History
You'd be excused for being confused. Originally, when it arrived in the UK during the Seventies, the Mitsubishi franchise was called 'Colt' in the UK (because the importers didn't think British buyers liked Japanese names. When the three-diamond marque assumed its proper name, the 'Colt' tag was transferred to the franchise's smallest three-door hatchback offering. Three door models only were offered.
Though it goes back a little further, we'll start with the `organic` shape announced in 1988; an angular-looking car but quite a good one. There were three engines - a 1.3, a 1.5 and a 1.6 16v for the GTi hot hatch. In the Spring of 1990, the GTi's 1.6 was replaced by a 1.8 16v unit. Later that year, the 1.3 and 1.5-litre versions gained 12-valve technology.
In 1992, a far prettier Colt was launched, aimed at Honda's fifth generation Civic, with new multi-link rear suspension and greater refinement. Again, there were three engines, all with catalysed exhausts - a 12v 1.3, a 16v 1.6 and a 16v 1.8 for the rare GTi hot hatch. This range lasted until 1996 when the stylists fiddled with its clean shape - to the car's detriment in the opinion of most.
Still, it was a more effective package. Again, the engines were 1.3 and 1.6, but this time there was no GTi hot hatch; instead, we got a Mirage version with sporty addenda but the same 1.6 engine as the ordinary GLX. There was however, the option across the range of a clever 'thinking' automatic gearbox, capable of making changes according to your mood.
The range had a minor makeover in summer 1998. Next, in December 1999, a new cheap but stripped-out base 1.3GL model (dual airbags but no central locking or electric windows) and a fully-equipped (alloy wheels, air conditioning, anti-lock brakes) GLS replacement for the Mirage topped and tailed the ongoing 1.3 and 1.6 GLX versions. These mid-rangers were both improved with the 1.3 gaining an electric sunroof and passenger airbag while the 1.6 got anti-lock brakes. The run-out models were called Classic, Equippe and Mirage. Then summer 2004 saw the unveiling of an all new Colt.
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