Mitsubishi Motors is reportedly preparing the eighth generation of its Colt small car as a purely electric vehicle (EV), based on the Renault 5 E-Tech Electric platform, according to a report by French publication L’Automobile Magazine.
The new Colt is slated for launch in 2027 and will use technology already underpinning the Renault 5 E-Tech, which serves as the basis for the Alpine A290 and Nissan’s new Micra. This move continues the longstanding product collaboration within the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance despite growing economic divergences among the partners.
Mitsubishi has ceased developing its own European models, relying instead on Renault-based vehicles for the region. The current seventh-generation Colt, launched recently, is based on the Renault Clio and assembled alongside it in Turkey. However, Mitsubishi appears to be moving away from the Clio platform for the next Colt, as Renault has deprioritized electrification for the Clio to avoid internal competition with the Renault 5 E-Tech, a dedicated electric small car.
A rendering published by L’Automobile Magazine shows the upcoming Colt resembling the Renault 5, with minor styling changes including a new lower air intake and Mitsubishi badging. The vehicle is expected to offer two battery options, around 40 kWh and 52 kWh, mirroring Renault’s electric drivetrain setup.
The report notes that the upcoming Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross SUV will also adopt a Renault-based electric platform, being a rebadged version of the Renault Scenic E-Tech Electric built on the AmpR Medium architecture at Renault’s Douai plant.
This continued product sharing underscores Mitsubishi’s strategy to maintain a foothold in Europe with electric models developed in close cooperation with Renault, while the alliance navigates its broader economic and strategic challenges.
