FROM September, Mitsubishi Motors will launch a full-scale attack on the UK MPV market with the addition of a class-leading 2.0 litre 134bhp diesel engine to its acclaimed Grandis seven-seat people carrier.

Four specifications will be available priced from £19,699 to £23,699, ranging from the entry-level Classic to the range-topping Grandis Warrior.

The Grandis may be an MPV, but performance is very much a priority. Turbocharged with 1,968cc this DOHC 16 valve EU-4 compliant diesel engine is equipped with a pump-jet injection system developing 134bhp at 4,000rpm and 310Nm at 1,750rpm.

Mated to a six-speed manual gearbox, this state-of-the-art Volkswagen-sourced engine gives the 1,690kg Grandis DI-D top league performance with a maximum speed of 121mph, a 0-62 dash time of 10.8 seconds and, most importantly, an economical combined fuel consumption figure of 43mpg.

Lower, sportier and sharper than its competitors, the latest model year Grandis not only gains diesel power it also benefits from dynamic improvements.

Fine-tuning of the front suspension and adjustments to steering response improve on what is already one of the best driving experiences in the MPV segment.

Being an MPV, practicality is also a priority for Grandis and it remains one of the only full-size MPVs to have a rear row of seats that can be individually folded away into the floor in a simple operation that takes seconds.

This feature, called Hide & Seat, creates extra luggage capacity without the problems of folding, removing, carrying and storing heavy seats.

Four equipment-packed specifications will be made available in the Grandis range; Classic, Equippe, Elegance and the range-topping Warrior.