Road Test: 2006 Mitsubishi Eclipse GT

[Yeo]

When the Eclipse Concept-E debuted at the 2004 North American International Auto Show, it gave a pretty good idea of what the next generation Eclipse would look like. Smooth rounded lines are reminiscent of the second generation Eclipse that ended production in the late nineties. Whether or not Eclipse fans liked the design of the concept, many of the styling cues from the concept remained when the actual production version was introduced just a year later. Making its way around the Monterey peninsula during the Pebble Beach Concours weekend, the Sunset Pearlescent Eclipse GT test car turned more than its share of heads in the abundance of classic and exotic cars. It's obviously a car that has the ability to be noticed. Now the Eclipse has hit showrooms, and Mitsubishi is hoping it will lead a revival for the company struggling in sales.


The interior of Eclipse GT makes use of excellent and comfortable materials

Amazingly, the two Eclipse variants are cheaper than the models they replace. The new GS retails for $19,399 compared to the 2005 GS priced at $19,699, and the new GT starts at $23,699 compared to the base 2005 Eclipse GTS priced at $24,899. Essentially, the new Eclipse offers buyers even more car for the money.

One of the main technical differences from the previous generation is the dimensions of the car. Mitsubishi has increased everything - wheelbase by .6 inches, width by 3.3 inches, and length by 2.9 inches. The main reason for the larger profile is that the Eclipse is based on the Galant sedan platform. While this might help with leg and head room, it definitely doesn't help with the weight. The base GS weighs in at a hefty 3274 lbs and the GT at a heavy 3472 lbs.

Also different from the previous Eclipse is the availability of the new 3.8 liter MIVEC V6 engine that replaces the 3.0 liter unit in the previous GT and GTS models. The MIVEC system provides separate cam profiles for the high and low rpm ranges that allow the engine

to make more horsepower at higher rpm's without sacrificing useable torque at the lower rpm ranges. In addition, the duration and stroke of the intake valves are increased above 4300 rpm to allow for more air and fuel. Efficiency is also increased by the MIVEC system. During conservative driving a smaller cam profile is selected, helping to lower emissions and increase gas mileage.


The 3.8 liter V6 is responsive and offers torque at all rpm's

When put to use, the 3.8 liter V6 with the MIVEC system pushes the Eclipse into a whole new performance division not seen in previous generations. The 260 lb-ft of torque feels as though it is available at just about any rpm. Power delivery is smooth and the engine pulls all the way to the 6500 rpm red line. The 2.4 liter inline-4 in the GS is carried over from the previous car, and it still does its job well. Considering it is the base engine, it has quite a bit of pick-up, and it is surprisingly responsive and smooth. Both the 6-speed in the GT model and the 5-speed in the GS are well suited to each engine. Shifting is quick and smooth through every gear.

The interior of the car is one of the pleasant surprises of the car. Our GT test car featured the "Premium Sport Package" which included two-tone leather seats and a 6-disc in-dash CD changer with a 9-speaker Rockford Fosgate Audio System and 10" subwoofer. Even without these options, the interior of the car is well appointed and uses attractive materials. The two-tone orange leather seats in the GT seem somewhat over the top, but they will certainly get you noticed. The interior is especially above par in the GS, which comes standard with comfortable and sturdy cloth bucket seats and an mp3-compatible CD player. Everything from the options to the quality of materials is above standard for a car in its price range.



While the front two seats offered plenty of room for the driver and passenger, the same couldn't be said for the rear seats. The back seats are small and should mainly be relegated to overflow luggage duty. Even a small adult will have to tilt his or her head to fit it under the glass hatchback just over the rear seats.

Another complaint was the view from inside the car. The driver sits relatively low with high door sills and small windows, offering a small view of the world outside the car. The sharply raked rear window provides a Lamborghini-like rear view, and massive C-pillars completely block the view of the blind spot, a necessity in the multi-lane freeways of city traffic.

On the road, the Eclipse GT is a pleasure to drive. The abundance of torque makes passing a breeze on the highway as well as pulling away from stoplights in city driving. When pushed hard, the Eclipse is easy to control and lets the driver know when the limits are about to be reached. Unfortunately, the car seemed to under-perform around the bends. The

combination of front wheel drive and the substantial amount of torque consistently overwhelms the front tires and the handling limits are reached far sooner than expected. The low handling threshold is felt even more on the GS model, which doesn't have the benefit of the GT's traction control or the availability of the larger 18-inch tires. It would be fantastic to see Mitsubishi bring back the all-wheel-drive last seen in the Eclipse in the GS-X model and offer a stripped, lightweight version to compensate for the additional weight. An option for stickier set of rubber besides the all-season tires would be an additional bonus as well.


The GT is available with 18" alloy wheels

Overall, it will be interesting to see how the Eclipse fares. The GS model offers a tremendous amount of car for the money in base form. Other cars in the same price range will have a tough time offering the same standard features, quality of materials, and equivalent performance without going to the options list first. The GT model, although a far superior car to the GS, might have a tougher time competing with other cars in its price range, especially since the addition of the Premium Sport Package puts the price range in 350Z and Mazda RX-8 territory. Still, a base GT model can be had for just over $23,000. Slap on your choice of 18-inch wheels and your choice of tire, and you've got a great car for around $25,000. Either way, the Eclipse has become an even better car for the money than it has ever been.


A smoother design will appeal to classic Eclipse fans

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