First look: Euro Colt gets a Lancer look

AS EXPECTED, Mitsubishi unveiled its new-look European Colt hatchback at the Paris motor show last week, complete with a sharper new design and a Lancer-like ‘jet fighter’ grille.

To be launched in Europe in October, although still to be confirmed for Australia (which gets a different Japan-built model for all but the coupe-cabriolet), this Euro-designed and Dutch-built model has all-new body panels forward of the A-pillar, redesigned ‘samurai-like’ headlamps, black sash foils on the C- and (in the case of the five-door) D-pillars, blacked-out sills, revised rear lamp cluster, a more elaborate bumper and new wheel designs.

The sportier orientation continues with some mechanical tweaks, such as a thicker front stabiliser bar for the Ralliart Colt, while a range of measures to reduce noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) were also introduced.

The redesigned cockpit – again, a la Lancer – includes a new steering wheel, digital information display, amber instrument lighting, better stereo integration, silver trim highlights (with the previous light blue translucent elements toned down), higher quality seat material and extra equipment on certain models, such as cruise control, home-safe automatic lighting and an emergency stop signal system.

Modifications to the rear seats now enable a full flat floor to be created when folded, while an adjustable cargo floor height increases the maximum cargo volume some 150 litres to more than 1000 litres.