The Colt is the first...
The Colt is the first vehicle to come from the Mitsubishi/DaimlerChrysler alliance. Both the Colt and Smart will be built at the NedCar plant in Holland, but it"s clear the Japanese firm"s designers have taken a very different approach to shaping the ideal supermini. For European markets, the Colt has a redesigned front end, which gives the sharp-edged, upright car a purposeful look.
It means a sky view...
It means a sky view and plenty of interior light, even in the winter. But should the sun shine, the roof will disappear under the rear deck in only 22 seconds. The Karmann-designed C-VIEW system is standard on all models.
Lower and longer than the conventional Micra by 110mm and 90mm respectively, the C+C seats four. That gives it a clear advantage over Vauxhall"s Tigra, which only has room for two, but it also means a class-leading 211-litre boot with the roof down or 426 litres with it up. The Micra"s cabin is retained, with different trim and white dials.
Power comes from 98bhp 1.4-litre and 110bhp 1.6 petrol engines, with an 82bhp 1.5 dCi diesel in the pipeline. The C+C will make its official public debut at September"s Frankfurt Motor Show, and go on sale in November. Prices are expected to start at around í‚á£13,000.
Meanwhile, Nissan has freshened up the Micra range, too. Here next month, it has restyled bumpers and grille, with the three-door Sport getting a revamped roof spoiler. The cabin has 10 new colour combinations. Thicker front glass improves refinement on five-door cars, while a 1.2-litre unit replaces the entry-level 1.0 petrol. The sporty 110bhp 1.6 160SR sits at the top, alongside a new 1.6-litre five-door SVE. Prices start at í‚á£8,075.
SEE PAGE 25 OF THIS WEEK"S ISSUE: BMW CC revealed