21 Jan 05
Mitsubishi has been selling Colts since time immemorial, it seems. Well, since 1962, but that's more than long enough for it to qualify alongside the Toyota Corolla and Volkswagen Beetle as one of the world's longest-running model ranges. This latest Colt range is a long way from the dull, dated supermini which struggled its way through the turn of this century, however: all-new from the ground up, sharing its underpinnings and engines with DaimlerChrysler's Smart Forfour, and, highlighting the much-improved driving dynamics and younger, sportier image, it's now offered with a 147bhp turbocharged engine.
The three-door Colt CZT was never conceived as a mini-Evo - more's the pity, but cash-strapped Mitsubishi says it just couldn't justify the cost of developing such a model, which would sell in much smaller numbers with no margins for profit. Instead, it's pitched as a "warm", rather than "hot" hatch, and it's up against the likes of the Fiesta ST, Punto HGT, MG ZR 160, 206 GTi 136, Ibiza FR, the warmer non-Renaultsport Clios and perhaps the Corsa SRi - all more established in the hot hatch market and already popular amongst younger buyers. At £12,999 the CZT isn't cheap, and with Group 14 insurance it's still going to be too expensive for inexperienced drivers to run, but it compares favourably to a number of its better-known near-rivals.
The CZT's Japanese-built turbo-charged 1.5-litre engine (also to be fitted in the upcoming Smart Forfour Brabus) delivers 147bhp and 155lb ft of torque; top speed is 130mph and 60mph comes up in eight seconds. Mitsubishi also claims 41.5mpg economy - which we suspect might be a tad optimistic if you enjoy putting your right foot down - but in theory at least, it manages to deliver fairly rapid performance without costing a fortune in fuel.
