The new pickups might be luxurious on the inside but they are still a working man's truck as Phillip Graham of Liguanea Drug and Garden Centre showed at the unveiling. - photos by Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

Daviot Kelly, Staff Reporter

If the people at Motor Sales have their way, Jamaicans will fall in love with the pickup truck all over again.

The company, via its Mitsubishi Motors division, launched the new L200 and L200 Sportero line of pickups at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel on Tuesday. No two vehicles were the same, whether single- or double-cab, automatic or manual, there was something for every car lover. Apart from its great leg room, stylish interior and sporty cab, the pickups looked sleek, and if some persons had their way, they would have driven them out of the ballroom, down the passageway and out the doors of the hotel.

Paul Issa, deputy chairman of the Issa Transport Group under which Motor Sales falls, promised exciting times ahead for Mitsubishi as the new Pajeros, Outlanders and Lancers were all going to be out within the next year. The service department will also be refurbished.

Brian Stevenson, managing director of the group, called the event the rising of the phoenix as he expressed confidence that Mitsubishi would once again battle for the top spot. State Minister for Transport and Works, Fenton Ferguson, lauded Motor Sales for dealing in quality pick-ups since 1979. He felt the company would be the envy of the Caribbean.

Appreciation

When time came to officially see a few of the vehicles (guests had been doing that all evening anyway), the appreciation of modern engineering and technology sunk in. The leg room, leather interiors and other amenities seen more in a sedan had the crowd buzzing. The offer was made for any interested motorists to request a test drive and a few took up the offer right on spot.

Guests included Transport Minister Robert Pickersgill; First Caribbean's Juliet Gayle; Warren Castle; Chris Issa; Barrington Gray; market analyst for the Issa Transport Group, Sloane Jackson, and Melissa Rattray; Thansenia Purser, marketing executive at Mitsubishi Motors; Ann McFarlane; Deborah Stewart, brand sales and marketing manager of Prestige Motors; Justine Willoughby; Motor Sales marketing executives Neville Richards and Andr? Thomas; Kent LaCroix; Andr? Hylton; and Karen Smith and Peter Ashbourne who provided entertainment, even making a few jingles about the new Sportero.