Mitsubishi LCV's Score Double-Top In 2006 What Van? Awards

Mitsubishi has taken the double at the What Van? Awards emerging as winners in two vehicle categories: Best Pick-up - for its new L200 and Best 4x4 Van - for its Shogun 4Work.  This is the 8th time in 12 years that Mitsubishi has won the pick-up category, but the first time for the revolutionary new model launched in March 2006.

Presented annually by What Van? magazine, the awards are decided by staff after they have put the nominated vehicles through a series of extensive tests.  The awards feature 14 vehicle categories, with the outcome based on driveability, comfort, performance, handling, refinement, safety, load carrying capacity, economy and value for money.

After assessing all pick-ups currently available in the UK, the magazine says of the L200: "In our view it's a worthy winner of our Pick-up of the Year Award."

The magazine goes on to compliment the L200's versatile capabilities stating, "Both on and off road performance are exemplary and owners of the previous L200 will be astounded by the massive improvement in refinement. The L200's cab is roomy and comfortable and service intervals are longer than they were with the old model."

After assessing both the long and short-wheel-base Shogun 4Work models, the magazine was impressed with the vehicle's virtues and the range of variants available: from the purposeful Classic to the top-of-the-range Warrior, which comes with leather seats, 10 CD disc changer and 18" alloy wheels.

"With 158bhp to play with the Shogun Commercial is no slouch either on or off the highway," says the magazine. "Solidly built, it rides and handles well and should retain its value in the second-hand market."

The editorial points out that with a three-year/100,000 mile warranty and pan-European emergency assistance thrown in, the Shogun is proving remarkably popular with several high-profile fleets. Consequently, Mitsubishi has confirmed that the Environment Agency, Highways Agency and National Grid have all recently placed orders for the Shogun 4Work.

"We are always delighted to win awards for our vehicles," said Lance Bradley, Sales and Marketing Director for Mitsubishi Motors UK. "So to have two of our models voted number one is great news. I am not surprised to see the L200 and Shogun score highly against the judge's criteria, as they perform their working roles so well and represent excellent value for money."

Mitsubishi Motors is the number one provider of 4x4 light commercial vehicles in the UK.  With a range of six models and 23 variants on offer, all business needs can be catered for with vehicles ranging from the Shogun van to the newly launched L200 Single Cab Pick-Up Tipper.  The new L200 has proved an extraordinary hit with customers taking over 50% of the retail pick-up segment and the runaway success of Mitsubishi's 4x4 LCV range looks set to continue in 2006 and beyond with total sales for this year on target to hit 17,500 units, a staggering 37% up on 2005.