Solved: Q#139 - Pajero Sports Coupe by Michiro Eguchi

[Quiller]

All I have I'm afraid is the name, with no details of the designer.
I'm convinced it's Japanese, though, not Indian.

[geology]

Electric?

[Quiller]

Electric?

I don't know for sure, but I somehow doubt it

[Arunas]

"ANANAI sport" (1994)

This car was designed at the request of the dealer who would like to raise the culture of a custom car into Japan.
The clay model and the FRP body were uniquely manufactured within the dealer.

Designed by Mr Michiro Eguchi.

I am not sure, but  tend to believe this is just ta scale model.. 1:1 or even smaller..

P.S. This puzzle was too tough nut...

[sixtee5cuda]

Possibly also called RV Concept Atlantic

[grobmotorix]

After almost 6 years I hope Arunas has made it really!

[Arunas]

 

[Quiller]

With apologies for the long absence from AP, I do admire the tenacity of everyone to chase this down. I've learnt a lot more about the car now from your researches, and I've never seen the pic posted by Arunas before - however, the name I have for the project is still missing...

I might be tempted to fire out a clue or two

[grobmotorix]

At a Japanese website with a portrait of the designer it is called:
"RVコンセプト
アトランティック"

which means exactly:
RV-Konzept
Atlantic

I still think sixteecuda deserves this point...

[Quiller]

OK I've awarded both Arunas and sixteenscuda a point, as their researches have shed light that I certainly didn't know about.
But I'm going to keep the puzzle open as I do have an alternative name for it...

[Oguerrerob]

I've found another picture tagged as 1995 SUV Concept "ANANAI" Same as Arunas post

[Quiller]

Ananai isn't the name on my subtitle screen...

[gte4289]

From the source himself...

Designer Michiro Eguchi has posted multiple images of this car on his personal FB page. The concept was for a sports coupe based on the Mitsubishi Pajero and appears to be called "Phantom Pajero Sports Coupe."

[Oguerrerob]

 

[gte4289]

 

[gte4289]

Designer Michiro Eguchi has posted multiple images of this car on his personal FB page. The concept was for a sports coupe based on the Mitsubishi Pajero and appears to be called "Phantom Pajero Sports Coupe."

I've found numerous sources that refer to this car as simply "Pajero Sports Coupe," and so I now assume this is the complete name. Possible explanations as to why Mr. Eguchi's FB page added the word Phantom (幻の) include:

• The word 幻の is translated as "phantom" when used as a noun, but is translated as "visionary" when used as an adjective. It may have been describing the Pajero Sports Coupe as a visionary vehicle.
• The use of the word "phantom" could refer to the fact that the car is missing.

I stumbled across an article today which identifies the car as the "Pajero Sports Coupe," but then uses the word 幻の such that both of the explanations above could apply.

The Mitsubishi Pajero is Japan's leading off-road SUV. It is a well-known masterpiece that has won the Dakar Rally 12 times, including seven consecutive victories. Although production of the car sadly came to an end in Japan last year (2019), it has now been discovered that a coupe-body type demo car called the "Pajero Sports Coupe" was actually produced!

The demo car was first unveiled at the 3rd Design Business Fair, held at the International Design Center in Nagoya from November 26th to 28th, 1997. The designer was Michio Eguchi, who joined Mitsubishi Motors in 1972 and was responsible for the design of many models, including the Minica, Minicab, Mirage, RVR, and MP90X. In 1990, he became a consultant for AIMIX Yumekobo, a company established by Aichi Mitsubishi Motors Sales Co., Ltd., and started the development of a custom car based on the Pajero from scratch.

The Pajero Sports Coupe was specially unveiled in response to a strong request from the International Design Center to exhibit it.

The specs are: Length 4870mm x Width 1940mm x Height 1680mm, Wheelbase 2695mm. Tire size is 265/70R16. Vehicle weight is 1370kg. Seats 4, estimated price is 5.8 million yen.

The initial engine was the Mitsubishi 6G72 3L V6 SOHC 12 valve. The front suspension is a double wishbone torsion bar spring independent suspension, while the rear suspension is a three-link coil spring axle suspension. Taking into consideration the need to pass vehicle inspections, the car was based on the Pajero long 5-door with a frame, and the specifications were made to conform to that model, but the overall width was increased along with the increase in tire size, and the overall height was lowered.

The final model was exhibited with a Chevrolet 4.3L V6 OHV engine and a 2WD chassis, but AIMIX Yumekobo closed down after that, and the whereabouts of the car are unknown.

It has become a phantom Pajero Coupe.

Even during his time at Mitsubishi Motors, Eguchi had the vision that tall sporty cars would be needed in the future. The Pajero Sports Coupe was designed with a roll bar integrated into the body, as simply making the car taller while maintaining the coupe style would not be enough. This car is a shining example of Eguchi's foresight, as he pioneered the now-popular coupe SUV at a time when the term "SUV" didn't even exist.

[Wendax]

Point #999 granted and declared as solved.

[gte4289]

Point #999 granted and declared as solved.

Thank you!