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- World Premiere # 1: sporty Colt CZC -
Two years after the launch of the Colt hatchback and a year after the
introduction of the Colt coupé, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) will unveil
the third variant of the European Colt family at the 76th Geneva Motor Show: the
sporty Colt CZC coupé-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 Motors´ 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 coupé - 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
coupé-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 Pininfarina´s 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.
* Data subject to final confirmation.
** where legal
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