2005 Mitsubishi Colt Preview

In previous years Mitsubishi's smallest car, the Mirage/Colt, was simply a chopped hatchback version of the Lancer sedan,

The Colt, a name that once graced North America's compact vehicle segment in the '80s and '90s, has been resurrected. (Photo: Mitsubishi Motors North America)

however, with the decision to introduce a completely new car in association with DaimlerChrysler's smart division, the Colt is not based on any current new car architecture.

Mitsu's entry-level car will be sold in three trim levels, representing family values in its five-door hatchback variant, and less constrained singles with a smaller three-door hatchback that will go by the name of CZ3, picked up from the hot concept car of last year. The final trim designation will be CZT, the T standing for turbocharger, a model which sports obvious benefits over the naturally aspirated Colt.

In a segment where size truly does matter, Mitsubishi have applied a smart design to the Colt to increase interior volume and room while cutting back on exterior size. The five-door hatch measures in with a length of 3,870 mm, a width of 1,680 mm, a height of 1,550 mm and

Mitsubishi has applied a smart design to the new Colt, increaseing interior volume while cutting back on exterior size. (Photo: Mitsubishi Motors North America)

a wheelbase of 2,500 mm - larger in nearly every dimension than the European class leaders, the Honda Jazz and Volkswagen Polo. With slightly larger dimensions, the Colt edges out the competition in cabin room and passenger comfort. Just because it's larger than others in its segment, however, doesn't mean that the Colt's exterior dimensions are larger. At over 100 mm smaller than the Colt/Mirage that it replaces, there is a clear separation between the two generations of compact hatchback as it now targets the B-segment instead of the C-Segment: a wise choice on Mitsubishi's part.