Cons :
- Not the most attractive front end.
- Suffers from torque steer.
- Suspension not tuned for all-out sportiness.
- Very heavy for a compact sports coupe.
- Rearward visibility.
Interior :
Press Coverage :
If it's true that time varies depending on the speed at which you travel, then buyers of the all-new 2006 Mitsubishi Eclipse should prepare to age gracefully. This year, Mitsubishi's hot hatch becomes a full-fledged Grand Touring coupe. The Eclipse now surpasses the Ford Mustang V6 in terms of power, while overwhelming another sporty coupe segment rival, Acura's RSX, with 260 lb-ft of torque. New from the ground up, the only thing the Eclipse has in common with the car it replaces is its name.
In addition to the practicality provided by virtue of a roomy interior, the 2006 Mitsubishi Eclipse represents advances in styling, engine output and ride comfort. Designed to combine exotic styling and performance with the utility of a daily driver, the new two-door Eclipse coupe sports an impressive power range, room for four adults, and several new safety and luxury amenities without sacrificing the incredible value that the Eclipse name has come to represent.
In order to succeed in the sporty coupe segment, Mitsubishi Motors made substantial gains in a number of areas. The all-new 2006 Eclipse is a new car from the ground up, from its sturdy new unibody frame, to its more powerful and more refined powertrain options.
The 2006 Eclipse is carved from a solid new foundation. From the floorpan to the roof, the Eclipse has a stronger, more rigid platform. Every opening in the body - including doors, hatch and engine compartment - has been reinforced to help resist the bending and twisting forces exerted on an automobile. The body employs high tensile strength steel panels to reduce body weight and increase body rigidity, as well as new straight frame rails. The Eclipse's robust structure is the key to its ride quality, handling feel, safety and overall refinement.
The four-passenger, two-door coupe is powered by a choice of two robust engines that are designed to produce the majority of their torque at lower revolutions. The Eclipse GS is equipped with a 2.4-liter engine mated to either a four-speed automatic or five-speed manual transmission, and the 3.8-liter V6 equipped GT comes with a new six-speed manual or five-speed automatic that, like the four-speed, has a Sportronic(TM) mode which allows drivers to manually engage their desired gear.
Given its size, sophistication, appointments, configurations and price structure, the Eclipse is positioned to attract a wide variety of coupe buyers who appreciate sporty styling and performance at an attainable base price.
Along with refined chassis tuning, a successful Grand Touring coupe needs to offer seating and cargo capacity for everyday needs. To increase driver- and front passenger room, the Eclipse's height was increased by nearly two inches, to 53.5 inches (or 53.8 inches when equipped with optional 18-inch wheels and tires). Thanks to its wider track, overall passenger volume was also increased by over two cubic feet - to a generous 81.6 cu ft. - offering room to stretch during the drive and room for easier ingress and egress. The Eclipse leads its class in front shoulder room, providing 54.2 inches of shoulder space for front passengers. The driver and passenger view the road from an elevated position, on comfortable front seats that are among the widest in the class.
Passenger comfort is enhanced by a thoughtfully designed and well-tuned chassis, which combined with efficient fuel economy, makes the Eclipse an ideal vehicle for long drives. An intelligently designed rear suspension utilizes a low-mounted multi-link configuration which not only creates an excellent ride and stable handling, but also helps reduce road noise and improves quietness. The easy-to-operate hatch - complete with an exterior switch that does not require a key to open - swings up to offer a large cargo area, and the latch has been redesigned not to lock when only half closed. To minimize hassle while loading or unloading cargo, the hatch features a wide opening and a low lift-over, and the 50:50 split-folding rear seats offer convenience and adaptability.
The Eclipse's exterior design makes a bold visual statement about the product and the person who owns it, distinguishing itself from the traditional, conservative or retro styling of segment competitors. The Eclipse's athletic fender arches, wind tunnel-inspired front fascia and long, arching C-pillar help the Eclipse carve out its own unique style.
The Eclipse's purposeful front and rear fenders help communicate an image of stability and power. The vehicle's strong visual silhouette is wedge-shaped, highlighted by a forward cab and wasp-like waistline that screams athlete. From the front, the larger fenders help accommodate the wide 61.8-inch track and reinforce the Eclipse's bold hunkered-down stance. Large lower air intakes in the front fascia also convey an image of aggressiveness and purpose. The Eclipse's sleek exterior styling also results in a low coefficient of drag. The Eclipse offers attractive exterior paint finishes with highlights that add depth and appeal to the sheetmetal.
