Mitsubishi CZ2 Cabriolet Concept: Sun-catching trendsetter

[DarkPhenix]

Star of Mitsubishi's Birmingham Motor Show stand is the CZ2 Cabriolet Concept car - an eye-catchingly stylish and fresh four-seater cabriolet and an in-the-metal indicator of Mitsubishi's bold and confident new design direction. Unveiled to international acclaim at the 2003 Geneva Motor Show, the CZ2 Cabriolet picks up where Mitsubishi's first show car - the 1962 Colt 600 Convertible - left off, and takes the next step in the direction struck by the 2001 CZ2 hatchback and CZ3 Tarmac sports wagon and the 2003 Tarmac Spyder. Designed under the leadership of Mitsubishi's new design director Olivier Boulay, the CZ2 Cabriolet sits on the same 2500mm wheelbase as the current Colt five door, and with a 3950mm length, 1750mm width and 1480mm height, it wraps up four-seater versatility and generous accommodation in a dynamically styled compact three-door package.

- Head-turningly stylish three-door cabriolet concept car
- A full-four seater with a electrically retractable canvas roof
- Powered by an advanced 1.5-litre MIVEC engine driving the front wheels through an INVECS-III Sport Mode constantly variable transmission
- Electrically-retracted canvas roof, LED head and tail lamps
- Cantilevered door-hinges for easy entry into both front and rear seats
- A clear indication of Mitsubishi's future design direction, under the design leadership of new design director Olivier Boulay

From its striking face that features Mitsubishi's bold Three-Diamond badge to its light-emitting diode head and tail lamps, the CZ2 Cabriolet oozes athleticism and panache from every shutline.

It features four fully retractable windows for a clean and uninterrupted roof-down profile, as well as canti-levered door hinges for easy ingress and egress into both bench front and individual rear seats. At the rear, a similar double-hinged rear hatch is used to store the automatically folding roof and to access the boot, while an integrated rear-view camera aids parking manoeuvres.

The CZ2 Cabriolet has been carefully colour-coordinated. Its green-tinted silver paint has been enriched with a polychrome orange shimmering colour flop that highlights the terra-cotta canvas top, four integrated on-board carry-all bags, centre console, buttons and switches. As with the CZ2 hatchback, the CZ2 Cabriolet has four stylish bags - two in each door - neatly integrated in the door trim panels that can be used either as in-car storage or removable carry-on bags. The detachable bags were designed in collaboration with Italian fashion house Mandarin Duck, blending Italian opulence with Japanese innovation.

Tucked beneath the CZ2 Cabriolet's rakish bonnet sits Mitsubishi's advanced 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine that drives the front wheels through Mitsubishi's INVECS-III Sport Mode 6-speed CVT constantly variable transmission.

Inside, the CZ2 Cabriolet features Mitsubishi Motors Information Communicator, MMIC, a cutting edge data acquisition and transfer system that uses second generation Memory Stick technology that links vehicle, home, office and service centre.

Using a portable Memory Stick, the CZ2 driver can save travel data, music files and other information on the MMIC's Memory Stick, and by then inserting the Memory Stick into the CZ2 Cabriolet's system, that information be accessed en-route. The Memory Stick can also be used to store driver identification and vehicle setting preferences or to record the car's service status information. The dealer can also use vehicle information recorded on the Memory Stick to carry out simple diagnostic checks, and can save servicing details.

[source: newspress.co.uk]