• HOME
• 
• AUTO LISTINGS
• 
• FINANCE
• 
• NEWS
• 
• DIRECTORY
• 
• REVIEWS
• 
• FORUM
• 
• BLOG
• 

2006 Mitsubishi Eclipse GT Road Test

Va-Va-Voom!

I, for one, think that Mitsubishi is going in the right direction. While Japans oldest automaker experienced some rough waters last year, sales for the first quarter of 2005 are up substantially. Its new cars are wonderful to drive and offer superb value, especially when factoring in its "best backed" warranty claim.

So I suppose I went to San Diego last week expecting a lot from the new Eclipse, a car that is critical to Mitsubishis future profitability and brand image. Fortunately, I was hardly let down. More so, the Eclipse is such a solid effort that it could, along with Fords new Mustang, reinvigorate the sagging personal coupe market segment.

The first thing I want

The Eclipse is such a solid effort that it could, along with Fords new Mustang, reinvigorate the sagging personal coupe market segment. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

to say is that the Eclipse isnt really a direct competitor to the Mustang. There could be some that might be debating which coupe to buy, and in the end choose one over the other, but traditionally, import sports car fans stick with imports, and domestic enthusiasts buy Mustangs. I suppose now there are other entries, such as the Pontiac G6 coupe, but for

The Eclipse will duel it out with an ever decreasing number of front-wheel drive imported sport coupes. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

the time being Im going to forego the temptation to compare any domestics to the Eclipse, as for most potential buyers it would be an exercise in futility.

Rather, the Eclipse will duel it out with an ever decreasing number of front-wheel drive imported coupes. Now, only the Acura RSX, Hyundai Tiburon and new Scion tC are left to do battle, with the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry Solara coupes as potential rivals among less sport-oriented

The Eclipse offers more daring styling, essential in this class, than any of its competitors. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

buyers.

The Eclipse offers more daring styling, essential in this class, than any of its competitors, which should go far to get it noticed. The bright red example that joined me for the first leg of my journey pulled quite a few heads, with some straining to see just what it was and others, made knowledgeable by reading internet publications such as this, smiling and nodding in approval.

I especially like the detail Mitsubishi has put into its jewel-like taillamps,

The cars interior layout is open and airy, with more room than the previous model and seats that rival Volvos XC70 for comfort. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

which transform at their innermost edges into one of the coolest rear wings ever created. The cars profile starts tall in the rear, and falls in a wedge-like shape as its beltline approaches the front fender. Its overhangs are longer than the concept that appeared a year ago, but its a racy shape nonetheless and up to the task of winning fans.

And as it is with any of its cars, getting on the Eclipse on the radar screens of new car buyers will be Mitsubishis first hurdle. Because once at the dealership, sitting inside, there will be few who go elsewhere.

The upgraded Mitsubishi 3.8-liter V6 engine now sports 263-horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

The cars interior layout is open and airy, with more room than the previous model and seats that rival Volvos XC70 for comfort. I covered over three hundred miles during my drive, and my back never gave me any complaint. I heard similar comments from my colleagues.

The seats werent the only features that Mitsubishi got right, mind you, as the steering wheel, featuring audio controls, was also ideally suited to sporting applications, the motorcycle-like gauge pod with its "Ice Blue" illumination was easy to read, for the most part, and the general layout of all controls intuitively designed.

Page:  1  2  3

AUTOMOBILE REVIEWS BY MAKE

Acura  Audi   Bentley   BMW   Buick   Cadillac   Chevrolet   Chrysler   Daewoo   Dodge   Eagle   Ferrari   Ford   Geo   GMC   Honda   Hummer   Hyundai   Infiniti   Isuzu   Jaguar   Jeep   Kia   Lamborghini   Lexus   Lincoln   Lotus   Maserati   Mazda   Mercedes-Benz   Mercury   MINI   Mitsubishi   Nissan   Oldsmobile   Plymouth   Pontiac   Porsche   Saab   Saturn   Scion   Subaru   Suzuki   Toyota   Volkswagen   Volvo