Mitsubishi Motors at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show

Two years after the launch of the Colt hatchback and a year after the introduction of the Colt coupe, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) will unveil the third variant of the European Colt family at the 76th Geneva Motor Show: the sporty Colt CZC coupe cabriolet, developed together with legendary Italian coachbuilder Pininfarina.

Designed and engineered in close collaboration between MMC, Mitsubishi Design Europe and Pininfarina S.p.A., the 2006 Colt CZC echoes Mitsubishi Motorsґ first ever show car, the Colt 600 Convertible, unveiled at the 1962 Tokyo Motor Show.

Space Unique to the European market, Colt CZC is built off the Colt hatchback platform, rather than the shorter Colt coupe - for packaging purposes - while sharing the class leading 2.50m long wheelbase that is common to all Colts.

This allowed the adoption of a retractable hard-top – as dictated by the market – while offering the much appreciated extra space / storage / seating arrangement of a 2+2, as well as a capacious trunk.

Most powerful engine Sitting on its long wheelbase and wide tracks, Colt CZC delivers the dynamics on the road that are promised by its purposeful styling. This is thanks to a strong and reinforced bodyshell (to compensate the absence of a structural roof) and the 150 ps 1.5 litre MIVEC turbo-charged engine shared with the Colt CZT that delivers a 202 km/h top speed and 8.4 seconds 0-100 km/h acceleration. This will be the most powerful engine offered by any such B-segment coupe-cabriolet (i.e.: with a retractable hard-top).

The car’s specifically tuned chassis also adds to its great driving dynamics.

A 109ps 1.5 litre normally aspirated petrol engine is also proposed.

Pininfarina + NedCar Production of the Colt CZC is scheduled to start at Pininfarinaґs Bairo plant, near Turin (Italy), on March 7th.

Pininfarina will source the platform and the Colt family carry-over components from Mitsubishi Motors’ NedCar plant in Born (The Netherlands). Pininfarina will focus on providing the specific structural reinforcement for the coupe-cabriolet conversion and the body-in-white assembly, painting the body and following trimming and final assembly with unique parts and NedCar-sourced mechanical components.

Colt CZC will reach European customers during the second quarter of 2006.

Source: theautochannel.com
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