genuine rival to the Toyota Land Cruiser 300 (or the smaller Prado).

Mitsubishi Motors doesn’t sell a tough ladder frame chassis 3-row seat SUV in Japan. The Outlander has 7 seats, but it rides on a passenger car-based platform that’s shared with the Nissan X-Trail.

Since the discontinuation of the ‘real’ Pajero in 2021, Mitsubishi has no answer to the Toyota Land Cruiser series, which has been growing from strength to strength, and now has 3 models of varying sizes in the family – from the biggest Middle East market-focused Land Cruiser 300, the retro new-old Land Cruiser 70 remake, and the latest Land Cruiser 250 (Prado).

Mitsubishi Motors press statement also made a brief reference to the discontinued, Toyota Land Cruiser-rivaling Japanese market Pajero (not related to the Triton-based Pajero Sport).

“To date, Mitsubishi Motors has proposed numerous ways for enjoying time outdoors with family and friends. They are embodied in the Pajero, an all-round SUV which balances the road handling of an authentic SUV with the comfort of a passenger vehicle; the Delica D:5, an all-round minivan which combines a comfortable interior with a powerful drive; and the Outlander PHEV, an electrified SUV which delivers environmental performance and road performance at a high level as well as offering new value as a storage battery.”

The Japan Mobility Show will open on 25-October.