Colt comfort; Roadtest: Mitsubishi Colt Drivers will love the stylish new Mitsubishi but rival car makers won't, says BILL CAVEN.Byline: BILL CAVEN WHILE it's hardly a new name in town, the new Colt is clearly a horse of a different colour and one that could give its supermini A large-scale minicomputer. Note: Supermini is not the same as mini-supercomputer. rivals a serious run for their money. The fifth-generation Colt, the latest model in Mitsubishi's rejuvenated line-up, is a complete departure from previous cars bearing the badge. The Japanese company have great expectations for the new Colt and, while the lucrative supermini sector is already crowded, I'm sure they won't be disappointed. The stylish newcomer is the first model to emerge as a result of Mitsubishi partnership with Daimler-Chrysler, which means it's been specifically designed for European tastes. Unfortunately my first experience with the Colt didn't get off to a good start. The flight to Barcelona, venue of the press launch, was delayed by several hours, after which we managed to get hopelessly lost in the city's centre. But all that was quickly forgotten when I finally got into the Colt, which turned out to be a great soother. Although it is compact in size, it's incredibly roomy. And apart from boasting the best total legroom leg·room n. Room in which to stretch the legs while seated. legroom Noun space to move one's legs comfortably, as in a car legroom n → in its class, the new Colt is also very versatility when it comes to carrying a load, as the rear seats can be individually reclined, folded or removed altogether. Around the narrow city streets the Colt comfortably zipped in and out of traffic. And when we reached the motorway it blasted along with the best of them. It felt and drove like a big car, with crisp handling throughout, and the lack of road or wind noise was most impressive. The new Colt will come with a choice of four trim levels and four power trains three petrols and a diesel. It's well equipped, and even the basic model has anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution Electronic brakeforce distribution or EBD is an automobile brake technology that automatically varies the amount of force applied to each of a vehicle's brakes, based on road conditions, speed, loading, etc. , alloys and a CD sound system. With prices starting at less than pounds 9000, the new Colt is out to capture sales from the likes of the Ford Fiesta The Ford Fiesta is a mid-class supermini car designed and built by the Ford Motor Company in Europe, and also manufactured in Brazil, Mexico, Venezuela, China, India and South Africa. and Vauxhall Corsa. And it certainly has the qualities and driving dynamics to pose a serious threat. factfile Model: Mitsubishi Colt
Today's Mitsubishi Colt is a supermini built by Mitsubishi Motors at their NedCar plant in the Netherlands, using the same underpinnings as its sister car, the now Engine: 1.1, 1.3 and 1.5-litre petrol; 1.5-litre diesel Power: 75 to 109bhpWarranty: Three years/unlimited miles Price: pounds 8995 to pounds 12,499On sale: September |
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