• New L200 takes Pick-Up of the Year.
• New Shogun Commercial takes Utility Vehicle of the Year.

The new Mitsubishi L200 pick-up and the new Shogun commercial have each been presented with top accolades by Professional Van & Light Truck Magazine.

Taking the title of 'Pick-Up of the Year', the all-new L200 brushed aside competition from the likes of the Nissan Navara and Toyota Hilux to be voted class champion by a considerable margin for the second year running. The new Shogun 4x4 commercial took top honours being awarded 'Utility 4x4 of the Year' an award won last year by the previous model Shogun.

The 'Professional Van & Light Truck' magazine's team of judges were faced with the toughest challenge yet in this fourth year of the national awards scheme. That was because last year, every single commercial vehicle manufacturer either brought out new van models or revamped their range of existing models. This radical market revolution was prompted by the Euro-4 emissions regulations implemented last October, hence the arrival on the market of so many new vehicles.

Uppermost in the judges' minds was the issue of payload, because that's why van buyers buy vans - to put stuff in the back! The more you can carry in a safe and comfortable vehicle, the better for the driver and operator.

At the end of a hard day's judging the winners of 17 separate categories were decided upon, with the trophies presented at a ceremony during the Commercial Vehicle Show at the Birmingham NEC in April.

Category Winners:

Pickup of the Year: Mitsubishi L200
When the new L200 was launched, it set new standards in terms of looks and luxury in the pickup market, but this stylish and comfortable vehicle has lost none of the marque's renowned practicality.

Utility 4x4 of the Year: Mitsubishi Shogun
Unlike many other manufacturers, Mitsubishi continues to make a very effective 'commercial' version of its Shogun 4x4 range which fulfils the needs of a significant sector of the working community, to the extent that others are now seeking to do the same.