Loaded with technology, style and flexible room

Mitsubishi Motors has unveiled its new Colt, the Company’s entry into the increasingly popular sub-compact 5-door hatch premium market segment.

When designing Colt, Mitsubishi decided that the car needed to offer classy exterior and interior designs and high safety performance at a reasonable price. It also had to deliver outstanding dynamic performance while also returning excellent fuel economy and clean emissions.

Silky lines flow uninterrupted from the front fender to the trailing edge of the roof, to give a silhouette that is clear-cut and dynamic, with simple and clean surfaces. The road-hugging appearance that results from placing the wheels at the four corners of the body, the smooth and tautly flared wheel arches, the side surfaces that appear to flow round and tuck naturally into the rear all combine to give the car an exciting road presence.

Centred around the three-diamond badge, the frontal design features the new global Mitsubishi design identity. The location of the triangular base for the badge in the centre of the grille, and the 3-D continuation of the motif into the engine hood serve to draw the eye to the badge, and to accent its presence.

The crystal-like headlamps are given a 3-D styling treatment behind their clear lenses to project a look of functional elegance and fine quality.

The rear combination lamps are tall and highly visible, and the high mount stop lamp is located at the top of the tailgate to also improve visibility. There is a slight peak in the metalwork of the tailgate, just above the Mitsubishi three diamond logo, that adds character to the rear of the car.

The aerodynamic exterior mirror design repels water droplets when driving in the rain. Mounting the mirrors on the doors improves forward visibility, and the mirrors can be retracted for parking in tight spaces.

Colt has body-coloured front and rear bumpers, outer door and tailgate handles, and exterior mirrors. LS has 14” steel rims with full wheel covers, while XLS has 15” alloys as standard.

XLS also gets metal look headlamp accents, mesh-type centre grille, colour coded side and rear spoiler, and parabolic fog lamps in the lower front bumper. Privacy glass is standard on XLS.

The radio antenna is mounted in the centre of the front of the roof.

Inside, Colt’s design is a clean, modern and elegant design.

The dash and instrument panel is a sweeping wrap-around design that flows into the centre panel. The interior feel is a bluish-grey based colour scheme using a glossy dark grey with a hint of blue for the centre panel, and a metallic look finish for the garnish panels (air outlet rings, power window switch panels, and combination cluster outer) that creates a casual and sporty mood inside the car. The seats are upholstered in a light grey cloth with a sheen finish, and the side trim panels uses a dark blue cloth to complement the sporty, hi-tech look.

Colt tops its class in terms of interior space roominess, and careful attention to seat shape and seated height means occupants enjoy outstanding comfort and forward visibility, with easy and natural entry and exit. The car’s long – 2500mm – wheelbase accounts for 65% of its overall length, and results in a generously roomy interior cabin space.

The car comes with two individual front seats that have a generous 250mm travel (and 50mm height adjustment for the driver’s seat).

The rear bench seat, with its 50:50 split seat back, has 150mm travel adjustment, and the backrests recline through 20° from vertical. 50mm higher than the front seats, the raised rear seats give the occupants excellent visibility. Folding and tumbling the rear seat forward will create a cavernous 594 litres of cargo space.

A lot of thought has gone into the interior to ensure there are many storage areas – the glove box, steering column under tray, front cup holders, front door bottle holders, front door pockets, passenger seat back pockets (on side of seat and on rear of seat), convenience hook on passenger seat back, and under seat storage on passenger seat.

Colt comes with air conditioning – with a pollen filter - fitted as standard, while other standard features include a column-mounted gear shift, power steering, power windows, power door mirrors with fold control, two-speed windscreen wipers with intermittent control, rear wiper and washer with intermittent control, tilt steering column, room map and cargo room lamps, ignition key reminder, ignition key cylinder illumination, AM/FM radio / single CD audio unit with four speakers, two child safety seat anchorages and child-proof rear door locks.

Colt XLS gets a leather-wrapped steering wheel, centre console systems tray and tacho additional to the impressive list of standard features on the LS model.

Colt is powered by a new generation engine that achieves a balance between performance, fuel economy and cleanliness. Integrated electronic management of Mitsubishi’s own MIVEC (Mitsubishi Innovative Valve lift and timing Electronic Control) engine and the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) powertrain is just one of the cutting-edge technologies Colt employs. It delivers superior levels of dynamic performance, fuel economy and clean emissions, thereby delivering premium class levels of road and environmental performance.

