Click above for a high-res gallery of the Colt Ralliart Version R Special.
Alex and I share an unbridled lust for the Mitsubishi Colt Ralliart Version R. We've imagined a death match between the souped-up Colt and the Honda Fit, but Mitsu insists that there's no market for a flickable fuel miser here in the States. They're wrong.
Regardless, since its introduction two years ago, the Ralliart Colt has already been kitted out by Recaro and now, they've decided to send out an even more limited edition that's boasting a 10-percent stiffer body through the use of some extensive seam welding. Aside, from that, not much has changed. It's still powered by the same turbocharged 1.5-liter four, sending 154-hp to the front wheels through a Getrag five-speed manual. To drum up a bit more enthusiasm about the limited run of 300 Mitsubishi Colt Ralliart Version R Specials, Mitsubishi set out to break the 1:10 mark at the Tsukuba circuit in Japan. That's enough to make Skylines, NSXs and all manner of JDM exotica chuckle underneath their burbled exhausts, but as any true pistonhead knows, driving slow cars fast has a perverse appeal that even the most high-powered uber-whip can't match.
You can check out three Japanese-language videos of the Colt at Tsukuba after the jump.
[Source: Mitsubishi, JPCN]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Allan @ Apr 24th 2008 8:22AM
I think I'd drive that before a Fit... but wouldn't really buy either one of them.
Chris @ Apr 24th 2008 8:31AM
No market? Are they dumb?
BassClef @ Apr 24th 2008 9:12AM
Yes. Yes they are.
Tourian @ Apr 24th 2008 10:14AM
I think I remember reading somewhere that the current Colt doesn't meet US safety regulations. So yeah, they know there is a market for regular Colts, but not necessarily for this particular Colt. Maybe the next generation of Colt will make it here.
Steve Henderson @ Apr 24th 2008 9:18AM
50 extra hp, and masculine looks give this exactly what the Fit is lacking. I would buy.
Side note - when does the Lancer Ralliart go on sale?
lo-speed @ Apr 24th 2008 9:50AM
I agree Mitsubishi is missing with this one. Bring it stateside - it will sell well. I would really be interested.
drunkenpublicness @ Apr 24th 2008 12:02PM
I don't think this point is lost on Mitsubishi. What I think is lost is the $50-$70 million it'd cost to federalize such a car that was never designed for use outside Europe and Japan. Oh well. Maybe we'll see version 2.0?
thesawzall @ Apr 24th 2008 10:02AM
"but as any true pistonhead knows, driving slow cars fast has a perverse appeal that even the most high-powered uber-whip can't match."
Thanks for recognizing this. I got tired of reading the hardcopy car mags as they all seemed to think everyone only wanted to read about the cars they couldn't afford, because they're the only cars you can have fun in. I love trying to get the most performance out of my lousy Corolla. It's a challenge to take a corner quickly when there's not a whole lot of power to pull out of it with. And hey, you're breaking the law a whole lot less since those cars aren't made to go triple digit speeds in an instant.
Quasiimondo @ Apr 24th 2008 6:11PM
That was the same excuse they gave for not giving us the Evo. The bumper couldn't be modified to meet federal regulations with the intercooler, but when the WRX hit, they simply modified the bumper to meet federal regulations.
John @ Apr 24th 2008 10:20AM
This is exactly the kind of car they SHOULD bring to the States. Bring in the hot fun version of your fuel miser and then you'll get people in the door. You'd sell a crap load of em and then get mom and pop kettle in to buy the base version to get around town in. You know, 150hp would be a blast in this thing and another 50hp would make it obscene while still being easy on the wallet at the pump. Mitsubishi, BRING THIS TO THE U.S.!
rouse42 @ Apr 24th 2008 10:38AM
Fit SI!
Honda, Your missing the boat.
Take that L15, make it a L16 w DOHC, tune it to around 140+hp.
Sell more Fits. Make People Happy.
how hard is that.
Iridium @ Apr 24th 2008 11:33AM
I want those blacked out wheels for my black lancer.
adelossa @ Apr 24th 2008 12:45PM
Colt... Colt... Where did I hear that name before?
cc @ Apr 24th 2008 2:52PM
I checked this car out at the Tokyo Motor show and loved it... the interior was way more roomy than the Fit (bigger than a Versa, even, I think) and the car looked great, if not a little too obviously "boy-racer".
This is also the chassis that underpins the Smart ForFour in Europe apparently, and Mitsubishi Canada was talking about importing the next version (that will be designed to meet crash standards in North America) so maybe the US will get lucky as well.
66coronet @ Apr 24th 2008 2:59PM
I think the colt is what's left over of the now canceled SMART 4four. SMART sales didn't catch on and or something and Mitsubishi continued.
David @ Apr 24th 2008 4:46PM
Sometimes I wonder WHO is actually deciding what to sell in North America. Is it the CONSUMERS? Or the freaking dealers? The phrases "there is no market" or "north american's don't want" seem to be thrown around way too much.
Between European cars getting watered down into North American cars with euro names (Aka Saab 9-3) and cars that never show up here because the dealers would rather sell large high-profit barges and suv's...I think the car companies have lost sight of WHO is the customer here.
it's US dammit!
Dirk @ Apr 25th 2008 4:57PM
Wow, they rebadged a Toyota iST / Scion xA. I mean, it is exactly the same car minus the turbo. Exactly.
Wow. Scion stopped selling the xA here in the USA already. I hope they bring it back because I love my RS1, and I'd love to see a turbo version.
If it comes here, I'll bite.
I just can't get over how uncanny that is to the Scion xA. It's like an identical twin!