MITSUBISHI plans to unveil its new multi-purpose vehicle Grandis at the British Motor Show next month, before putting it on sale a couple of months later.

Designed to be the people carrier of choice - that is a vehicle as good to drive as it is to look at - the new Grandis will be priced from £18,499 - £22,999. There will be three specification levels, Classic, Equippe and Elegance.

Mitsubishi was one of the first to enter the multi-purpose vehicle segment with its Space Wagon in 1983. The Grandis, while not a direct replacement for Space Wagon, is an evolution of the concept created to provide a flexibility to meet most needs of MPV customers.

Kitted out to carry seven, the Grandis will be powered by Mitsubishi's new 2.4-litre 165bhp MIVEC petrol engine and comes with a choice of manual transmission or INVECS II four-speed automatic with sports mode. A 2.0 litre turbo diesel will be added to the range next year.

To look at the Grandis is lower than its competitors and, says Mitsubishi, it is sportier and sharper on the move.

The new people carrier also arrives with a new "hide and seat" concept: that is the back row can be individually folded away into the floor in a simple operation that takes seconds. This feature - unique in the full size MPV segment - creates extra luggage capacity without the problems of folding, removing, carrying and storing heavy seats. With the second and third row of seats folded in place, 1545-litres of cargo capacity is available. The versatility of the seating also means the third row seats can be reclined for added comfort, and both seats can be reversed for relaxing under the open tailgate.

Jim Tyrrell, managing director of Mitsubishi Motors UK reckons sales will reach 2,000 sales within its first full year on the market ... "however, if the reaction of our dealer network is anything to go by, we could well see this figure increase."

All models with carry important safety features including ABS anti-lock braking, electronic brakeforce distribution, driver and passenger front and side airbags plus curtain airbags for the first and second rows of seats.

At £18,499 for manual and £19,499 for automatic transmission, the Classic equipment includes 17-inch alloy wheels, single CD player, keyless entry and alarm, automatic air conditioning, front fog lamps, rear spoiler, electronic door mirrors and height adjustable driver's seat with armrest.

The Equippe, priced at £20,499 for manual and £21,499 for automatic, gains stability and traction control, dual sunroof, cruise control, leather steering wheel and shift knob plus a CD autochanger. Add leather and you have the top specification Grandis Elegance for £21,999 with manual transmission and £22,999 with automatic transmission.

The 2.4-litre litre 16-valve four-cylinder engine develops 165bhp at 6,000 rpm and 217Nm at 4,000rpm. In terms of performance, Mitsubishi figures show the Grandis is capable of accelerating from 0-62 in 10-seconds (11.7-seconds with the automatic transmission) and has a combined fuel consumption figure of 30.4mpg or 9.3 litres/100km (28.5mpg or 9.9 litres/100km for the automatic).

Updated: 11:14 Friday, April 09, 2004