RoadTest Mitsubishi Colt CZT: Mitsubishi calls it the "pocket rocket".
It's a term that conjures up mental images of guys in baseball caps overtaking us on corners in Fiat Puntos with more bodykit than body, and an ironing board attached to the rear of the car - "for downforce, bud".
Most of these started life as entry-level models aimed at suburban mothers, but somehow in the democracy that is the used car market they fell into the hands of "Kev" or "Seanie".
By day these once discreet motors serve as mobile music studios for the clearly hard of hearing; by night they moonlight as delivery vans for Chinese takeaways and pizzas.
Yet beneath the ill-chosen spoilers and badly done paintjobs, the owners are dreaming of turning their €3,000 love affair into something unique, something that stands out from the crowd.
In a far more tasteful and controlled way, that's ultimately the same desire of the so-called pocket rocket engineers - those behind the Gti generation. The aim has always been to take a normal hatchback and push it to the limit of credibility. Once there, push it a little more.
When we first heard about the possible return of a performance Colt, the rumour mill was in full swing that Mitsubishi was preparing to introduce an Evo version of the small hatch, modelled on the incredible work the firm has previously done in turning the regular Lancer into a veritable road-going fighter plane.
It might sound incredible now, but anyone who has sat behind the wheel of a Lancer Evo in full flight knows you can never underestimate the engineers at Mitsubishi. They may not win awards for tasteful design, and they have come up with some incredibly uninspiring lumps of metal - like the ill-named Carisma - but when it comes to raw performance, they are among the masters in their field.
So when the keys of the CZT hit our quivering hand, we were quietly hoping the week would end with a clean licence and clear conscience.
The first thing to note about the souped-up Colt is that, unlike the Evo version of the Lancer, they've done little or nothing to distinguish it from the regular three-door version of the Colt.
It doesn't sit 3mm off the ground, nor does it have half the wing of a small fighter jet stuck to its rump. To the untrained eye the only sign that there's something different about it is the most subtle change of lettering on the rear: from CZ3 to CZT, along with the most minute rear spoiler on the market.
Inside there are more obvious touches, like the figure-hugging sports seats - clearly moulded with the svelte motorist in mind - and the leather steering wheel and gearknob, set off with red stitching. After that, it's regular Colt fare.
That's really a compliment to the regular range, if a terrible let-down to our car-keen takeaway delivery boys. Turn the key, and there's only the subtlest of hints of the car's potential. There's none of the expected gurgle, no high pitched whine when you gently blip the accelerator.
In fact it's only when you slip it into gear and work your way into second that you get the feeling there's something a little different about the CZT. But on the open road, it all comes together. Unless you make allowances at each instance for the extra power, the entire trip can be spent fighting torque steer, soon followed by the inevitable jolt forwards as you call on the reassuring disc brakes.
That said, after a while you get used to controlling the power flow of the turbo and it behaves impeccably in town traffic, though it longs for more open road. Due to its size, the handling is nimble and there's an air of confidence in corners, even though you feel as if you're sitting a little high and straight for some bends.
The CZT must also be complimented on its ride quality, for it's supple enough to get you through town without rattling your dentures, yet firm enough on the open road to feel like a proper GTi derivative.
There are the usual practical considerations regarding the new Colt. Like most of its competitors, boot space is something of a premium for a car at this price, particularly if someone is sitting in the back and has the rear seats pushed back.
Interior trim is a mix of quality feel and cheaper switchgear. The car was created alongside the Smart forfour, and so several parts are shared. Although the Colt has been accepted as the better of the two cars both in terms of handling and overall finish, it's the Smart-style elements of the Colt that lets it down slightly.
So will it win over Kev and Seanie? Yes and no. They'll like the fact that fellow car fans will know it's something special and owning one would put them higher up the pecking order when they gather in the shopping centre car park on a Friday night. In more auspicious company, we would not be surprised to see the Colt making its way onto the rally circuit in racing specification in the near future.
In truth, our "rocketeers" are unlikely to be able to manage the €22,995 price tag, nor the insurance on it, for that matter. But they can be content in the knowledge that even in its 1.1-litre format, the Colt is a capable performer with a good sense of eyecatching appeal.
For those who can come up with the money for the added power punch, they will be looking at what else is on the market.
The CZT is better priced than competitors like the Ford Fiesta ST and 206 Gti, largely because both are penalised by higher tax due to their bigger engines.
It's also a match for all of them in terms of performance, the 1.5-litre turbocharged engine offering 150bhp, a 0-100km/h time of eight seconds and, most important of all, enough torque to give you the sort of punch in the back you expect from these hot hatch models.
However, there is one car that offers perhaps the greatest threat to the CZT: the Mini Cooper at €22,800. It has the street cred and the striking image, even if it lacks some of the pace.
Parked beside one another, it's the Mini that catches the eye. For the image conscious, that may be enough to woe them away from the CZT's otherwise impressive credentials. However the CZT is a worthy 'pocket rocket'.
