I HAVE recently taken to dabbling in the dark arts thanks to the small and powerful Mitsubishi Colt CZC 1.5 Turbo, which I have been driving for a short spell. Not so much occult, as 'oh, Colt'.
The Japanese car maker's cauldron has been on the boil again and the resulting creation is one of the most contemporary and stylish compact convertibles on the road and, yes, it has a hard-top which allows its occupants to enjoy the best of the seasons, comfortably, safely and securely.
Pininfarina has added its genius to the mix and credit has to go to the Italian designers for creating a car that looks stylish and deliberate with all the curves and angles in all the right places, and not like the front of one car has been stuck to the back of another.
This car's bewitching style flows very tastefully from front to back with a high waistline that reaches the back end and incorporates the large boot. It looks particularly stunning in black – Mitsubishi's favourite colour.
Looks can be deceiving. This is a small car – you can tell just by looking at it. It is easy to park, can squeeze through tiny gaps, and has a small turning circle, yet it feels big and secure to drive. The power steering is deliberately weighted to give the car a solid chunky feel at your hands and beyond. It feels grounded not wispy.
There is no 'hocus pocus' when it comes to delivery of the power. This 1.5-litre turbopowered version is all-out fun. Because of the weight of the roof and its mechanisms, this car is heavier than your average supermini. However, keeping your foot to the floor and the engine revving high, and this baby just springs to life. Acceleration is brisk and, as you tear up the gears through the superb short-shift gearbox, you're on the limit in no time at all.
Thanks to Mitsubishi's active stability and traction control the car has added Evo-stick. Driving around the neighbouring villages and towns, taking in a variety of road conditions, I could hardly contain my glee as this mini marvel – with its low-profile tyres wrapped like rubber bands around the 16-inch alloy wheels – takes control of the corners and straights with an energetic passion.
You feel almost every bump in the road because of these wheels, but it's not enough to shake the fillings out of your teeth. It just adds to the fun. Sounds and tastes of Evolution heaven abound. With the roof down, you can hear a meaty exhaust note from just behind your head – a noise associated with a larger, more powerful car – and its handling and ride are not unlike Colt's Evo sibling.
Inside the cabin the Mitsubishi theme continues, where the plain and simple dashboard and instrumentation are nothing special. Mitsubishi is not renowned for stunning interior layouts, however, you won't get lost in lots of cheap-smelling plastic. The polka dot-effect finish is quite nice, but I found the 'retro' typeface used for the dials a bit difficult to read.
Sports seats, however, are very good and hold you in place well. There's a good range of movement so tall and short drivers are easily accommodated. Despite the car's diminutive proportions, there are two rear seats, although, these are very occasional and just for children or dogs. I'm small and I don't fit no matter how much I wave my magic wand.
One mall gripe is the positioning of the roof opening switches. These mimic the window switches and are on the driver's door just behind the proper window switches. If you're not looking you can easily pull on these by mistake. The roof won't open as long as you have the security clips fastened. With the two clips unhooked the roof operation is really simple. Just pull back the switch and the boot lid lifts and the whole roof folds away in a matter of seconds. When you put the roof back up it's the same operation, just remember to fasten the security clips back on.
In summary: Mitsubishi has created a compact cabrio with character that is really quite divine. It's quick, eye-catching and handles very well despite its weight, and it looks great in black. Many elements combine to give you a car with which you can enjoy the open road. Eye of newt, wing of bat -sorry, a dash of Evo, sprinkling of Grandis
MITSUBISHI COLT CZC
1.5-litre petrol convertible 2+2 five-speed manual
Top speed: 126 mph
0-62 mph 8.4 seconds
Urban economy: 31.7 mpg
Extra urban: 47.9 mpg
Combined: 39.8 mpg
Power: 147 bhp
Torque: 210 Nm
Emissions 168 g/km
Price: £15,999
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