The Clio-based supermini will be built by Renault.
Mitsubishi said in late July 2020 that it will cease operations in Europe and would not launch any new products. However, the firm has altered its mind, and a new ASX, a Renault-built version of the Captur, will be delivered in early 2023. Later that year, it will be joined by the revived Colt, which will be a reskinned Clio made by the company with the diamond logo.
The new Colt, which was previously teased, reappears in a hypothetical rendering shared by Kolesa to indicate how it might differ from its French counterpart. Mitsubishi is unlikely to replace several of the body pieces, such as the doors, hood, and roof, in order to keep prices down. Mitsu, on the other hand, plans to give its supermini a new style with reworked headlights and taillights, as well as a new corporate grille and resculpted bumpers.
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The Colt’s “hidden” rear door handle in the C-pillar was noticeable in the teaser image, representing a design trait shared with the mechanically related Nissan Micra. The latter is living on borrowed time as it will be replaced by an electric subcompact hatchback in 2025. It remains to be seen how successful Mitsubishi’s version is going to be taking into account that the Renault Clio name is far more popular in Europe.
The “Hybrid EV” badge on the door was visible in the teaser image, thus suggesting the 2023 Colt will be offered with an electrified powertrain. Specifically, it should borrow the hardware from the Clio E-Tech Hybrid. The small hatch pairs a 1.6-liter naturally aspirated engine with an electric motor for a decent total output of 140 hp. Of course, the car’s highlight is fuel efficiency to convince people that the diesel engine’s days are truly over.
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Time will tell whether the ASX and Colt will help bolster Mitsubishi’s presence in Europe or these two products will be eclipsed by their Renault donor cars. It’s a shy effort to stick around on the Old Continent while leveraging on the alliance with Renault and Nissan. The trio has its work cut out for it by launching no fewer than 35 EVs by the end of the decade.
Source: Kolesa