16 May 07
And now? Even on the smooth surface of Walkinshaw's grand driveway it's clear this ain't no soft-bellied boulevard cruiser. The four new Koni shocks are tuned for sports driving, not comfort, so dismiss any idea of a cosseting ride.
But once on the road, it's plainly obvious that TWR's race know-how has transformed the L200's suspension. It still won't appear sophisticated to a BMW X5 driver - this isn't an independent suspension and there's still a solid live rear axle. But now you really can push the two-tonne Mitsubishi out of the bends much earlier, thanks to the increased roadholding from the rear driving wheels.
It's good - as it should be for this amount of money. The upgrade will push the cost of a mid-spec Warrior past £24,000, and that's a sizeable wedge for a commercial vehicle. However, it will still carry a tonne in the back and that means the VAT-registered among us can claw back 17.5% though the company books.
When it comes to pick-ups, British opinion is quartered: don't care; hate 'em; love 'em and own one; or love 'em but can't get over the crudity. With this dealer-offered conversion, the L200's road manners move a crucial step closer to seducing those floating voters. A sports pick-up? You'd better be-leaf it.
Long-term test: Mitsubishi L200
Road test: Mitsubishi L200
Video: Off the road in Turkey
