A short wheelbase Mitsubishi Commercial is a short wheelbase Mitsubishi Commercial, right?

Wrong, when it is a special, probably unique in the country, but likely to be copied many times after this piece appears, with the pix, in print.

Because the one we happened to see recently parked outside Mitsubishi Motors Ireland had a substantial number of accessories. Many of which attract attention.

Particularly the front end, which caught Irish 4x4's fancy from the first time we spotted this honey-coloured dishy number in front of the franchise's Dublin HQ. The sports headlamp kit, sports grille, front airdam, foglamps and alloy wheels made it a most distinctive vehicle.

We HAD to drive it.

It's got steps, chrome-detailed metal spare cover, extra chromestyle protection on the rear bumpers, the rear roof spoiler and a personality all of its own.

Some commercial conversions can be a bit on the crude side. Stray metal edges, frayed carpet ends, not much attention to filling in the side gaps when the seats are taken out.

Not the Pajero SWB Commercial, though. Every seam and insert is as if it was done from an original design.

Which is as it should be, because the overall interior of the vehicle is to possibly the highest quality of any in its class.

The dashboard design is interesting and finely fitted together. The instruments cluster is almost an entertainment. The seats couldn't be faulted for the too-short time I had the vehicle out.

On the road the engine caused me to ask myself it it WAS a diesel I was driving behind. The ride, which even today in some competition would be fussy, is as comfortable on-road as is the best LWB 4WD.

It rides high - I was behind a RAV 4 at one stage, similar in size if not in intent to the Pajero, and was looking quite down on the Toyota's roof.

And this version also had a very comfortable leather wheel.

Now, this is not a review, just a quick view. And with any luck in the world I'll manage to convince Mitsubishi to let me have their car for a rather longer appraisal sometime, even maybe even as far as getting that honey metal all mucky?

It'll take it, I know. The offroading underpinning has all the technology required for the really rough 'n' tough. Including a very neat-looking ‘Super Select’ 4WD transfer system, which is electronically controlled

OK, if you insist, here are the mechanicals: the 2.5-litre turbodiesel outputs 115PS and has a fuel consumption of around 28mpg in the combined cycle. It can climb a 35deg slope and approach and departure angles are 42deg and 33.5deg respectively. The Pajero can wade through a 600mm depth of water.

As I took the vehicle to a garden centre for photographing, a weddingly-dressed woman drove up to collect a bouquet.

She looked long, and longingly, at the Pajero. I knew immediately that she'd have loved to have it bring her to the church on time.

So I made sure I took the keys out before walking away with my camera.

It’s not fair to put unnecessary temptation in the way of people.