Mitsubishi Colt Performance special commemorates rally past

At a time when carmakers seem hell-bent on taking the joy out of driving, Mitsubishi’s Czech unit has come up with a crazy idea: slap a rebadged Renault Clio in rally livery, slap on some bigger wheels, and finally Pair that with a 27 percent power boost (don’t get excited, it still won’t beat your grandma’s Prius), and you’ve got a special edition version of the new Mitsubishi Colt.

Enter Mitsubishi Colt Performance and prove you don’t Need actual performance Call something “performance”. Sure, it’s not the reincarnation of the Lancer Evo (please don’t make us laugh), but at least someone still remembers Mitsubishi’s rally cars as a thing – even if their execution feels more like an SNL sketch about budget tuning than serious business Try out the glory of motorsport.

fake it ’til you make it

Let’s start with the visuals. The Colt Performance comes in a custom package with matte black and red graphics over a white body. It’s supposed to evoke the spirit of the Mitsubishi Ralliart’s glory days, but all it really does is remind us how much we miss the Ralliart. The “Performance” lettering on the side and hood is almost endearing in its overconfidence, especially considering Mitsubishi’s actual motorsport department had zero involvement in the project.

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To complement the flashy livery, Mitsubishi’s Czech team added red accents to the grille, chunky front splitter and side skirt extensions. A new set of 18-inch OZ Racing Superturismo GT alloy wheels completes the look.

Smaller engines provide more power

Under the hood, you’ll find a slightly modified version of the turbocharged 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine, mated to a six-speed manual gearbox (that’s gotta count for something, right?). Outputs rise from the standard model’s 99 hp (74 kW / 101 hp) and 160 Nm (118 lb-ft) to a more respectable 127 hp (95 kW / 129 hp) and 222 Nm (164 lb-ft) of torque. These numbers were even confirmed on the dyno.

Interestingly, these figures are quite a bit worse than the stock 1.0 TCe 130, which produces 129 hp (96 kW / 130 PS) and 240 Nm (177 lb-ft) of torque in the Renault Clio twin, although this powertrain is better in Renault Not available in Clio twin. Mitsubishi Colt.

Mitsubishi’s Czech team claims the increase in power is significant due to the subcompact’s lightweight nature, with the non-electric version weighing in at 1,097 kilograms (2,418 pounds). There’s no mention of chassis upgrades, which means Colt retains the standard suspension setup. Frankly, a lowering kit would have been a suitable addition to the project).

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We would give them some credit for trying. While the Colt Performance may have been misguided, it at least shows that someone at Mitsubishi hasn’t completely forgotten the brand’s motorsport history. They even named the Lancer Evo in the marketing blurb, which is pretty rich considering the Colt can’t even tow the Evo’s spoiler.

Vladimír Hejna, sales director for Mitsubishi in the Czech Republic, said their goal with the Colt Performance was to “create something fun to drive”, inspired by the brand’s success in Lancer Evolution motorsport.

Mitsubishi has yet to announce pricing or availability details for the Colt Performance, but a LinkedIn post describes it as a “limited edition.” This suggests that the modified car will be sold in the Czech Republic and not a one-off sale. So if you’re in the market for a small hatchback that’s not actually a rally car, this might be your chance.