Mitsubishi Colt CZC

12:34pm Friday 18th July 2008

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OUR enthusiasm for convertibles seemingly knows no limits, despite the awful summers we are having to endure.

Once largely the preserve of the well-off motorist , this niche market continues to expand, and it is in the so-called “compact” end of the market that the choice has increased significantly.

One relatively new entrant in this increasingly competitive sector is Mitsubishi’s offering, the Colt CZC, which is similar to the regular Colt supermini apart from the big bum of a boot and electrtic folding roof. But when the top comes down , you have a really cute compact convertible with a steeply angled windscreen to give it some edge.

Mitsubishi unashamedly targeted the woman driver for sales. It had seen how the B-segment coupe-cabriolet market in Europe had grown from 106,000 units in 2002 to 150,000 in 2005. With that 41.5 per cent rise in three years, it would have been daft not to have joined the party, and so two years ago it did just that.

Some of the competitors are household names, like the Vauxhall Tigra and Peugeot 207. Then there’s the Micra C+C, from Nissan, VW’s Beetle and the quirky Daihatsu Copen, not to mention the new compact BMW 1 Series Convertible and Audi A3 at a higher price in the premium sector.

Mitsubishi employed Italian design house Pininfarina and automated roof specialists OaSys to help with the design development and assembly.

Although it is sold as a 2+2, the reality is that the rear two seats could only be comfortable if you had no legs.

The roof is activated by releasing two catches and holding down a switch in the driver’s door. Twenty-two seconds later, the world of open-top motoring is all yours. With the chance of a shower becoming the norm these days, that quick change time is becoming increasingly significant.

Powered by a choice of two 1.5-litre all-alloy petrol engines in 107bhp naturally aspirated trim or 147bhp turbo charge guise, the CZC has a five-speed manual gearbox driving the front wheels.

The entry-level CZC is quite sprightly, accelerating from 0-62mph in 10.5 seconds and on to a top speed of 114mph. More serious performance comes with the turbo-charge version, which lops a couple of seconds off that acceleration time and will go on to a maximum speed of 126mph.

The kit list is impressive, particularly when you see that the price tag is £9,999.

Standard specification on the £14,189 CZC model includes ABS anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution, dual side and front airbags, air-conditioning, 16-inch alloy wheels, electrically assistaed power steering, six-speaker MP3-compatible CD player and radio, tilt-adjustable leather steering wheel, keyless entry and remote central locking, front fog lights, height-adjustable driver and passenger front seats, immobiliser, heated electric door mirrors and one-touch electric windows.

The CZC Turbo model, which costs £15,999, adds heated seats, black part-leather interior trim, Mitsubishi’s active stability and traction control system, sports suspension, uprated brakes, sports front bumper, exhaust and pedals, 16-inch alloys and alarm.

The cabin is identical to the supermini version except for the aforementioned roof catches, so expect a simple layout with funky knobs and buttons. Very practical, and certainly with a young-at-heart aura appropriate to this type of car.

The high-revving engine might seem to be struggling at first, but it soon settles into a rhythm.

Those extra mechanical bits and pieces in the rear ensure the weight is evenly distributed, providing for a balanced ride. Mitsubish has stiffened up the chassis, but the CZC remains a fun car to throw around.

And the starting price tag of under £10,000 makes it a welcome guest at the cabriolet party.

At a glance

Model: Mitsubishi Colt CZC
Price: £9.999
Performance: 0-62mph in 10.5 seconds; top speed 114mph
Fuel economy: 42.8mpg combined
Transmission: 5-speed manual driving front wheels
CO2 emissions: 157g/km