FFIRIRSSTT D DRRIVIVEESS
2 1 AUGUST 2019 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 27
Comprehensive upgrades, new engine for strong-selling pick-up
MITSUBISHI L200
ASTON MARTIN DBS
SUPERLEGGERA VOLANTE
TESTED 15.8.19, SILVERSTONE ON SALE NOW
@ s t v c r
M
itsubishi has been making hay
with its L200 pick-up since the
end of the 1970s and, given the
continued rise in popularity of
four-door pick-ups, the sixth edition
it i s l au nc h i n g i n t he U K ov e r t hene x t fe w w e e k s i s l i k e l y t o b e t he
most successful yet. These days, the
model accounts for a third of all UK
Mitsubishi sales, and British buyers
take around 45% of all L200s sold
in Europe – which is why Japanese
b o s s e s t a k e he e d of lo c a l fe e dba c k.
The markedly more handsome new
edition ref lects this: it is familiar in
dimensions and essential elements
but has been comprehensively
improved on nearly every important
front. The frame chassis and
suspension (independent in front,
leaf-sprung live axle behind) have
been rethought to give a better,
quieter ride and there’s a new
all-alloy 148bhp 2268cc diesel engine
t o c op e w it h mor e r i gor ou s Eu r op e a n
clean air legislation. And there’s now
a new top-spec £32,200 model called
Barbarian X, tested here, which with
the almost as plush Barbarian should
attract around 40% of customers.
Frontal styling has changed toadopt a family look and appear more
modern and assertive. The clamshell
b on ne t h a s b e e n r a i s e d 4 0 m m s o t he
driver can better place the car on the
road and the new LED headlights
are 100mm higher. The squared-off
wheel arches and tougher-looking
rear styling (with new LED tail-
lights) do the same. The interior is
plusher and more car-like because
Mitsubishi believes buyers who are
reluctant to embrace a new diesel
SU V m ay f i nd it e a sie r t o c h a n ge t o
a civilised four-door pick-up.
M it s ubi sh i m a k e s muc h of t he
Barbarian X’s breadth of capability
and it certainly demonstrated this on
test. It impressively tackled a difficult
off-road course with its four-mode
electronically controlled 4x4 system.
It had no trouble towing 3.5-tonne
loads, handled easily in tight going
and cruised quickly and comfortably
on mot or w ay s , w it h not a bl y low
bump and tyre noise and an overallfeeling of tautness.
The new L200 can handle a 1080kg
pay loa d but , i n c ont r a s t t o mo s t
rivals, its all-up weight stays below
the 2050kg threshold for commercial
vehicles that would otherwise limit
legal motorway cruising to 60mph.
I n s u m , M it s ubi sh i’s si x t h-ge ne r at ion
L200 is bidding strongly to keep
its prominent place in the world of
‘civilised’ pick-ups – and it deserves to.
STEVE CROPLEY
IF 715BHP SEEMS an unseemly
amount for a 2+2 GT convertible,
r e me mb e r t he DB11 V8 i s a l s o
available. For those who think too
much is never enough, here’s the DBS
Superleggera Volante, a 5.2-litre,
twin-turbocharged, quarter-million-
quid V12 roadster that will hit
211 mph e v e n w it h it s r o of dow n.
The interior is too DB11-ish to
justify the price, but it fulfils its
grand touring brief well, it doesn’t
shake much and the drama has been
turned up appropriately: roof down,
at night, hearing the exhaust crackle
i nt o t he d a rk ne s s i s s p e c i a l.
The coupé’s a better car, but
sometimes only too much will do. MP
Price £32,200
Engine 4 cyls, 2268cc,
turbo, diesel
Power 148bhp at 3500rpm
Torque 295lb ft at 2000rpm
Gearbox 6-spd automatic
Kerb weight 2035kg
0-60mph 14.0sec (est)
Top speed 108mph
Economy 29.1mph
CO 2 254g/km
RIVALS Nissan Navara,
Toyota Hilux
Price £247,500 On sale Now
What’s new? With no V12 soft-top DB11, Aston
offers a full-fat DBS open-air experience insteadMITSUBISHI L200 BARBARIAN X
Sixth iteration of this well-loved
Mitsubishi pick-up improves in
practically every areaAAABC
AAAAB
READ MORE ONLINE
autocar.co.uk
FORD FIESTA ST
PERFORMANCE EDITION
THERE WILL BE just 600 of these
UK-only Performance Edition Ford
Fie s t a STs. T he y ’r e ba s e d on t he
ST-3 specification and include the
otherwise optional Performance
pack, which features a limited-slip
differential. Performance Edition-
specific goodies are lighter wheels,
one orange paint scheme (soz) and,
most interesting, adjustable coil-ov e r s w it h 1 2 bu mp a nd 16 r e b ou nd
settings, which drop the front and
r e a r r ide he i g ht 10 m m a nd 1 5m m
respectively.
Dunno what ours were set to, but
they improved both body control
and ride, while doing the steering no
harm. More terrific than ever, then,
but at £3120 and orange, maybe just
go aftermarket. MP
Price £26,495 On sale Now
What’s new? Hot hatch has no more power but
gets tweaked suspension and, oh my, is it orange
AAAAB
It feels more car-like inside and the view over the bonnet is different than before