With the coming of age has also come the rise of the supermini. The Colt, which resembles a mini hatchback, has a 5-door design and pull-back boot. Mitsubishi has used the Colt nameplate for various models, but it is almost synonymous with superminis. It was first used in 1962 by Mitsubishi and later utilized by Chrysler as a rebranded version of Mitsubishi variations sold in the USA as the Dodge and Plymouth Colts.
Before 2002, Mitsubishi used the Colt name to rebrand several models including the exported Mitsubishi Mirage until 1978 and the Mitsubishi L200 in South Africa from 1992 to 2008.
Colt 600 (1962-1971)
The dawn of the Colt started in 1962, with Mitsubishi Colt 600 as a post-World War 2 release. The Colt 600 was a 2-door, 5-seater sedan manufactured by Shin Mitsubishi-Heavy Industries Ltd, a baby company that would later become Mitsubishi Motors. The Colt featured a rear-mounted naturally-aspirated 2-cylinder OHV engine attached to a rear-wheel drivetrain, producing an output of 18kW. It succeeded the Mitsubishi 500, which inspired the 2-door sedan layout of the Colt. The 600 sported a NE19A OHV inline-2 engine paired to a 3-speed manual transmission, which coughed out a pretty fast top speed of 100km/hr at the time.
Mitsubishi developed a convertible version of the Colt 600, but it never made to production. During the racing craze of the 1960s, the Colt figured in the Malaysian Grand Prix and came out victorious in 2nd and 3rd places. It later grabbed first place in the next year's Grand Prix. After the release of its successor (Colt 800) in 1965, production consequently stopped.
Colt 800 Hatchback
This 2-door passenger hatchback sedan saw the light in 1965. The Colt featured 3-cylinder, 2-stroke I3 KE43 OHV and KE44 OHV I4 engines. It came with a 4-speed manual transmission and could manage 120km/hr. In Australia, however, the Colt 800 was only available as a coupe utility.
Mitsubishi gave up the 2-cylinder engine in 1968 to improve on fuel efficiency and comply with stricter regulations.
Mitsubishi differentiated the next models of the Colt 1000 into the Colt 1000F and Colt 1000 A-series. The A-series was a 4-door sedan which later included 2-door vans in its product line. The Colt 1000F, however, became its flagship product with the 'F' representing fastback or hatchback. Both product lines eventually developed separately.
Colt 1000 A-series
This version of the Colt was Mitsubishi's move to differentiate its Colt product line and widen its market reach. It was a 4-door sedan laid out as a traditional front-engine, rear-wheel-drive vehicle, with a KE43 OHV I4 engine that pushed 38kW of power and a top speed of 126km/hr through a column-shifter four-speed manual transmission.
In December 1965, Mitsubishi put out its first 3-speed automatic transmission (Single Coupling automatic transmission), which was available for the standard and deluxe models. The Colt had its share of motorsport racing events when it won in the 1996 Japanese Grand Prix. It later received an upgrade to 40kw power output.
Colt 1100 (A121)
In 1966, Colt 1100 succeeded the Colt 1000 with a new A121 chassis and a 4-cylinder pushrod KE44 OHV I4 engine that produced 43kW and managed a top speed of 135km/hr. It also featured a stylish front grille, a metallic bumper, and a limited edition floor-mounted shifter. Aside from the standard Colt 1100, deluxe and sport deluxe trims were also available.
A Colt 1100 van version (standard and deluxe trims) came out with the same engine, a 400kg load capacity, and a top speed of 125km/hr.
Colt 1200 A23
In 1967, a new Colt came out with a long-stroke KE46 engine with 46kW of power output. It featured rectangular headlights and rear lamps that replaced the rounder ones sported on the Colt 1100. It also included a lower front grille and a slightly stylish downslope from the front of the hood. The engine was upgraded to 49kW and had a new top speed of 140km/hr.
Colt 1500 A25
The 1500 A25 came with a larger engine based on a 4-cylinder version of the Mitsubishi Debonair KE64 engine - a 1498cc KE45 OHV I4 engine with 51kW power output. It came in a standard trim that had a 3-speed column-shifted manual transmission. Its fourth gear release version increased top speed from 140 km/hr on 3-speed to 145 km/hr on 4-speed.
