Next Shogun takes shape

Mitsubishi is putting the sport back into the Shogun. And this official picture shows what buyers can look forward to when the latest model goes on sale in 2008.

As with its predecessor, which was axed recently, the next Shogun Sport is based on the manufac­turer’s strong-selling L200 pick-up. The front end is similar to that of its brother, too, and features an aggres­sive nose and bold grille.

Chunky wheelarches add to the purposeful look, while the steeply raked rear mimics that of the Mitsu­bishi Outlander 4x4.

Thanks to its long body, the new Shogun Sport will almost certainly come equipped with a third row of seats for added practicality. Unlike other modern SUVs, though, the Japanese model will use a body-on-frame chassis to ensure it has excellent off-road capabilities.

High-specification Warrior variants are likely to come with a range of rugged styling enhancements, including metal kick plates and roof bars. Mitsubishi UK has confirmed that after its launch, the Shogun Sport will be imported here, with prices expected to start at around £23,000. Only one engine is to be offered – a 2.5-litre turbodiesel – although it will be available with either 136bhp or 167bhp.

As a result, there’s no petrol V6 any more. If you want one of those, a few examples of the outgoing version remain in dealerships.