L200 AND SHOGUN 4X4 SCOOP GOLD FOR MITSUBISHI
Stunning new pick-up and trusty off-roader take honours for Japanese marque in annual LCV awards

After a brief absence, Mitsubishi is back to winning ways taking two trophies at the 2006 What Van? Awards. The all-new L200 scooped What Van?'s Pick-up of the year and the Shogun 4x4 made best 4x4 van of 2006.

The L200 has long been a global pick-up favourite and has won What Van?'s Pick-up award on numerous occasions. It is also the number one selling pick-up in the UK in 2006 with more than 13,000 units shifted year to date and a whopping 37% market share. It also happens to be Mitsubishi's number one-selling UK vehicle full-stop (from both its car and LCV range) so it's a vehicle that's taken very seriously.

But in recent years the UK pick-up market has got more sophisticated with newer and more diverse entrants so when Mitsubishi launched its third generation version in February 2006 it decided to bring something completely different to the party. The exceptionally bold and curvaceous new look is like no other in the marketplace - and is instantly recognisable as an L200.

Strength In Depth

But the new vehicle offers much more than just exterior good looks. Beneath the bonnet is a new 2.5-litre turbodiesel engine, new suspension,steering and drivetrain. Inside is a bigger, more luxurious cabin able to seat five people with ease (in Double Cab guise) and along with a classleading turning circle making it exceptionally easy to manoeuvre, it has to be the most car-like pick-up available. With class-leading residual values and a tax liability that would be the envy of most car drivers - the L200's business case is rock solid too. All in all, it's a worthy winner.

Shogun Heritage

The Mitsubishi Shogun van snatched back the prize for best 4x4 Van in 2006 after a two-year absence. Superb build quality combined with the heritage of almost 25 years of manufacturing know-how (it's currently on its fourth-generation model) kept it ahead of the pack in the judges' eyes. With an all-new version of the Shogun off-roader launching in April 2007 the next few years should be exciting ones for the exceptional model and are sure to keep the vehicle in the running for future What Van? awards.