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The 2008 Dakar Rally, a rigorous off-road endurance test, begins on January 5th in Lisbon, Portugal. The event will end on January 20th in Dakar, Sengal. That is a distance of 9,273 km (or 5,762 miles) full of sand dunes, rocks, mud, camel grass, etc., and an increase of more than 1,000 km (621 miles) over the 2007 race. Since 2001, Mitsubishi and its Pajero/Montero entries have dominated the automobile class of the event. Mitsubishi Motorsports recently announced its 2008 lineup of four Pajero/Montero entries. Three of the Diamond Star Motors' driver match-ups have previously won the event. The pair of Stephane Peterhansel and Jean-Paul Cottret won in 2007. Luc Alphand and Gilles Picard won in 2006, while Hiroshi Masuoka and Pascal Maimon took the title in 2002. The final entry of Joan (Nani) Roma and Lucas Cruz Senra have yet to see the top of the podium on four wheels, but driver Roma previously won the event's motorcycle class in 2004. The Ralliart group has quite a team to say the least, and its chances for an 8th consecutive title are looking rather good. The big question is, which pair will get the win?

[Source: Mitsubishi Motors]

The 2007 Mitsubishi Pajero (that's Montero to us Yanks) is scheduled to materialize this fall, according to the teaser website that's up at Mitsubishi's Japanese page. While the Montero is being dropped from the US lineup after the '06 model year, it will continue to be sold in other markets including, presumably, Europe. Next month's Paris show sounds like a good bet for the debut of the SUV shown above.

Spy photos that were taken earlier this year show the reskinned Pajero as having cleaner lines. The bulging fenders of the current model are gone, and the front end has undergone a full overhaul, if the teaser photo is any indication.Current speculation holds that the engine roster will not change from what's currently available in each respective market.

Will we get it at some point? Good question, because as we said, Mitsu pulled the plug on our version. The Outlander, with its sharp looks and 3rd-row seating, will be the horse in Mitsubishi's American SUV stable -- at least for '07. What happens beyond that is anyone's guess.

In the meantime, we'll keep tabs on this new Pajero and bring you more info when it becomes available.

[Sources: Mitsubishi, World Car Fans]