Colt is powered by a 1.5 litre four-cylinder DOHC 16-valve engine with MIVEC that strikes the optimum balance between generating gutsy power and torque while returning easy-on-the-pocket fuel economy and clean emissions.

With its short stroke (75.5mm X 82.0mm) design, optimised intake port configuration and intake valve timing for all engine speeds, the 1.5 engine delivers stress-free performance across the whole rev range while still returning outstanding fuel economy. The engine delivers 72kW at 6000rpm and 132Nm of torque at 4250 rpm, while returning a frugal 6.4 litres / 100 kms fuel economy.

INVECS III Continuously Variable Transmission comes to the Australian market for the first time in Colt.

Because the transmission is the latest generation of Mitsubishi’s acclaimed INVECS intelligent transmissions it is computer controlled to ‘learn’ individual driver’s driving style? With the infinitely variable ratios – between 2.319 and 0.445 - offered by the CVT, this ensures both performance and efficiency under all conditions.

The final drive ratio is 5.219, and reverse is 2.588.
The gearshift lever is column-mounted.

Colt’s ride and handling is said to be superb.

Steering is power-assisted rack and pinion, and the turning circle is a tight 9.4 metres.

When mated to the suspension that has been developed and finely tuned to give a good balance between handling stability and a flat comfortable ride, Colt is a joy to drive.

It uses a new design MacPherson strut arrangement at the front, while the rear suspension is a new H-shaped torsion beam arrangement. This very compact assembly locates the coil springs under the rear floor, and the shock absorbers as far outboard as possible, to give roomy cabin space.

Colt adopts a new 3-point inertial-axis engine mount system that uses liquid-filled insulators. Together with the location of the transmission inside the side members to reduce offset, and the fitting of stabiliser bars to the high-rigidity cross members to spread roll reaction forces, this gives a significant reduction in noise, vibration and harshness.

Braking for Colt is done by ventilated disc brakes with one-pot calipers in the front, and drum brakes in the rear. ABS and EBD (Electronic Brakeforce Distribution) is fitted standard for quick, straight and sure stops every time.

Fitted with 14” steel rims with full-size wheel covers Colt LS is shod with 175/65R14 radial ply tyres as standard, while XLS wears 15” alloy wheels fitted with 185/55R15 radial ply tyres as standard.

The spare tyre is a T15/70D14 temporary use tyre fitted to a steel rim.

Safety has not been neglected, and Colt comes with an abundance of safety features as standard.

Colt uses a new design platform that is a ‘straight frame rail’ design that realises outstanding body stiffness, strength and crashworthiness.

The side chassis member features an octagonal section at its leading end and a figure-of-eight section at its trailing end, in a design that raises crash energy absorption efficiency and optimises frame deformation mode. Large area surfaces such as the doors are given a spherical section to ensure a structure that offers significant benefits in terms of stiffness and vibration control.

The new straight frame rail platform makes a significant contribution to Colt’s crashworthiness. And, with the use of stamped high-tensile strength door panels and strategically located reinforcements, the body provides excellent occupant protection and delivers outstanding crash energy absorption performance.

However, it is not only the body that helps Colt deliver a safe driving environment for its occupants.

Both front seat belts are lap-sash belts with pre-tensioners and force limiters, to alleviate wearer injury by controlling belt force in an accident. The two outer rear belts are also lap-sash, with a 2-point belt in the centre position.

Driver and passenger airbags are standard, and side and curtain airbags (available from September ’04 production) are optional on both models.

Other safety features include anti-trapping power windows, childproof rear doors and anti-intrusion brake pedals. The anti-intrusion brake and foot-operated parking brake pedals prevent ankle and leg injuries in a frontal collision.

The seven fashionable and distinctive colours that comprise the colour palette enhance the stylish shape of the car, are sympathetic with its modern appearance, and include:

• White solid
• Cool Silver Metallic
• Pearl Yellow
• Red Solid
• Medium Orange Metallic
• Black Mica (only available with XLS)
• Pale Medium Bluish Grey (available from Sept ’04 production)

Although Colt is comprehensively equipped with desirable features as standard, the following options are available to allow customers to tailor the car to their individual requirements:

LS	Side and curtain airbags	$1,200
	Metallic / pearlescent paint	$240
XLS	Side and curtain airbag	$1,200
	Metallic / pearlescent paint	$240
	Electric sunroof	$1,600
	Side and curtain airbag / electric sunroof	$2,800

Colt will cost $18,990 for the LS variant, and $20,990 for XLS when it goes on sale in September.