Colt Ralliart Goes Under the Knife For 2009, Soon to be Available in UK, Europe

For starters, that Evo-esque bonnet vent has been binned, as have the funky black fender flares that were one of the most prominent visual features of the outgoing model. The Jet Fighter fascia, while it works a treat for the big-brother Evo, doesn't seem to gel with the Colt's proportions quite so well either, and the end result is a car that retains none of the visual aggression of its predecessor and adds a fair degree of awkwardness to boot. Mitsubishi says the '09 model is lower and wider than the current Colt too, but based on these photos it sure as hell doesn't look it.

There's more bad news I'm afraid.

The 2009 Colt Ralliart will be powered by the same 1.5-litre turbo as the current JDM-spec model - however it'll be detuned by 10-odd kilowatts to just 110kW.

A step backward? You bet.

At least handling is said to be improved through some minor geometry tweaks and an increase in front rollbar thickness, but will these changes make up for the reduction in power output and the rather pedestrian styling?

European hot hatch fans may find more joy in Mitsu's announcement though. From next year onwards, the Colt Ralliart will be available for the first time in the European market, whereas previously the closest thing they had to it was the watered-down Colt CZT. There's no word yet on whether Asian-market Colt Ralliart's will also receive the detuned engine, but JPCN will keep you posted as that news comes to hand.

Colt (European market model)

Mitsubishi Motors launched the Colt series in Europe in 2004, and since that time it has sold some 270,000 models. The series includes many variants including the 5-door Colt, 3-door Colt CZ3, turbocharged 3-door Colt CZT and soft-top Colt CZC.
Major changes to the new European Colt unveiled at the Paris Motor Show include the Mitsubishi Motors signature inverted-slant nose and trapezoidal "jet fighter" grille also used on the Lancer series. The 5-door body models also feature a restyled rear end and are joined by a new turbocharged trim level.

In line with Mitsubishi’s brand heritage & positioning, a new Colt Ralliart (150 PS 1.5 turbo) is introduced, available for the first time in 5-door form as well.
Compared to the previous Colt CZT and in addition to a stronger structure, the Colt Ralliart suspension has been amended in eight different points for sharper driving dynamics, including reduced body roll thanks to a thicker front stabilizer bar.

The new Colt series also reflects Mitsubishi Motors' strong commitment to the environment. The low-CO₂ Colt Clear Tec model is powered by a 1.1- or 1.3-liter engine which incorporates the company's AS&G (auto stop-&-go) idling stop system. In addition, the 1.3-liter Colt Clear Tec FFV caters to growing demand for flexible-fuel vehicles.

[Source: Mitsubishi Motors]
[Images: Mitsubishi]