Exploring the Colt Car
By Fei Lim

During the 1960s and 1970s, Mitsubishi Motors created the Mitsubishi Colt, a supermini that blossomed from their NedCar plant situated in the Netherlands. While the car utilizes some of the same characteristics of the now-defunct Smart Forfour, the Colt has undergone a series of phasing out in numerous countries to a reemergence in the car world throughout the 21st century.

Brief History on Colt Cars

The birth of the Colt brand name came in 1962, when Mitsubishi presented the Colt 600 to the public. This vehicle would become the first entry in a line of small-stature cars that showcased a sporty appearance. The car was meant to serve as a complement to the Mitsubishi 500, which at the time, represented the company's first attempt at a post-war passenger car.

During the 60s, Mitsubishi Motors did not possess the title of being an autonomous company. When they produced their vehicles, they came from one of three regional subsidiaries of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. It was through MHI that the Colt name would live during the 1970s in Asia, and throughout the 80s in Europe. Additional cars to follow the Colt 600 included the Colt 1000 in 1963, which highlighted a larger version of the compact car. The Colt 800 and Colt 1500 were introduced in 1965.

About the world, some countries embraced the Colt car more than others. For example, the Colt was well known in the United Kingdom, where it was eventually phased out in 1984. Overall, the Colt brand started to vanish throughout the middle of the 70s and became a model name during the late 80s and in 2003.

The 21st century saw the Colt make a comeback as Mitsubishi in Japan released a new version. In 2003, the design was revamped, but also built in the same manner as the Smart Forfour. The following years would see additional models emerge from the Colt line, including a move into a more environmentally conscious approach towards car production.

Colt Models of the 21st Century

Over the years, Mitsubishi produced an array of Colt cars that varied from a 3-door or 5-door hatchback to a 2-door hardtop convertible. Starting in 2004, Japan produced the Colt Plus, which offered a longer version of the standard Colt on the market. A European version was also created and launched throughout Europe with a range of model characteristics, such as 1.1 MPI, 1.3 MPI, 1.5 MPI and 1.5T in petrol. Some of the newer components associated with the brand name included turbo features and supercharged internal combustion systems, which boosted the power of the vehicle. The output of the car also increased as MIVEC variable valve timing was added.

By November of 2004, a version of the Colt offered a 1.5 L D-ID direct injection turbo diesel version was released. This particular car offered more features than previous selections. Additional options were also introduced to the public, as the Allshift automatic manual gearbox was now available on the Colt. The electric clutch and six gears made the car more desirable to consumers.

Mitsubishi released yet another new Colt in 2005, as the CZC (a coupe cabriolet) made an appearance at the Geneva Motor Show in March. It became available for purchase in 2006 and is still on the market. Some of the features associated with this model include a turbo engine hailing from the European cz-T, as well as a retractable hard-top.

In 2006, Mitsubishi released the Colt Ralliart Version-R in Japan, which possessed a 4G15 engine with turbocharger and the capacity to produce 154 PS at 6000 rpm. The Ralliart Version-R version offers molded rear seats for two passengers and outfits the vehicle with standard leather seats.

Future Concepts

2006 also marked a significant moment for Mitsubishi car production, as the Colt reached new levels of consumer interest when they released a vehicle model plan to create vehicles that receive power through electricity. The Mitsubishi Colt EV (also referred to as MIEV technology) is making its rounds and has been mentioned at a handful of car shows.

This electric car vision serves as a physical result of the recently created environmentally friendly vehicle movement that Mitsubishi wishes to back. At each wheel, a separate electric motor has been positioned. Lithium-ion batteries also power the car, which is believed to travel a little over 90 miles or 150 kilometers. With an anticipated release date of 2010, the Colt EV is predicted to showcase a purchase price of $19,000.