Mitsubishi relaunches L200 Trojan Double Cab
Friday 06 July 2012 | By Evolution InternetBack to Newsroom
The Mitsubishi L200 range, a perennial favourite among pick-up truck leasing customers, has been boosted with the reintroduction of the Trojan Double Cab model.
Available from July 5th, the 12MY Trojan combines the striking good looks of the L200 family with a generous combination of specifications.
Arriving on the market as a standard bed derivative, the vehicle will feature a rear diff lock, privacy glass and Super Select 4WD among its high-level equipment.
Other specs include a CD player with mp3 connectivity, a multifunction trip computer, a CAT 1 alarm system and chrome outer door handles.
Mitsubishi has rolled out several improvements for the 12MY Trojan Double Cab's return to the market. The new model boasts 30 per cent more power than its predecessor, with the engine output rising from 136 bhp to 175 bhp.
That's not all, as the engine delivers 27 per cent more torque, up from 314 Nm to 400 Nm, while the unit is also Euro 5 compliant.
Mitsubishi is aiming the pick-up truck squarely at the recovering agricultural, building, electrician and plumbing sectors in the UK. "The L200 Trojan really is a great choice for business users who demand rugged style, versatility and performance," the Japanese automotive giant commented.
This is the latest addition to the L200 family, coming just over a month after the launch of a limited edition Barbarian Black version of the hardy pick-up. The special model boasts several stylistic tweaks over the standard L200, from black 17-inch alloy wheels, door handles and recess covers to a black front sports grille.
A panel displaying the outside temperature, direction and miles per gallon rating can also be found in the Barbarian Black L200, complementing the existing Kenwood computer system.
The carmaker claimed the model delivers the "ultimate pick-up experience" and recommended it to "those with a sense of adventure and who demand great value, but not at the expense of getting the equipment, style and engineering prowess they demand".
Despite these aesthetic tweaks, the L200 certainly isn't a case of style over substance.
The vehicle remains the leader in the pick-up market with a share of 30.5 per cent of total sales, thanks in no small part to its innovative features, comprehensive specification and 4x4 capabilities.
Sales of the L200 drove Mitsubishi Motors Europe (MME) to a seven per cent year-on-year increase in volumes during 2011, with registrations up from 140,311 to 149,967. The L200, along with its heavy-duty sibling the Pajero, performed strongly throughout the year and accounted for 22 per cent of the MME's total volume.
Some 23,684 L200s were shifted across Europe last year, representing an increase of six per cent on 2010.
This impressive result came despite the impact of flooding in parts of Thailand on the pick-up's supply chain. Although Mitsubishi's local production hub was not directly hit by the disaster, the supply of parts for the vehicle was still hampered, resulting in a one-month loss of production.
As well as impressing pick-up truck leasing customers, the L200 range has won the backing of the media, with Fleet News naming the vehicle its pick-up of the year in 2010 and 2011.
A judge on the 2011 awards panel said the L200 beat off competition from the Nissan Navara, Toyota Hilux and Volkswagen Amarok thanks to its greater range of load bed options and derivatives, as well as its level of availability.
The vehicle also impressed with its wide range of horsepower options, its strong residual values and the high-quality back-up from Mitsubishi's dealer network.
"Add in competitive pricing and the L200 justifies its place as 'Pick-up of the Year'," the judge explained.
Commenting on the accolade, managing director of Mitsubishi Motors UK Lance Bradley expressed his delight that the vehicle had retained the prize, but insisted the result was little surprise.
"The versatility of the range is unmatched, with everything from practical and functional single cabs through to powerful lifestyle double cabs," he commented.
"It is an honour for us to receive this award as it firmly establishes the L200 as the clear favourite among commercial vehicle operators."