The van had low gear versions for more load-carrying capacity and was able to reach 125km/hr. The Mitsubishi Delica later replaced the estate wagon in production. A 1500 sedan version was released in 1966 and came with a black grille and two headlights. It was called the 1500 SS and had a floor-mounted column-shifter, a close-ratio 4-speed transmission and front disk brakes. It also received rectangular headlights.
Mitsubishi later developed it into the A27 with a new sedan body style, replacing the 3-speed with a 4-speed transmission that became the standard for all future releases. The sedans had a top speed of 145km/hr, while the wagons had 135km/hr. The A27 also had a sports version in 1965 that featured a twin SM carburettor and produced 63kW in 1969. Mitsubishi transferred its Colt production to its newly formed Colt Galant sedan in 1969.
Colt F-series
Colt 1000F
The Colt 1000F is the other branch of the Colt series that came from the Colt 800. It was Mitsubishi's first rally car. In September 1966, the KE43's pushrod power plant was integrated into the 2-stroke 800 engine to come up with the 1000F engine. This engine produced 40kW. An upgrade in 1967 added a lift to the tailgate to complement its sleek design.
The 1000F also featured a larger rear window van model that had round taillights and similar engine specifications to its sedan counterpart. It was apparent though that Mitsubishi built the 1000F for the racetrack. With its powerful engine, the hatchback saw easy wins in various World Rally Championships and won 4th place in the Australian 1967 South Cross Rally. In May 1969, production ceased.
Colt 1100F
In 1968, the Colt F sported a 43kW engine which became the Colt 1100F. With a new body design, the 1100F featured the fastback's first 4-door version but lacked a tailgate. However, this 4-door version only came with a 1.1-litre engine. It clocked a top speed of 140km/hr and took 19.7 seconds to cover the 400-meter sprint track. The Colt 1100F later got upgraded to a twin carbonated super sport version with a whopping top speed of 155km/hr.
1969 saw the rise of the new Colt lineup with the release of the Colt 11F. It featured a modern design that ditched the iconic top-hinged rear side windows in favour of one window piece. Its new sports, deluxe, and super deluxe trims featured 46kW version of the KE44 engine and several body options. The 11F SS came with a 54kW engine coupled with a 2-door body, giving out a top speed of 155km/hr and managed 17.7 seconds on the 400-meter sprint.
The 1100F also had a wagon option in the same lineup but were named Colt-11 Van and Colt Truck.
Mitsubishi Mirage Colt 1978-2002
The Mirage Colt, a 5-door sedan called the Mitsubishi Colt in Australia, was a front-wheel-drive, 3-door hatchback in 1978. It featured an A155 for 5-door versions and A151 and A153 chassis for 3-door versions.
It had a four-wheel independent suspension, a rack and pinion steering, and front disc brakes. An Orion engine powered it to a maximum output of 53kW. The modulated displacement system that it came with, improved fuel efficiency by closing down cylinders while in idle or cruising states.
Mitsubishi fitted a 1.6-litre Saturn engine (65kW) to the 1600GT model. A turbocharged 77kW variant of the 1.4-litre engine was also available in Japan. The Colt received a facelift in 1982 with fitting headlamps, new grille inserts, larger taillights, a firmer fit engine, and transmission mounts.
2002- Present
In 2002, Mitsubishi introduced the new generation of the Colt, which was available in the following body styles: a hatchback in either three or five doors, a five-door station wagon, and a two-door hardtop convertible.
The 2004 Colt launched with 1.1 MPI Mivec, 1.5 MPI Mivec and 11.5 Turbo Mivec versions. In the same year, the Colt gained another engine - a 1.5-litre D-ID turbocharged inter-cooled version that produced 70kW with electric clutch and six gears. In 2005, the new Colt release featured a retractable hardtop.
2006 saw the production of the Colt Valiant R with 4G15 engine with MIVEC variable valve timing and turbocharger that produced 113kW of power and 210Nm of torque for manual and 180Nm for the CVT model.
The 2008 engine featured 120kW and 210Nm for manual and 113kW and 180Nm for CVT model. However, Australian models of the 2008 Colt came with lighter rims and chrome headlamps.
Colt MIEV
Mitsubishi brought the Colt MIEV in 2006 with a separate electric motor for each wheel. It had two 20kW in-wheel motors with a top speed of 150km/hr and 150km range on a single charge.
Mitsubishi made a 2006 release of the Colt Plus, but it did not reach the Australian market. It featured a 1.6-litre SOHC 4G18 CVT engine with an output of 84kW of power.