Owning a 2007 NS pajero, I must say that IFS and IRS is not all that bad, it all comes down to user choice. What we must all consider here, speaking from experience, is that the commercial reality is that the TRUE off road nuts form a very small percentage of car sales, so the industry must, unfortunately and much to my disgust, accommodate for the soccer mums and school runs. This is the world we live in unfortunately.
I have always Loved the Patrol for what it could do off road, unfortunately looking into the current state of play, it is outdated and overpriced for what the current models deliver against its competition.
I think the biggest problem with the new patrol is that it is going to be too little to late, much like the 380 was for MMA. The new LC200 has already proven to be one capable vehicle with a whole heap of new technology and seeing first hand what will be coming for the series two due for release end of next year, the price of the new L200 will fall drastically with lost more refinements being offered in place.
Having reviewed the Video posted up, it appears that the suspension travel is very limited which is probably going to be a massive down fall for this particular model, hence why Nissan Australia has offered to keep the current model on sale for a further 3 years.
Owning an IFS IRS vehicle I must state however that there has been very few situations where I have not been able to follow a Gu or a LC up a track with similar modification.
My truck runs a 2 inch lift, 32" Mickey t's and only uses the factory locking Center diff and traction control to get through. I have spent considerable time modifying my suspension, incorporating land cruiser long travel shock absorbers and alike, which has yielded in substantial amount of travel over stock, saying that it is still less then a live axle truck which often leads to wheel in the air action. However around town, the car is superb, it does the weekly shopping comfortably and without needing sea sickness tablets to drive around unlike my brothers heavily modified Nissan.
Many people criticize the Pajero for not having a ladder chassis and so forth so it's not as strong, however, once again first hand, you go and get a new prado and get a new pajero, twist them up on some moguls and try and open the rear prado doors and more times then not, you won't be able to do so due to chassis/body flex. No such issues on the Pajero.
What most people don't know is that the Pajero actually runs a separate sub chassis front and back, and there are many kits available that offer a 6" lift to fit 42" tires. The lift itself takes approximately half a day to fit as it simply spaces the chassis away from the body as per normal ladder frame.
Unfortunately what we must all come to terms is that the day of the true off roader is limited and numbered, sooner or later the burocrats and pencil pushers who don't even know what 4x4 means will get their way and live axle trucks will case to exist, unless you want a ute of a 75 series.
Anyhow, I hope this vehicle does well and perhaps it will sell well being aimed more at the general public, but as I said above, it think it's to little to late, both Toyota and land cruiser are starting to take the market over in vast numbers.
BTW i'm not trying to Advertise for pajeros, they have many faults, mearly stating that IRS and IFS can be made work. (CAN but as is more oftern teh case from factory Can not)
Ok I'm done
