Mitsubishi Motors Corporation has issued the following press release:
Tokyo, November 11, 2002-Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) today unveiled its new Colt, which is the company’s first model in the increasing popular subcompact segment. The distinct styling and classy interior of the high-performance Colt promise to bring a touch of elegant luxury to the subcompact segment when it rolls into showrooms in Japan on November 16.
“The new face of Mitsubishi has arrived. The Colt represents a new direction for Mitsubishi Motors in terms of design and quality,” said MMC CEO and president Rolf Eckrodt. The Colt’s platform, jointly developed with DaimlerChrysler, meets global safety standards and offers outstanding driving performance. “Our alliance with DaimlerChrysler made it possible to achieve the highest safety and quality levels,” Eckrodt added,referring to MMC’s Quality Gate system of stringent checks carried out during development and production.
The Colt is a key product in the 3-year MMC Turnaround and is the first new model to be introduced in Japan since the recently announced reorganization of MMC’s domestic sales network. The long-awaited Colt also marks MMC’s commitment to producing new, exciting products: MMC plans to introduce around 15 new models to the Japanese market by 2007.
“Our Turnaround is on track. We are ahead of schedule in reducing costs and optimizing our processes. And now we have an outstanding new product. The Colt will be the driving force of a sales-led growth in Japan,” said Eckrodt. MMC is targeting monthly sales of 7,000 units on average over a 5-year life span.
Both MMC and DaimlerChrysler Smart plan to use the Colt’s platform for a compact car in Europe. MMC’s European compact car, set for release with a different styling in 2004, will be manufactured at MMC’s NedCar plant in the Netherlands with an annual production of about 100,000 units.
COLT
Major product features
The Colt delivers all the vehicular performance qualities expected of a subcompact: fuel efficiency, clean emissions, crashworthiness and maneuverability. It also brings class-eclipsing levels of quality in its athletic “one-motion form” and the choice quality of its interior trim and equipment. Major distinguishing features include:
I. Class-eclipsing quality
Chic and sporty exterior
Colt features a clean, high-quality design crafted in Europe. — Mitsubishi Concept-RA.
The “one-motion form”, which flows sweetly from front bumper to the trailing edge of the roof, maximizes occupant space and creates an exterior that immediately identifies the vehicle as Colt.
Centering around the large Mitsubishi three-diamond mark, the triangular front-end architecture embodies the new MMC design identity.
4-bulb headlamps feature 3D-styling of reflectors behind clear lenses, projecting a classy and distinctive front visage.
Available in a wide choice of 10 body colors, six of which are brand new for Colt. (light Yellow will be available in March 2003.)
Chic and elegant interior
The user-focused interior has been developed to realize a premium quality look and feel, and comfort.
The dashboard and instrument panel employ a sweeping surface composition that gently wraps around and cocoons front seat occupants.
Two interior schemes are offered: “Warm” featuring a bright and clean brown-beige two-tone coordination; and “Cool” using a gray monotone color scheme to evoke a sporty image.
Two types of front seat are available: bench or individual.
The bench front seat model sports a Useful Seat feature with a 6.1-liter capacity locker under the front passenger seat squab for small-item stowage. The squab can be locked in the raised position, and retaining hooks fitted to the underside to secure luggage. — Volkswagen space up! blue concept.
Two rear seat configurations are available: bench and individual. Both types feature 150mm travel adjustment (the individual seats may be adjusted separately) and can be tumble- folded forward to create a cavernous luggage space. The versatile seating makes it possible to tailor the interior for different purposes.
The front door trim has a soft pocket that holds a 500ml PET bottle. A mini-trash bin or umbrella pouch,which are available as MMC genuine accessories, can be attached.
For greater foot and leg room in the front compartment, Colt uses a column-mounted Smart Shifter and a foot-operated parking brake. These features also create a convenient side walkthrough aisle which also facilitates entry and exit in confined parking spots.
II. Balanced performance
Class-topping road and environmental performance
Colt models are powered by new 1.3-liter and 1.5-liter MIVEC DOHC engines mated to continuously variable transmissions in powertrains that realize nimble, responsive performance.
1.3-liter MIVEC…. 66kW (90PS), 121Nm (123kg-m)
1.5-liter MIVEC…. 72kW (98PS), 132Nm (13.5kg-m)
The 1.3-liter Colt returns top class fuel consumption of 20km/liter in the Japanese 10-15 urban driving pattern (mileage varies with equipment specification).
All Colt models have received U-LEV certification for emissions performance that is 75% better than required by Japanese 2000 emissions standards, and also qualify for Vehicle Green Tax exemption for meeting Japanese 2010 mileage standards.
Colt’s suspension uses a new MacPherson strut arrangement at the front and torsion beam arrangement at the rear to marry pliant handling characteristics and stability with a flat and comfortable ride.
New platform and safety
To be co-shared with DaimlerChrysler, the new platform uses a straight frame rail design. This combines a straight side rail structure, which transmits impact energy linearly, with octagonal-section front side members, which absorb impact energy very efficiently, to realize a dramatic improvement in crash energy absorption and provide a high level of occupant cell protection. — Tokyo Show sustainability concepts.
All Colt models are fitted as standard with driver and front passenger airbags. Side airbags for front seats and side curtain airbags for front and rear seats are available on all models.
Other elements adding to Colt’s class-topping crashworthiness by reducing lower-limb injuries include a retracting brake pedal and parking brake pedal.
In addition to 3-point rear seat belts fitted with child seat retainers, Colt’s comprehensive safety specification also includes a ISO-FIX child safety seat retaining bar fitted as standard.
III. “Freedom of choice” exterior and interior trim and equipment selection
Customer Free Choice
Introduced as a new user-focused sales initiative, the Customer Free Choice (CFC) system gives the car purchaser greater freedom in selection of trim and equipment at prices he is happy with. By enabling the customer to choose from options that were only available to specific trim levels in the past, he is able to tailor his Colt to his needs, tastes and lifestyle by putting together his desired exterior and interior colors, seat type and even equipment specification while deleting those items he does not require.
CFC offers three basic packages for the customer to start his selection from. Casual Version features a basic compact class specification; Elegance Version with its brown-beige 2-tone Warm interior color scheme and bench front seat; and Sport-X Version with a full-feature sports specification including aero parts and 15-inch alloy road wheels.
Also available is a Standard Version which enables the customer to “full order” tailor the equipment and other specifications to his own requirements, and the Sport Version which, based on the Sport-X Version, offers a wide choice of audio and other dealer options.
