BATTLE lines have been drawn by Mitsubishi to launch an all-out assault on the supermini market.

The unveiling this week of its fifth-generation Colt also marks the company's first foray into the United Kingdom supermini sector, a radical departure from the Colt it replaces.

The new car enters the showrooms here in September, but can be seen by visitors to the Sunday Times Motor Show Live at the NEC Birmingham until June 6.

What they will see is an all-new model, with some sharp styling lines and promising exciting driving dynamics.

There will be four models in the line-up, the Classic, Equippe, Elegance and Sport, with prices starting from £8,999 to £12,499 on the road.

The Colt will be playing a key role in the company's rejuvenated line-up, recently including the Outlander and Grandis, and is designed to signal the new spirit of the brand as well as the new face of Mitsubishi.

Colt is entering the most competitive of all the car segments in the UK, and promises much.

Sitting on an all-new front-wheel drive platform, the new car is 3,870mm long, 1,550mm high and 1,695mm wide, so presenting a car with a wide and tall profile. The overall wheelbase is 2,500mm long.

Mitsubishi chiefs say that the Colt will provide the best total legroom around for superminis, and it will also provide seating versatility, that is rear seats that can be split 40/60, and then individually reclined, folded or removed altogether, creating 645-litres of load space.

The backrests of the front passenger seat can also be folded forward to provide room for extra long items.

There are nine cars in the launch line-up. The entry level 1.1-litre Classic will cost £8,999 and it will be fitted out with drive and passenger front airbags, anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution, Isofix child seat fixings, central locking, 15in alloy wheels, four-speaker CD stereo system, colour-coded bumpers and alarm and immobiliser.

Prices rise to £12,499 for the top-spec 1.5-litre Elegance with its six-speed Allshift gearbox, a mix of automatic and manual shift.

A sport trim will also be available for the 1.5-litre five-speed petrol-driven car, costing £11,499, and featuring 16in alloy wheels, contemporary red interior with matching red leather steering wheel and gear knob, sports pedals and rear roof spoiler.

Engine choices include a 75bhp three-cylinder 1.1-litre, 95bhp 1.3-litre and 109bhp 1.5-litre petrol plus a 95bhp 1.5-litre direct injection diesel. All the power plants meet stringent Euro IV emission laws.

Mitsubishi expects sales of the new Colt to reach 3,000 this year, rising to 15,000 next year, when it is joined by a three-door version.

To encourage sales, the company has launched an online campaign. By registering on www.newcolt.co.uk drivers can take delivery of one of 150 new Colts free for one year. Entries close on August 15.

Last year, the company's UK sales set a record 32,282 vehicles, an increase of 23 per cent over the previous year.

Sales so far this year have been bolstered by the arrival of the new Outlander crossover, Grandis people carrier and a new Lancer Evolution VIII and, together with the new Colt, are expected to top 40,000.

Updated: 09:39 Friday, May 28, 2004