Review
Available with the choice of either 107bhp or turbocharged 147bhp 1.5-litre petrol engines, the CZC has a folding metal roof which transforms the car from coupe to convertible in seconds.
It is the latest launch of electric fold-aways, going head to head with the Peugeot 206CC, Nissan Micra C+C and Vauxhall Tigra.
Standard equipment includes alloy wheels, air-conditioning, a leather steering wheel and gear lever, ABS anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution and integrated front fog lights.
The Turbo adds stiffer sports suspension, stability and traction control, part-leather seats, a restyled front bumper and 16-inch alloy wheels. That’s not a bad level of equipment for the price, although some of the dials and instruments on the dashboard look a little tacky.
A total of 600 sales are planned for this year, with full-year sales in 2007 reaching 1,000 units.
Mitsubishi hopes to include user-chooser female company drivers among its customers.
Behind the wheel
WHAT a joy the CZC is when the sun is out and you are cruising through the countryside.
It is a cute looking car, particularly with the roof down, and it has a 2+2 seating configuration, although the rear seats won’t carry adults in any comfort.
We got the chance to test the top-of-the-range 1.5-litre turbocharged model, offering 147bhp, and the drive was pleasantly sporty. Putting the roof down is a fairly simple affair, although there’s a bit of manual unclipping before the electronics take over. Then press a button and the roof is neatly stowed away in 22 seconds.
The Colt handled well out on the road. It’s a brisk little car but suffers from a degree of scuttle-shake. Even at motorway speeds, with the roof down and a deflector in place wind intrusion inside the cabin was at a minimum – certainly not enough to ruffle hair.
Verdict
As a male driver in his 30s, I don’t form part of Mitsubishi’s target audience for this car – but having to hand it back after a few hours in the sunshine was tough. And the extra performance from the Turbo justifies its £2,000 price premium.
| Model: | 1.5 | 1.5 Turbo | ||
| Max power (bhp/rpm): | 107/6,000 | 147/6,000 | ||
| Max torque (lb-ft/rpm): | 280/4,000 | 155/3,500 | ||
| Max speed (mph): | 114 | 126 | ||
| 0-62mph (secs): | 10.5 | 8.4 | ||
| Fuel consumption (mpg): | 42.8 | 39.8 | ||
| CO2 emissions (g/km): | 157 | 168 | ||
| On sale: | Now | |||
| Prices (OTR): | £13,999 | £15,999 | ||
