The Last Of The 4WD Vans

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 5, Issue 28, 8 December 1987, Page 3 (Supplement)

The Last Of The 4WD Vans

The new Mitsubishi L300 four wheel drive has been released onto the New Zealand market. It is the last of the new base models in the L300 lineup to be built and is already meeting good demand. Mitsubishi pioneered the 4WD van market and the go-anywhere vehicles are to be found in many of the country's tourist and leisure locations, as well as on building and construction sites. The new L300 4WD is fitted with the same two litre engine and five-speed high/ low ratio transmission as the

earlier model but the body has been completely redesigned, power steering has been added, and the vehicle now runs on 1 5 inch wheels. Like the standard L300 vans, the 4WD now has a monocoque body with an integral chassis. Underneath, suspension and axle layout stay unchanged; torsion bar and stabiliser at the front and semi-elliptic leaf springs at the rear with a semi-floating axle and limited slip diff. New on this vehicle are the automatic free wheeling hubs, eliminating the need to manually engage and dis-

engage the units. Mitsubishi's four wheel drive technology has been well proven in rallies all round the world and the chain drive and transfer case system remain unchanged. Inside, the designers have made major improvements in the seating and upgraded the trim spec. The reclining front bucket seats which are separated by a console are optionally cloth-or vinyl covered. For additional passenger comfort in rough conditions, there are grab handles beside the door and beside the seat.