FIRSTDRIVE MITSUBISHI COLT: Mitsubishi's new Colt, with its imposing grille, is aimed purely at grabbing a little share of the small car sector, writes Michael McAleerMotoring Editor
IT MAY be billed as the "new" Mitsubishi Colt, but this is more about cosmetics and a few added features, as body structure, engines (at launch) and other major aspects remain the same.
Coming later will be a new range of lower emissions "ClearTec" powertrains, but for now it seems the most noticeable changes to the Colt is an imposing new grille and some extra soundproofing.
Mitsubishi has decided the rather menacing front nose of the recently-launched Lancer should feature on all its range in future. That means on this Colt, and in the next year or so on a revised Outlander.
A big grille is not exactly a major innovation, for the trend has been well-established by other brands, but this car is not really about innovation or leadership. Instead it's a niche player from a brand that realises it is never really going to surpass the big players in the small car market.
That realisation could be applied across the car range of a brand best known for its strong heritage in the SUV market. With sales in that area plummeting for all brands, Mitsubishi needs to get a foothold in the regular car market - particularly small cars - if it wants to keep the cash coming in.
It's fortunate to have launched its new Lancer earlier this year and now comes a revision to its small car competitor. These won't compensate for falling SUV sales, but they will stem the tide while Mitsubishi realigns its reputation.
Ironically, the brand has a history in small cars that traces back to the original Colt of 1963. It's just that it hasn't made much of this until now.
The new Colt does seem something of a stop-gap, while bigger decisions are made by the brand.
One of these will be whether to put its electric plug-in city car on sale in Europe. It's ready, but are we? If the brand is to be anything other than an also-ran here, then it needs to get it onto forecourts and start selling its electric baby soon.
As for the Colt, the new front nose that replaces the rather pinched look of the older model may be new but, like the "new" Golf, 35 per cent of the car is carried forward from the outgoing model. This includes the sub-structure frame, doors and petrol engine powertrains.
Mitsubishi has also approached this version with a cost calculator on hand at all times.
Out goes the diesel derivative: it represented only 13 per cent of sales and that simply wasn't enough to avoid the cut. Out go the independently movable rear seats, replaced by a flat-folding 60:40 split bench. Out go the optional interior colours, replaced by an admittedly more Lancer-like interior, but one that's only available in black.
At a time when the likes of the Ford Fiesta and Opel Corsa are bringing some real added value to the segment, particularly in terms of interior offerings and engine ranges, Mitsubishi isn't really competing with these cars.
Instead it's looking to be a niche player, up against the likes of the Suzuki Swift. And while the Japanese brand claims that price is not one of the Colt's biggest selling points, that's clearly just marketing spin, along with comparisons between the brand and Alfa Romeo or Saab.
The simple truth is that in the current economic conditions, the Colt is very well priced and that's going to be the initial attraction for customers.
Standard specification features 15-inch alloys, leather steering wheel with remote audio controls and front fog lamps, with a starting price of €13,395 for the 1.1-litre in either three or five-door format.
The 1.3-litre version sells at €14,295 for the three-door, and €14,795 for the five-door. That means both versions start at nearly €1,000 less than the major small car competition.
Of the engines, we tested the biggest seller in the Irish market, the 1.1-litre version that will make up 90 per cent of sales. The good news is that it's a really keen little motor that will actually outrun most of its larger competitors in this class.
The downside is that, while the firm has reduced the engine whine compared to the outgoing version, it still makes a bit of a racket when pushed to the limits of its performance.
It's fine around town and even on back roads, but on longer straights our foot was buried to the floor on many occasions. It's spacious up front, and can take a couple of mid-sized adults in the back.
The Colt may not match the Corsa or Fiesta for handling prowess, but it's no slouch and while on some extremely twisting roads, it was a decent drive, if not class leading.
It will be at least two years before we get the new lower emissions variants, yet another example of how the brand is really only playing catch-up in this market segment. The Colt is a good, viable entrant, even when pitted against some high-end rivals like the Fiesta.
For the longer term, however, Mitsubishi needs to be leading rather than following and its electric car could be just the trick to give the brand some real credibility in the increasingly important small car market.
Factfile Mitsubishi Colt
Engines: 1,124cc three-cylinder petrol engine putting out 75bhp. 1,332cc four-cylinder petrol engine putting out 95bhp
Performance for 1.1-litre: 0-100km/h - 13.2 secs; top speed 162km/h
Consumption: 5.5 L/100km (combined)
Emissions: 130g/km
Motor tax: €150 (from January 1st - €156)
Specification: 15" alloys; leather steering wheel with audio remote controls; front fog lamps; MP3 connectivity for radio; electric front windows; emergency stop signal system (hazards flash when brakes applied in emergency to warn on-coming drivers)
On sale: mid-November
Prices: 1.1-litre - three door or five door: €13,395; 1.3-litre three door: €14,295; five door: €14,795