Revived Japanese supermini and new ASX to spearhead new product offensive for Europe
The famous Mitsubishi Colt nameplate will return in some European markets just in time to celebrate the 60th anniversary of its introduction. To prove it, Mitsubishi has begun teasing the 2023 Colt it plans to launch with the release of a shadowy image of the curvy looking hatch it will introduce.
Featuring a snub-nose front design, fish hook LED headlamps and an illuminated three-diamond badge, it’s telling that the first glimpse of the reborn Colt proudly sports a ‘Hybrid EV’ badge on its front fender, suggesting an electrified engine lurks beneath its bonnet.
Set to be based on the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance CMF-B architecture, the small five-door hatch, it’s thought, will share much with the existing Renault Clio with some even suggesting it will be little more than a facelifted version of the current car – witness the rising beltline and rear C-pillar that are identical to the fifth-gen BF Clio. It’s a safe bet that the Mitsubishi will also run a development of the Renault Clio E-Tech 107kW hybrid’s powertrain that blends a 1.6-litre petrol engine with an electric motor, a starter-generator, a small 1.2kWh battery and a dog-clutch transmission.
The result should be a Colt that will complete around 80 per cent of all its urban journeys on EV power alone. As far as performance goes, expect a 0-100km/h sprint of around 10.0 seconds and a 180km/h top speed. Primed to be built at the same French Renault plant that currently builds the Clio, the Mitsubishi Colt is scheduled to arrive in European markets early next. There’s no word on whether or not the Colt has been engineered for right-hand drive but it could be unlikely following Mitsubishi’s withdrawal from the UK market back in 2021.
If that’s the case, a lack of RHD and Australian’s preference for small SUVS, means the Colt will never be offered Down Under.
Keyword: Mitsubishi Colt reborn next year as small hybrid hatch