Geneva Motor Show 2004 - Mitsubishi

Mitsubishi's all-new Colt supermini has been on sale for some time in Japan, but makes its European debut today at Geneva.

The five-door Colt shares many parts with the Smart Forfour, which also goes on sale in September, but should be £1000 cheaper, with prices starting at £9000.

It's longer than the Smart, too, and Mitsubishi claims the Colt’s cabin will have class-leading legroom. The split-folding rear seats can also be slid fore and aft or removed completely.

Power will come from three petrol engines: a 74bhp 1.1-litre, a 94bhp 1.3-litre and a 107bhp 1.5-litre. A 1.5-litre diesel engine developing either 67bhp or 94bhp is also planned.

Also on display is the CZ3 concept car, which gives strong clues to how the three-door Colt will look. The CZ3 is far more imposing than the five-door Colt, although production versions are likely to lose the sporty bumpers and sills of the concept.

On sale next year, the three-door line-up will include a turbocharged 150bhp 1.5-litre version.