KEY corporate buyers are to sample the award-winning Galant saloon and estate range in advance of the official launch date as part of a £20 million campaign to win fresh UK business for Mitsubishi.

Up to 200 examples of the larger and upgraded 2.0-litre four cylinder and 2.5-litre six cylinder petrol engined models with manual and automatic transmissions are due to be in use with fleets one month before they go on sale in the UK in April. Appraisal loan periods of between six and 12 months have already been negotiated for the BMW 5-series lookalikes which are expected to cost between £16,500 and £25,000. The range currently starts at £17,879 on the road.

The upper medium sector models will have a higher standard specification than the models they replace, although retail prices are expected to be similar. Standard specification will include driver and passenger airbags, front side airbags on 2.5-litre models, ABS, side impact door beams, immobiliser and alarm and front seatbelt pretensioners.