Mitsubishi's new 4Work range of vehicles is brought to the market from September 1st with the widest selection of four-wheel drive commercial vehicle options available in the UK. In the majority of cases the 4Work models are based on current passenger vehicles which brings obvious taxation and VAT user/owner advantages for those switching from a car to a commercial vehicle.

Paul Williams Sales and Marketing Director for Mitsubishi Motors in the UK said: "The 4Work brand is a natural expansion following the successful development of our L200 Pick Up range."

"From selling around 1,000 units annually three year ago, we have grown the business to somewhere around 7,000 sales this year. We have seen a new type of customer attracted to this market, people in business or private buyers who have the need for a commercial or recreational vehicle but want the style and refinement of a passenger car. "

"In addition, we have been encouraged by the initial interest in our commercial versions of the Shogun Pinin 3-door and the Shogun 3-door so far this year. By launching the 4Work brand and widening the model range to include Shogun Sport, 5-door Shogun and Shogun Pinin models, and the current L200 pick ups from the 2 wheel drive single cab right through to the Animal
and Warrior double cabs, we have created a unique commercial vehicle range."

"Whilst L200 UK Pick Up sales this year will be around 7,000 units, we expect our 4Work vans to add 600 units to that total in the last quarter of this year."

4Work - The Range
The flagship Shogun, stylish Shogun Sport, compact Shogun Pinin and top-selling L200 Pick Up form the base of the 50 choices available from the 21 model 4Work range which is designed to allow business users to tailor a vehicle to exactly meet their needs.

That choice is enhanced throughout the range with the availability of specifically designed 4Work accessories including tow bars, rubber load liners, load area guards and waterproof seat covers.

4Work commercial vehicle on the road prices range from £10,995 (ex. VAT) through to £27,271 (ex. VAT) which means there is a 4Work to meet every budget.

All Shogun 5-door conversions use an opaque glass covering for their rear side window glass. This retains the smart exterior appearance of a passenger vehicle, but one fitted with privacy glass. Only when the rear or side doors are opened does
the true role of the Shogun 4Work range become apparent.

All 21 members of the 4Work family have been created to be much more than sensible commercial workhorses with impressive good looks designed to make a positive impact on both existing and prospective customers.

Major tax advantages are to be had from using a member of the 4Work range for business. All 21 models are classed as commercial vehicles which means that any VAT registered company - be it a one-man band or one with a staff of thousands - can reclaim the 17.5 per cent VAT on the purchase price.

The VAT savings through the 4Work models range from £1,892 on the Shogun Pinin 1.8 MPI Classic Manual derivative through to £4,740 on the top-of-the-range 4Work Shogun Equippe Auto.

Similarly, employees that drive a member of the 4Work family currently will pay significantly less income tax each month compared to a similarly priced passenger car. Rather than basing an income tax contribution for the vehicle on exhaust emissions as with cars, 4Work commercial vehicle drivers will have a tax liability of just £500 per year.

It is likely that, even at the higher 40 per cent rate of income tax, the highest amount of actual tax paid by a 4Work driver will be £200 per year - which equates to £17 per month and the savings don't stop there.

Another crucial tax advantage for those running a 4Work vehicle as a company car is that no additional tax liability is allocated even if an employer pays for the fuel used in the course of an employee's private mileage - which means savings of up to £140 per month.

4Work is designed to meet every budget and an example of the difference in prices across the range is shown below.

4Work Commercial Vehicle Price (OTR ex VAT)
Shogun Pinin 1.8 MPI Classic 3-Door £10,995
Shogun Pinin 2.0 GDI Equippe 5-Door £13,995
Shogun Sport 2.5 TD Classic 5-Door £16,495
Shogun SWB 3.2 TD Classic £17,995
Shogun SWB 3.5 V6 Equippe £22,995
Shogun LWB 3.2 TD DI-D Classic £23,495
L200 2.5 TD 2WD Single Cab £10,295
L200 2.5 TD 4WD Single Cab £12,695
L200 2.5 TD 4WD GL Double Cab £14,795
L200 2.5 TD 4WD Warrior Double Cab £16,995

With savings in all areas important to a business of any size, the 4Work models also make the most of Mitsubishi's GDI (Gasoline Direct Injection) and DI-D (Direct Injection Diesel) technology, which provides enhanced power, low fuel consumption and CO2 Emissions across the range.