Mitsubishi Motors Corporation announced that the company's 5-door Colt compact car produced in Europe was awarded the coveted "Das Goldene Lenkrad" (Golden Steering Wheel) by the German Sunday newspaper "Bild am Sonntag," published by Alex Springer AG. The European Colt was presented the award for its status as the "Best in Class One (Small Car category)" in a ceremony held in Berlin on 10th November and attended by some 400 representatives of political and financial circles, print and TV media and the world of sport.

Colt becomes the fourth Mitsubishi Motors model to win the Golden Steering Wheel award, following the Galant in the mid-size category in 1984, the Colt in the small car category in 1988, and the Pajero in the off-road category in 1992.

Mitsubishi Motors' Chairman and CEO Yoichiro Okazaki had the following to say about the award: "I am delighted that Colt has been presented the Golden Steering Wheel, an award distinguished by its long history and prestigious status. The Colt series will play a vital role in the continued growth of Mitsubishi Motors operations in Europe, which moved into the black for the first time in the 2003 fiscal year. In bestowing high critical acclaim to Colt's product qualities, the award will serve to boost the morale not only of personnel working in our European operations but also of everyone in the Mitsubishi Motors group of companies that is currently in the process of regenerating its operational base."

The jury cited the quality of workmanship, versatility, seating comfort, space offering, operating comfort, cost performance and excellent road performance as the key factors in its decision to award Colt the Golden Steering Wheel.

Seen by many as the equivalent of a German Car of the Year award, the coveted Golden Steering Wheel was first presented in 1976 and this year celebrates its 29th anniversary. With a readership of 10.7 million, the Bild am Sonntag boasts the largest circulation for a Sunday newspaper in Europe and is way ahead of other similar publications in terms of popularity and influence. All new models launched on the German market during that year are considered by the Golden Steering Wheel jury which presents the award to the "Best Car" in each of several categories such as small size, mid-size and large size. In the Small Car category, Colt held off competition from such top sellers as the Smart Forfour, Renault Modus, Fiat Idea, Peugeot 1007, Lancia Musa and the Kia Picanto. The jury's vote bears testimony to the high critical acclaim accorded Colt in Germany, a country that is as stringent in its assessment of automobiles as Japan.

The award-winning European Colt is produced at Mitsubishi Motors' subsidiary NedCar in Borne, the Netherlands. The model had its European launch in May this year and recently added 1.1L petrol and diesel versions to its line up. In a move designed to further expand sales in Europe, the company plans to bring the 3-door Colt CZ3 and the 150 PS turbocharged Colt CZT performance model to market in early 2005.

Prior to its Golden Steering Wheel accolade, the European Colt was voted "Car of the Year in Denmark 2005" by the Danish Automotive Journalists Club and "Compact Car of the Year 2004" by the Kampioen magazine published the Dutch automobile association, ANWB.