2023-06-08 19:05:05
Colt is one of the oldest and most famous, but at the same time undeservedly forgotten names in the Mitsubishi Motors lineup. The first Mitsubishi Colt model appeared back in 1962, and since then a variety of cars have been produced under that name – from rear-engined small cars to light trucks, so counting generations is pointless. But for the last ten years, this name has remained only in the Taiwan market – Mitsubishi Colt Plus station wagons are still being produced there. Now Colt is back in Europe with a new hatchback for the local market.
However, this is not an independent model and not even a Mitsubishi development. The European Colt was created in the same way as the Mitsubishi ASX crossover, which has been sold in the Old World since March of this year. Mitsubishi only redesigned the Renault Clio hatchback, which just last spring underwent a planned upgrade.
The fact is that the priority market for Mitsubishi is now Southeast Asia, where the company has the strongest positions. The second tier is Australia, Africa, the Middle East and South America. Europe is in the third role, but Mitsubishi does not intend to completely leave here, therefore, refurbished Renault cars produced as part of OEM cooperation within the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance will be sold on the local market. And it is logical that for badge engineering, models of the segments most in demand in Europe were chosen.
The transformation of a restyled Clio into a Colt was carried out at minimal cost. Only emblems, nameplates, grille and front bumper cover have been changed. For the sake of saving on development, the engineers did not even begin to change the hood panel with a characteristic cutout for a rhombus diamond. And on the fifth door, a rear-view camera now stands out, because the Clio has it built into the emblem located in this place. Even the wheels (from 15 to 17 inches in diameter) are exactly the same as those of cars under the Renault brand.
Salon Clio also went to Colt with minimal changes. A new steering wheel hub appeared, a different seat upholstery was selected, and a stylized French tricolor disappeared from the front panel. Colt is offered in four trim levels with the names Inform, Invite, Intense and Instyle familiar from other Mitsubishi models. The equipment for hatchbacks under the two brands is the same. Depending on the configuration, Colt can have a 7 or 10 inch instrument screen, and a 7.0 or 9.3 inch media system display. The basic equipment includes automatic braking and lane control systems, for a surcharge – adaptive cruise control.
Colt got a truncated engine range: it does not have either a gas engine or a turbodiesel that Clio has. There are only three options to choose from. The basic three-cylinder aspirated 1.0 (67 hp) is combined with a five-speed manual transmission, its turbo version (91 hp) is combined with a six-speed “mechanics”. And at the top of the range is the Mitsubishi Colt HEV hybrid, similar to the Renault Clio E-Tech.
He has an aspirated 1.6 (94 hp) working in tandem with a robotic gearbox (without synchronizers and clutch) and an electric motor (69 hp). The peak output of the system is 145 hp, and such hybrids can only start on electric traction: the operation of the gasoline engine at idle is excluded, it can be connected following the start of movement. The capacity of the traction battery is 1.2 kWh.
The current Renault Clio hatchbacks are produced in Turkey and Slovenia, but Mitsubishi Colt will be registered only at Renault’s Turkish plant. In Europe, sales of hatchbacks under the Japanese brand will begin in October. There is no information on prices yet, but they are unlikely to be higher than those of Renault.
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