Mitsubishi Motors has launched a van version of its Shogun Pinin to test demand for a compact 4x4 van, with prices starting from £10,995 for the 'i' and £11,995 for the GLX.

Strip-out versions of the Pinin – minus rear seats, for example – are shipped from the Pininfarina factory in northern Italy and converted to vans by adding the rear side panels.

The conversion takes place at Mitsubishi's import centre at Bristol's Royal Portbury Dock.

Target buyers are small businesses and owner-operators and the growing number of dotcom companies that might be tempted by a trendy van to deliver goods bought over the internet.

The engine is the same as the passenger car version – a 1.8 GDI unit and a five-speed manual transmission. The load area has 925 litres of space and it is able to carry up to 330kg in weight. Towing capacity is 1,500kg (3,307lbs).

To date, the import centre has converted about 100 Pinins.