Mitsubishi Global Small Concept (2011) at 2011 Geneva motor show

Mitsubishi will show this new Global Small Concept car at the 2011 Geneva motor show this spring.

It's one of 12 vehicles on show at the Mitsubishi stand and previews the Japanese car maker's vision for future small cars.

The Global Small Concept in fact forms the basis for a new supermini coming in March 2012. Like Nissan with its Micra, Mitsubishi is shifting production to Thailand.

Although it won't name the new model, it says it's a new 'compact passenger vehicle.' Sounds to us like the new Colt.

The DesignSpeak says the project's buzzwords were 'compact, affordable and efficient', yet it can also seat five adults. It's a pleasingly slick design, judging by this single photograph issued ahead of its debut on 1 March 2011.

Engines of between 1.0 and 1.2 litres feature a stop-start system for CO2 emissions below 99g/km, claims Mitsubishi.

Other eco tech includes light weight construction (although no figures are quoted), 'a regenerative braking system' thought to be an intelligent alternator like the Mini's and an emphasis on low resistance in the engine and CVT auto transmission.

By Tim Pollard