New Mitsubishi L200 Pick-up: 40 years old and still going strong

New Launches 

Do you wish you could have a complete upgrade and a face-lift for your 40th birthday? If you haven't reached that particular milestone yet you probably won't have a clue what we're on about. If you have hit that most tender of ages you might wish you were the latest Mitsubishi L200 pick-up.

Now in its fortieth year, the Mitsubishi L200 has been treated to more powerful styling, an enhanced 4WD system that delivers improved off-road performance, and the latest in active safety and driver assistance systems. Overall, the new model features significant refinements to the durability and reliability required by commercial users and to the comfort and ride quality sought by the private user. The best of both worlds then?



The new L200 features something called a "Dynamic Shield" front design. Basically it has a high bonnet and bigger headlamps located higher up to give it a more imposing look. The lights and bumpers have become part of the tougher looking design with flared wheel arches, sharp lines, and bright accents to accentuate the look and add a modern touch. Love it or hate it there's no denying it's a striking new look for Mitsubishi.

It's the same story on the inside. The restyled cabin of the new Mitsubishi L200 mixes a modern look with a robust and hard-wearing feel. A high quality look is created with soft pad materials and stitching on the floor console, armrests and parking brake. New frame surroundings for the switch panel and air outlets add a more refined look to what is essentially a very nice interior.

Under the shiny new skin Mitsubishi L200 4WD models can be fitted with either Super-Select 4WD, which delivers optimum traction and handling characteristics for any given surface, or Easy-Select 4WD, which simplifies switching between drive modes for different road surfaces. With the addition of new drive modes, both 4WD systems deliver improved off-road performance.



Both systems feature a new Off-road Mode which has GRAVEL, MUD/SNOW, SAND and ROCK settings. Engage the Off-road Mode and it will control engine power, transmission and braking to regulate the amount of wheel slip and maximize all-terrain performance. Hill Descent Control electronically controls the speed to allow the driver to negotiate steep or slippery descents more safely and with more assurance. It seems Mitsubishi is determined to make the new L200 nigh on unstoppable.

The new Mitsubishi L200 retains the current model's high-durability, high-reliability chassis, and high impact-safety cabin structure but adds some class-leading advanced active safety and driver assistance systems to the mix too.

There's a forward collision avoidance system to detect vehicles and pedestrians; Blind Spot Warning helps avoid sideswiping another vehicle when changing lanes by detecting vehicles behind or at the rear quarter and alerting the driver with an audible alert and flashing light in their door mirror and a Rear Cross Traffic Alert which, in the same way, helps avoid collisions when reversing.



There is also an Ultrasonic Misacceleration Mitigation System which reduces accidents resulting from improper use of the accelerator when moving off or reversing in car parks and other confined spaces, a Multi Around Monitor which generates a bird's eye view image of the area around the vehicle, and the now obligatory parking sensors. That should make manoeuvring the new Mitsubishi L200 an absolute doddle.

There are also improvements to braking performance with the use of larger front discs and callipers, ride quality is improved with the use of larger rear dampers which contain more damping oil, and the switch to a six-speed automatic transmission from the current five-speed auto allows smoother, more powerful acceleration and improved refinement.

If all of this has you hankering after the new Mitsubishi L200 you'll have to exercise a little patience. The new models began to roll off the production line in early November but UK specifications won't be revealed until closer to the European launch in summer 2019. Plenty of time to arrange your next Mitsubishi L200 lease and make sure you're among the first to get their hands on what is generally regarded as one of the best pickups on the market.

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