Mitsubishi has announced that its European sales for the first six months of the year were 21.8% up on what was achieved in 2004.

This is largely due to the performance of the Colt hatchback, which is now Mitsubishi's top seller at 37,615 units across the continent. Lancer sales are up by 62% to 28,395, and the L200 pickup has improved slightly to 19,186.

The fourth and fifth models on the list are both going backwards. There wasa slight fall in Shogun sales, while the Space Star - the best seller in the first half of 2004 - declined by 45%.

Russia has become Mitsubishi's number one European market, sales having doubled in the past year to 24,726 units. Germany sales improved by 43% to 23,363 units and UK sales where third highest with an 18% rise to 21,618 units.