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

• Independent digital artist Theottle envisioned a Mitsubishi version of the new Renault Clio.
• The renderings borrow styling cues from the new Eclipse Cross, creating a stronger identity.
• The current Colt debuted in 2023 as a rebadged version of the facelifted fifth-gen Clio.

The Mitsubishi Colt went from being a small Japanese hatchback to a rebadged Renault Clio for European customers. Following the recent launch of the sixth-generation Clio in Munich, digital artist Theophilus Chin has created renderings of a new Colt, giving it a stronger design identity compared to its predecessor.

The current Colt was introduced on June 2023, based on the facelifted previous-generation Clio. Reports from France suggest that a new Colt could arrive in 2027 as a fully electric hatchback based on the R5 E-Tech and the Nissan Micra. However, Theottle proposes a hybrid take for the new model, following the evolution of its French twin.

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Mitsubishi has leaned heavily on its alliance with Renault in Europe, offering a full range of rebadged models with electrified powertrains including the Colt (Clio), ASX (Captur), Grandis (Symbioz), and Eclipse Cross (Scenic E-Tech). Early efforts featured minor changes on the grille and badging, but more recent models have adopted unique bumpers and lightning units reflecting the brand’s own styling language.

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.

Renderings: 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, Chin proposes a heavier investment with a unique bumper, tailgate, and LED taillights.

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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 latter 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 being two years old, Mitsubishi might want to keep it for sale for a little longer before revealing a new generation closer to 2027. Only time will tell whether this will be based on the new Renault Clio or the R5 E-Tech.