WTF: Mitsubishi Pajero Jr Flying Pug

This was really a big WTF for me:

Mitsubishi Pajero Jr Flying Pug – WTF?!
No, it is not a modern London cab! And it is not a Riley Elf retro car based upon the new mini! (the old Elf was based upon the old one). No, it is the Mitsubishi Pajero Flying Pug!

Mitsubishi Pajero Jr Flying Pug – Retro front

Mitsubishi thought a downsized Pajero would create a great mini SUV. So they created the Pajero Jr in 1995. Unfortunately sales were not booming as they expected them to be, so they tried to sell them through some limited editions. The names were as insane as the thought of people willing to buy limited edition mini SUVs: McTwist, Lynx and Flying Pug!
Back in the early nineties the English retro looks were very popular, so Mitsubishi thought the Pajero Jr Flying Pug would sell great when styled after a London cab with big wide fenders and a big Mercedes-like hood ornament! Boy, they were wrong! Sales still declined and the whole Pajero Jr was killed off in 1998.

Mitsubishi Pajero Jr Flying Pug – Rear
The rear has’t changed at all, except for the tail lights. They must have thought the retro styling of the front would have been appealing enough?

Mitsubishi Pajero Jr Flying Pug – Interior
And the interior doesn’t show any luxury at all: just an ordinary plain ninties plastic interior with leather seats.

This particular Pajero Jr is one of the 149 Pajero Jrs produced in 1998 and thus incredibly rare. It can be yours for only 8000 dollars while an ordinary Jr can be picked up for 100 to 1000 dollars. At least I wouldn’t spend that amount of money on it. ;)