Mitsubishi Colt
The current Mitsubishi Colt is a supermini built by Mitsubishi Motors at their NedCar plant in the Netherlands, using the same underpinnings as its sister car, the now discontinued Smart Forfour. Mitsubishi has used the name twice previously, first as the marque of a series of kei cars and subcompact cars in the 1960s, and then as the export version of the Mitsubishi Mirage hatchback in the 1980s and 1990s. The Chrysler Corporation, Mitsubishi’s longtime partner, also used the name in the 1970 when it rebadged the second generation Mitsubishi Galant as Dodge Colt and Plymouth Colt captive imports for the United States market.
Mitsubishi introduced the “Colt” name in 1962 on the Colt 600, the first of a line of small, sporty vehicles complementing their Mitsubishi 500, the company’s first post-war passenger car. Powered by a NE35A 594 cc OHV two cylinder air-cooled engine. At this time, Mitsubishi Motors did not yet exist as an autonomous company, and vehicles were being produced by three regional subsidiaries of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. MHI, which had been formally dismantled after the Second World War, resumed operating as a single entity in 1964, but continued to use the ‘Colt’ marque until the 1970s in Asia, and the 1980s in Europe.
To complement the 600, a larger compact car was introduced in 1963, the Colt 1000, followed by the Colt 800 and Colt 1500 in 1965.
The Colt marque was used principally in the United Kingdom, and phased out around 1984. In New Zealand, the Colt brand began disappearing in the mid 1970s in favour of Mitsubishi and surfaced as a model name only in the late 1980s and in 2003.
In the 1980s, Mitsubishi Motors Australia offered the original Mirage as the Colt, building it at its Adelaide plant. The Australian Colt was available as a four- or five-door with a 1.6-litre engine at the top of the range. It was sold as an entry-level model there and in New Zealand, where the second-generation Mirage was already on offer.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the Colt name was applied to the Mitsubishi Mirage hatchback in most export markets.
1978 Mitsubishi Colt 3-door (UK market nomenclature)
1985 Mitsubishi Colt 5-door (UK market nomenclature)
Late 1980s Mitsubishi Colt 3-door
Early 1990s Mitsubishi Colt 3-door
1999 Mitsubishi Colt 3-door
In 2003, a new Colt was released by Mitsubishi in Japan with a design by Olivier Boulay and built on the same platform as the Smart Forfour. A European version made at Mitsubishi’s NedCar facility followed into production a year later (see below).
In 2004, the Colt was launched in Europe, with models ranging from 1.1 MPI, 1.3 MPI, 1.5 MPI and 1.5T in petrol. The performance specification 1.5T was based on the 4G15 block, with a Turbo and Intercooler to aid power (147 hp @ 6000 rpm / 155 lb·ft (210 N·m) @ 3500 rpm). MIVEC variable valve timing was also used to increase the output, upping the power dramatically from the 109 hp (81 kW) 1.5 MPI. The same performance engine was also used to power the later released CZC cabrio model Colt (2005), with the more petrol-friendly 1.5 MPI available as a option.
The Smart forfour also shared the ‘03 specification chassis, with Brabus releasing a performance version of the forfour in ‘04 using the same engine as used in the 2004 European cz-T, but squeezing 30 extra HP out of the same 4G15.
In November of 2004, a 1.5 L D-ID direct injection turbodiesel version with Turbocharger and Intercooler, producing 95 PS (70 kW) was made available, with an option of the Allshift automatic manual gearbox with electric clutch and six gears.
2007 Mitsubishi Colt Plus (Taiwan model) - Front
2007 Mitsubishi Colt Plus (Taiwan model) - Rear
In 2004, the Colt Plus was launched in Japan. This was essentially a longer version of the standard Colt.
In March 2007, Mitsubishi launched Colt Plus in Taiwan. It’s much similar to the version launched in Japan, however, the engine is different. It’s powered by a 1.6-litre SOHC 4G18 engine and it’s the same engine used in the 2000 Taiwanese specification Lancer, only running slightly increased power of 112 hp (84 kW) @ 6000 rpm and 14.9 kg.m @ 4500 rpm. It’s the only model of Colt Plus that is powered by 1.6-litre engine in the world and it uses the INVECS-III CVT transmission in fully automatic mode.
Mitsubishi released its new Colt CZC coupé cabriolet to the Geneva Motor Show in March 2005, and the car has been on sale since 2006. The car is a 2+2 with a retractable hard-top and available with the turbo engine from the European cz-T or as just a 1.5 MPI. Jointly developed by Mitsubishi and Pininfarina under Ken Okuyama, it is partly made in the Netherlands, with final assembly taking part at Pininfarina in Turin, Italy.
Mitsubishi released a new Colt Ralliart Version-R in Japan on May 30, 2006. Its 4G15 engine, with MIVEC variable valve timing and turbocharger, produces 154 PS (113 kW) at 6000 rpm and 210 N·m (155 ft·lbf) at 3500 rpm. Other key features include a stiffer chassis, bodykit, and Recaro bucket seats borrowed from the Lancer Evolution VIII MR. The rear seats are molded for two passengers, as opposed to three in the rest of the range. Incidentally, this is the same engine used in the 2004 European performance specification Colt (CZT), only running slightly increased horse power figures (torque stayed the same). Speculation has been levelled at this, stating that higher JAP-spec fuel with its increased octane rating could have added those extra few horses. This version is also sold in Australia and New Zealand as the Colt Ralliart, without the ‘Version-R’ designation.
In 2006, Mitsubishi released a Colt MIEV, using a separate electric motor at each wheel.