The cockpit is one of sporty, driver-oriented and futuristic design. The Eclipse's dashboard is composed of a sculpted, modern form housing user-friendly, intuitive controls for both the driver and the front passenger. The center dash features a prominent climate and audio control stack that was designed to resemble a modern, high-tech home-audio interface with large control knobs and fin-shut vents. Atop this center panel is a signature Mitsubishi LCD display that provides radio, clock and directional information. At night, the gauges, interior control knobs, and switches are illuminated with striking ice-blue LED lamps that help create a sophisticated interior ambience.
Everyday usability was a primary goal in designing the all-new Eclipse interior, evidenced by the large-capacity glove box and numerous secondary cubbies and storage compartments. The center console includes a pair of large-volume cup holders located in front a folding storage compartment that is spacious enough to store a wallet, small purse or several CDs, while also housing a 12-volt power outlet. Both the Eclipse's dash and door panels are covered in upscale, modern, padded and textured materials that match the seat coverings.
The Eclipse provides superior comfort with one-piece sport seats that offer support as well as class-leading shoulder and hip room. Depending on the trim level, the seats are covered in cloth or leather, and they feature deep accent lines to help emphasize their sporty appearance. Leather seating surfaces are available as part of the Premium Package on the Eclipse GT. In the interest of reducing fatigue and increasing comfort during long drives, the Eclipse is equipped with ideally positioned door panel armrests and a large center console armrest pad.
The Eclipse is powered by one of two engines. A responsive 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine, standard on the GS, develops 162 horsepower and 162 lbs.-ft. of torque, thanks to Mitsubishi Innovative Valve timing and lift Electronic Control (MIVEC). Through this system, which makes use of different sized cam lobes to increase lift for continuous power, the entry-level Eclipse achieves a very high level of performance.
For anyone who equates power with luxury, the GT trim line offers just that. The Eclipse GT comes standard with a 3.8-liter, 60-degree, SOHC V6 engine - also enhanced by the MIVEC system - that is ideally suited to provide brisk acceleration for spirited driving while maintaining efficient fuel economy. Rated at 263 horsepower at 5750 rpm, with peak torque of 260 lb-ft at 4500 rpm, the V6 provides plenty of power and tremendous torque from a wide part of its rev range. The engine's intake and exhaust are tuned to achieve maximum torque early in the rev-range for strong acceleration the instant the throttle is engaged, almost regardless of engine speed.
Revised ignition timing, and an improved EGR (Exhaust Gas Recovery) rate provide improved fuel economy over the previous V6 engine. Additional rigidity incorporated into the 3.8-liter block and the engine mounting areas also brings a reduction in NVH (Noise Vibration and Harshness).
The 3.8-liter V6 engine is mated to either a sophisticated five-speed automatic transmission with Sportronic(TM) shifting, or a new six-speed manual. The automatic transmission features fully adaptive shift control that "learns" driver inputs and tailors transmission operation to their habits. Both engines are mated to transmissions equipped with final drive ratios that are optimized to improve the vehicle's off-the-line acceleration, while upper gear ratios are well suited for highway performance.
The Eclipse's four-wheel independent suspension was designed to provide superior stability, excellent ride quality and nimble handling. The Eclipse utilizes a proven MacPherson strut design front suspension. A large, rigid cross member minimizes the torsional flexing forces of the front sub-frame, improving suspension performance while also reducing NVH.
The rear suspension utilizes a low-mounted, multi-link configuration with trailing arms. Rigid cross members also help reduce road noise and improve suspension performance by reinforcing the rear suspension mounting points to reduce flex. The Eclipse's wide, 61.8-inch front and rear track provide superior stability and control. In the interest of handling, ride quality, and style, the Eclipse is equipped with attractive 17-inch, five-spoke aluminum wheels with 225/50R17 V-rated tires or optional 18-inch, seven-spoke aluminum wheels wrapped in wide 235/45R18 V-rated rubber.
The Eclipse utilizes a proven rack-and-pinion power steering system designed to provide the direct feeling and response of a sports car, while the system's effort multiplication provides the low-speed steering control that makes parking and low-speed maneuvering so easy.
Eclipse's unibody structure features extensive reinforcement for additional passenger protection in the event of a collision. Robust front subframe members are connected with a dash panel crossmember and strong, front steel crossmember to help create a rigid boxed section front subframe area. Reinforced side sill members also help disperse energy in the event of a collision. High-strength steel cross members across the floor also help absorb side impact energy and help protect occupants. In the interest of front passenger safety, all Eclipses are equipped with advanced front airbags, front seat mounted side-impact airbags and side curtain airbags.
Pre-tensioning seat belts with force limiters also are standard equipment on Eclipse. Energy absorbing materials appear extensively on the interior and headliner and are used to cover the inside of the front center and C-pillars and help reduce the possibility of injury during a collision.
