First look: Mitsu's stylish new Colt CC

MITSUBISHI has revealed a sketch of the Colt Coupe-Cabriolet concept it will unveil at the Geneva motor show on March 1.

Designed jointly by Mitsubishi Design Europe and Pininfarina, which will assemble the production model, the three-door Colt-based CC concept is a development of the CZ2 Cabriolet concept shown at Geneva in 2003.

Measuring 3.89 metres long and featuring 18-inch wheels, the 2+2 Colt CC employs a 112kW/210Nm turbocharged 1.5-litre MIVEC engine and a folding metal roof to replace the CZ2 Cab’s soft-top.

The turbo engine is the same as that fitted to Mitsubishi's Colt CZT revealed at last year's Paris motor show, which is expected to go on sale here under the Ralliart banner in the final quarter of 2005.

In two-door CZT hatch guise, the turbo engine is claimed to be good for 0-100km/h acceleration in eight seconds and a top speed of 210km/h.

While the five-door CZT hatch would be a rival for the likes of Peugeot's 206 GTi and Renault Clio Sport at around $30,000 when it joins Mitsubishi's sole 72kW 1.5-litre XLS Colt variant ($20,990) Down Under, if sold here Colt CC would compete for sales with Peugeot's 206 CC.

Mitsubishi says it will also exhibit a diesel version of its Grandis people-mover at Geneva, which uses a Volkswagen-supplied 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine with pump-jet injection. It will go on sale in Europe in the third quarter of this year.