MITSUBISHI has followed up a £1.2 million order for Carisma GDIs with a contract hire deal for a further eight vehicles from office equipment company the Sharples Group. Sharples confirmed an order for 87 Carismas powered by the 1.8-litre Gasoline Direct Injection engine at the London Motor Show, and has now ordered additional vehicles through leasing specialist JCT 600 Contracts.

The company has to date purchased its vehicles outright, but chairman Bill Sharples wanted to explore the potential benefits of leasing. Mitsubishi is continuing to roll out the Carisma GDI range with the addition of the automatic this month and is holding a series of seven regional corporate sales events.