Four-wheel disc brakes are standard on Eclipse. The front ventilated discs measure 11.6 inches. Rear brakes are 11.2-inch ventilated discs on the GT. Coupled with ABS and electronic brake force distribution (EBD) systems, the Eclipse's powerful brakes provide excellent control during panic stops and on rain-soaked roads.
Mitsubishi Motors and Rockford Corporation have teamed up to offer a high fidelity/high output Rockford Fosgate audio system for the 2006 Mitsubishi Eclipse. A leader in aftermarket car audio systems for 25 years, Rockford offers Eclipse buyers the first OEM personal sound-setting memory option, and their aggressive PUNCH(R) signature sound, delivering dynamic output with the high impact bass of a premium aftermarket system.
The Eclipse's optional premium audio system features 650-watt amplification with nine speakers including a 10-inch, long-throw subwoofer in a fiberglass reinforced acoustic suspension enclosure. The six-disc, in-dash CD changer also plays MP3 files. In addition to the usual bass, midrange, treble, fader and balance controls, the Eclipse's advanced Digital Signal Processor (DSP) gives the user total control over the subwoofer "punch" level. It offers custom music genre equalizer settings and sound field image settings including: Normal, Stage, Live and Hall. The Rockford Fosgate system also offers an industry-first DSP sound setting memory function that allows users to configure all eight DSP settings and save them in six preset locations for their favorite CDs, artists, or music genres.
Mitsubishi USA
The Eclipse uses a MacPherson-strut front and multilink rear suspension that, like the outgoing car, is calibrated on the soft side, and for 2006 suspension travel has been increased. Similarly, the optional P235/45R-18 Goodyear Eagle RS-A all-season tires (part of the Premium Sport Package) aren't particularly sticky, but they deliver a nice ride while transmitting barely any road noise. Those same tires adversely affected our panic braking distances of 127 ft. from 60 mph and 224 from 80. Those numbers are far from spectacular, but understandable considering the tires and the weight of the car. The brakes themselves — 11.6-in. rotors up front and 11.2 at the rear (both vented) — held up well on a run up and down a local mountain road, with nary a trace of fade and little smoke, though the pedal could be a bit firmer.
So how does it drive? Like a GT car...meaning we enjoyed taking it up that mountain road, but it wouldn't be our weapon of choice for that battle. It shines in more normal everyday spirited driving, the kind you would do on the way to work, running errands and taking weekend trips on highways or winding two-lanes; track days are out. For sure, the new Eclipse is one of the most comfortable sports coupes on the market, delivering a remarkably smooth ride, a quiet cockpit and superb front seats.
So is this the Second Coming of the Eclipse? In a word, no. I'm no physics major, but all that weight — distributed 61 percent front/39 percent rear — along with front-wheel drive, soft springs, too much body roll and all-season tires (that start squealing in protest long before they should) do not a sports car make. Understeer is the rule of the day entering low-speed corners, while torque steer and a wildly-spinning inside front tire (a limited-slip differential is not available) make themselves evident on the way out.
All this said, the car responds pretty well to both drop-throttle and left-foot braking to dial out the understeer (throttle and brake can be overlapped, as the car does not have a stability system that cuts power). The Eclipse responds even better as speeds increase, eating up high-speed sweepers, with driver-induced oversteer tendencies available if called upon. And what's important here is that the new Eclipse handles better than the previous car.
Road and Track
The Eclipse is not a model athlete like the 350Z or RX-8, but turn onto a twisty road, and it's ready to run. Like the Galant, it feels smaller the harder you push it, but a wider, stickier set of tires than the whiny 235/45R18s on our test car would increase its handling threshold. Stability control isn't available, though Mitsubishi plans to offer it in 2008.
The dash flows in a soft wave, and a large inlay of textured, matte-finish vinyl does a good job of drawing your eyes away from the hard plastic surrounding it. The dark trim on the center stack does a convincing impression of real metal. The gauges live in their own pods, and although the markings are smaller than we'd like, ice-blue backlighting makes everything crystal clear at night.
The leather upholstery is merely average-grade hide, and it's mixed in with plenty of vinyl, but contrasting stitching along the edges of the seats provides unexpected flair.
Storage and visibility are the only major faults in this cockpit. For storage, you're limited to a center console container and a glovebox. There's no tray for a cell phone, no door bin for a map, no holder for your sunglasses. Huge C-pillars are the main obstacle to rear visibility; you might as well be driving a convertible with the top up when it's time to back up.
Edmunds.com
History:
2000-2005 Mitsubishi Eclipse GT
3,500 cc / 200-210 hp / 205 lb-ft / 3120-3241 lbs / 0-60 mph 7.2 sec.
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