Fifth-generation Mitsubishi L200 to debut at Geneva

An all-new Mitsubishi L200 pick-up will be revealed at the Geneva Motor Show next month.

The current model has been on sale for almost a decade. To date, 1.3 million units have been sold.

The new model gets a host of upgrades aimed at making it more refined and safer, without softening the car's hard-won reputation for toughness. 

The main improvement is an all-new 2.4-litre diesel engine, which is available in two states of tune. The entry-level engine has 151bhp and 280lb ft of torque, while the higher-output version has 178bhp and 317lb ft. There is an all-new six-speed manual gearbox as well as a paddle-shift automatic option.

The new engine, along with beefed-up body mountings and revised suspension settings, are claimed to give significant improvements in passenger comfort and reduce noise and vibrations passed into the cabin. The steering has been speeded up, too, in an effort to sharpen up the driving experience.

Externally, the new L200 is closely related to the model it replaces, but with redesigned front and rear ends. Mitsubishi is also claiming the cabin is higher in quality, more comfortable and more spacious than that of the outgoing car.

Full-time four-wheel drive, stability control, traction control, lane departure and hill start systems are available on the new model. Seven airbags are provided in the cabin for improved crash protection.

Although Mitsubishi has made significant commitments to hybrid and plug-in technologies, most recently with a hybrid pick-up at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, there is no confirmation that a low-emissions L200 will form part of the line-up.