MITSUBISHI gave a UK debut to its new Shogun Pinin and 2000 model year Challenger at the London Motor Show. The Pinin is the first 4x4 Mitsubishi to be designed in Europe, and was styled by Italian designer Pininfarina.

The compact 4x4 will compete with the Land Rover Freelander and Toyota RAV4 when it goes on sale in January, with prices ranging from under £15,000 to £19,000. 'A lot of company car drivers are looking for something different, and a wider choice of vehicle is becoming part of remuneration packages,' said Matthew Cheyne, Mitsubishi's general manager, fleet and used cars. He forecast that about 30-40% of Pinin's anticipated 4,000 annual sales would go into the corporate sector.

Significantly for fleet user-choosers, the Pinin will be available with a 1.8-litre GDI direct injection petrol engine - the only real alternative at the moment to diesel for drivers with an eye on the new carbon dioxide-based company car tax scheduled for 2002. This engine already accounts for the majority of Carisma sales, and Mitsubishi is planning major new year initiatives to get potential buyers behind the wheel of the upper medium sector car.