• Render reimagines the Colt with Eclipse Cross-inspired styling cues.
  • The current Colt is a rebadged Renault Clio introduced in June 2023.
  • A next-gen Colt could arrive by 2027 as a fully electric hatchback.

What started as a plucky Japanese hatchback has now been reduced to little more than a Renault Clio wearing a different badge. Now, with the sixth-generation Clio having been released, digital artist Theophilus Chin has stepped in to imagine a version of the Colt that actually looks like it belongs to Mitsubishi.

His renderings attempt to restore some lost character, giving the badge-engineered hatchback a touch more individuality than the uninspired current model.

The existing Colt, introduced in June 2023, shares its underpinnings with the facelifted previous-generation Clio. Reports from France hint at a next-generation Colt arriving in 2027 as a fully electric hatchback based on the Renault R5 E-Tech and Nissan Micra platforms. Theottle’s vision, however, explores a hybrid approach that follows the trajectory of its French sibling.

Partnership Power

Mitsubishi’s European strategy continues to rely on its partnership with Renault, offering an entire lineup of rebadged, electrified vehicles. These include the Colt (Clio), ASX (Captur), Grandis (Symbioz), and Eclipse Cross (Scenic E-Tech). Earlier badge-engineered efforts kept changes subtle, with little more than new grilles and badges, but the latest models show greater individuality. They now feature distinct bumpers, lighting, and styling cues that align more closely with Mitsubishi’s design language.

More: The Eclipse You Really Want But Mitsubishi Won’t Touch

In that spirit, Theophilus Chin gave a more extensive makeover to the fictional hatchback. At the front, he borrowed the LED headlights, grille, pronounced chin, and sculpted hood from the new Eclipse Cross. The look blends surprisingly well with the hatchback’s body, and some might even find it more attractive than Renault’’s oversized bumper intakes and complex details.

Forget The Renault Clio, This Mitsubishi Colt Is The One We’d Buy
Forget The Renault Clio, This Mitsubishi Colt Is The One We’d Buy
Forget The Renault Clio, This Mitsubishi Colt Is The One We’d Buy
Forget The Renault Clio, This Mitsubishi Colt Is The One We’d Buy
Forget The Renault Clio, This Mitsubishi Colt Is The One We’d Buy
Forget The Renault Clio, This Mitsubishi Colt Is The One We’d Buy
Forget The Renault Clio, This Mitsubishi Colt Is The One We’d Buy
Forget The Renault Clio, This Mitsubishi Colt Is The One We’d Buy
Forget The Renault Clio, This Mitsubishi Colt Is The One We’d Buy
Forget The Renault Clio, This Mitsubishi Colt Is The One We’d Buy
Forget The Renault Clio, This Mitsubishi Colt Is The One We’d Buy
Forget The Renault Clio, This Mitsubishi Colt Is The One We’d Buy
Forget The Renault Clio, This Mitsubishi Colt Is The One We’d Buy
Forget The Renault Clio, This Mitsubishi Colt Is The One We’d Buy
Forget The Renault Clio, This Mitsubishi Colt Is The One We’d Buy
Forget The Renault Clio, This Mitsubishi Colt Is The One We’d Buy

Illustrations Theophilus Chin

The profile is carried over without any changes on the sheetmetal, but in reality Mitsubishi could at least add a new set of alloy wheels for the sake of differentiation. At the back, the designer proposes a heavier investment with a unique bumper, tailgate, and LED taillights.

More: Mitsubishi Triton Could Transform From An Ugly Duckling To A Swan

The footprint of the Mitsubishi Colt would be slightly larger than its predecessor, mirroring the new Clio that stretches to 4,116 mm (162.1 inches) long. The new generation of the Clio rides on an upgraded version of the CMF-B architecture, and is available with electrified powertrains. Options include the mild-hybrid 1.2-liter TCe with 113 horsepower and the more potent full hybrid 1.8-liter E-Tech with 158 horsepower.

With the current Colt still relatively new, Mitsubishi may choose to keep it in showrooms for a few more years before rolling out a next-generation version closer to 2027. Whether that future Colt draws from the redesigned Renault Clio or the all-electric R5 E-Tech remains to be seen.