2005 Mitsubishi Colt Preview

What you get inside the new compact Mitsubishi is a fresh, clean and very stylish design. Its waterfall-style dashboard is

What you get inside the new compact Mitsubishi is a fresh, clean and very stylish design. (Photo: Mitsubishi Motors North America)

quite clever in delivering an airy feel, while the dashboard itself has been crafted from plastic in two distinctive colors and textures: very unique in a car this size. Sporty instrumentation with three separate pods works hand in hand with the thick, three-spoke steering wheel and circular vents.

The Colt's back seat is rather versatile too, because of its 60/40 split-folding bench configuration that actually rides on rails. It can slide back and forth, recline, fold completely flat, and then if needed, be removed.

Colt equipment levels are actually rather impressive, as most models come with such exclusive features as a cooled glove box and an in-dash CD changer. Twelve-volt power outlets are located around the car as well. Stylish, comfortable and practical, the interior of the Colt will be a big selling point.

As good as it is, however, the Colt interior gets a sporty upgrade in Mitsubishi's top-line CZT. But more important to

With 150-hp, the Colt CZT should go from 0 to 100 km/h in under 8 seconds. (Photo: Mitsubishi Motors North America)

CZT customers will be its turbocharged powertrain and improved suspension components. Mitsubishi has taken the Colt's largest engine, the 1.5-liter 4-cylinder, which is just shy of 110 horsepower, and ratcheted on a turbo for a healthy boosted output of 150 horsepower and 155 lb-ft of torque. The gain of 41 horses should bring acceleration times down below 8 seconds to 100 km/h, and elevate the car's top speed to about 210 km/h. Congruent with rival sport models, the Colt CZT will only be offered with a manual transmission, this one featuring five forward gears.