2023 Mitsubishi Colt debuts in Europe with a hybrid mill

KUALA LUMPUR: Mitsubishi has revealed the all-new seventh generation of its popular compact hatchback, the Colt, in the European market. The upgraded version of the car is a rebadged model of the new Renault Clio and underpins the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance CMF-B platform. The new Colt will be manufactured at Renault's Bursa plant in Turkey and is slated to hit the European showrooms later in October. 

Design-wise, the new Mitsubishi Colt boasts a sporty and powerful character with the brand’s signature Dynamic Shield front grille. It is combined with sleek LED headlights and L-shaped LED DRLs forming a sharp look. Also, parts of the exterior pack are - LED fog lamps, distinctive rear light clusters, and 17-inch alloy wheels.

In terms of mechanicals, the new Mitsubishi Colt is an environmentally-friendly vehicle as it houses a full hybrid setup alongside a conventional gasoline option. The HEV setup combines a 1.6-litre gasoline engine with two electric motors (an alternator-starter and a main motor), and a 1.2 kWh battery pack. Together, the system churns out a maximum power of 145 PS which is transmitted to the ground via an automatic, multi-mode gearbox.

The conventional gasoline setup, on the other hand, includes a 1.0-litre turbocharged gasoline mill producing 90 PS and 160 Nm. It comes paired with either a six-speed manual or a 5-speed manual transmission.

The interior of the new Mitsubishi Colt is almost identical to the donor model with key inclusions as -

• 9.3-inch portrait-style infotainment system (7-inch basic unit as standard)
• 10-inch instrument cluster (7-inch unit as standard)
• Three drive modes - My Sense, Sport or Eco mode
• Bose premium sound system with nine speakers
• Heated steering wheel
• Wireless smartphone charger
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

The hatchback also incorporates an array of advanced safety features assisting the driver with safe, secure driving. The list includes - Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Lane Departure Prevention, Easy Park Assist, Forward Collision Mitigation system, Lane Departure Warning, Automatic High Beam, Traffic Sign Recognition system, Blind Spot Warning, and Rear Cross Traffic Alert.

As the new Mitsubishi Colt is specifically developed for the European market, it will not be coming to Malaysia.

Also read: Modified Mitsubishi Triton and Xpander on display at Tokyo Auto Salon, KL