Many enthusiasts in Malaysia will definitely enjoy the Mitsubishi Colt Performance Special
In an era when automakers seem intent on stripping away the excitement from driving, Mitsubishi’s Czech branch has come up with an unexpected approach, take a rebadged Renault Clio, dress it up with a rally-inspired livery, add larger wheels, and boost the power by 27 percent (though don’t get too hopeful, it still won’t leave your grandma’s Prius in the dust).
Enter the Mitsubishi Colt Performance, a special edition of the new Colt that proves you don’t need actual performance to slap the “Performance” label on a car. While it’s far from a Lancer Evo reincarnation (thankfully, no one’s claiming that), it’s a reminder that Mitsubishi still remembers its rally heritage, even if the result feels more like a parody of budget car mods than a serious motorsport tribute.
Moreover, let’s start with the aesthetics. The Colt Performance features a custom wrap with matte black and red graphics on a white body, aiming to evoke the golden days of Mitsubishi’s Ralliart racing team.
Instead, it only serves as a nostalgic reminder of what the brand once was, with the “Performance” lettering on the sides and hood exuding an almost comical level of overconfidence, especially considering Mitsubishi’s actual motorsport division wasn’t involved in this project.
To complement the flashy graphics, the Czech team added red accents to the grille, a bulky front splitter, and extended side skirts. The car’s look is rounded off with 18-inch OZ Racing Superturismo GT alloy wheels, making it appear more aggressive than it actually is. Under the hood, the Colt Performance features a turbocharged 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine paired with a six-speed manual gearbox.
On top of that, while it’s an improvement over the standard model’s 99hp, pushing the output to 127hp and 222Nm of torque, it’s still not exactly a powerhouse. These figures are even a bit underwhelming compared to the Renault Clio’s 1.0 TCe 130 engine, which produces 129 hp and 240 Nm of torque.
Still, Mitsubishi claims the power increase is noticeable, particularly given the Colt’s light weight, tipping the scales at just 1,097kg. However, no chassis upgrades have been made, and the car retains the standard suspension setup. A lowering kit could have been a fitting touch to enhance the performance feel.
So what do you think of this car? Should Mitsubishi push production hard and introduce it here so enthusiasts have a new and hopefully affordable manual to buy? We got all this from Carscoops and their full article is linked here. Thank you Carscoops for the information and images.
