The 1976 Dodge Colt GT, built by Mitsubishi, introduces the Astron 80 silent-shaft engine as standard equipment when ordering the two-liter powerplant. The silent shafts reduce vibration typical of four-cylinder engines, allowing the two-liter to produce 96 bhp while sounding smoother at 6000 rpm than conventional four-bangers do at lower speeds.
The GT model pairs the engine with a new five-speed overdrive transmission. At highway speeds, this combination achieves quiet operation. Car and Driver measured 23.0 mpg in city driving and 25.5 mpg on the highway, with the engine running at 2800 rpm at 60 mph. The Colt accepts cheaper leaded fuel even in California.
The GT hardtop starts below $4000 and includes a tachometer, 70-series radial tires, and five-speed transmission alongside standard features common across the Colt line: reclining seats, electric rear window defogger, locking gas lid, and an adjustable steering column. Mitsubishi also integrated the radio antenna into the decklid with insulators at latch and hinge points, eliminating external hardware and improving reception.
The GT designation adds trim and paint stripes but no suspension upgrades. Car and Driver found the Colt's handling compromised by slow steering and understeer in cornering, with carburetor fuel starvation limiting aggressive driving. The rear suspension proved the weakest point. Leaf springs wound excessively under hard acceleration, causing wheel tramp, and the front tires tracked grooves in pavement during normal cornering.