Mitsubishi Motors Europe and Pininfarina are jointly developing a convertible version of the acclaimed new Colt hatchback.
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A contract just signed covers the design and development of the convertible and its production at the Pininfarina plant in Turin from early 2006.
A ‘concept’ will debut at the Geneva motor show in March but the car will be a 2+2 like Peugeot’s rather cramped 206CC, not a four-seater as per the CZ2 concept shown in 2003.
The new model’s main rival will be the popular Peugeot though other rivals likely to be shopped by buyers will surely include Opel’s new 2-seat Tigra, maybe Citroen’s C3 Pluriel (conversion to a full convertible is rather complex and the model gained an early UK reputation for leaks) and definitely the upcoming Nissan Micra cabriolet.
Like the Micra, 206 and Tigra, the new Mitsi will have a folding steel top – to meet market demand MME said – but there’s no official word yet on engine options. European Colts have 1.1, 1.3 and 1.5-litre petrol engines and a 1.5-litre diesel plus manual and automated manual gearboxes so there is plenty of scope.
MME confirmed that design and engineering is being shared between itself and the Italian coachbuilder which already builds European versions of the Pajero io small SUV as the Shogun Pinin.
Mitsubishi Motors´ NedCar plant in Born, The Netherlands, will provide Pininfarina with body-in-white components for the new car.
