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By Anita LienertDetroit Newspapers
July 20, 2005
"The outside is sweet," wrote Tassi, the youngest member of the 2005 Detroit News Automotive Consumer Panel. "The inside is pretty good, but there's not a lot of room. But I'd still get one." For young buyers like Tassi, a University of Michigan sophomore who works at Abercrombie & Fitch, the Eclipse is one of the defining vehicles of their generation. An Eclipse stole the limelight in the 2001 cult movie "The Fast and The Furious," a film that Tassi says he's seen 10 times. Even before he got behind the wheel of the new Eclipse, Tassi said it was his favorite vehicle in the $20,000 price bracket. The Eclipse, a futuristic-looking sport coupe, may also be one of the defining vehicles for Mitsubishi Motors Corp., one of the rare Japanese automakers that's been experiencing financial troubles. The success -- or failure -- of the Eclipse could be the tipping point for the company. The redesigned, more powerful 2006 Eclipse is on sale now starting at $19,994, including a $595 destination charge, for the base GS model. We tested two versions of the front-wheel-drive Eclipse, a $21,494 GS equipped with the $1,500 "Sun & Sound Package" that included a 10-inch trunk-mounted subwoofer, a sunroof and a 650-watt Rockford Fosgate 6-disc CD/MP3 audio system. The other test Eclipse was an uplevel GT model with a base price of $24,294, including destination. The V-6-powered GT model had a bottom line of $27,964 and several options, including a $3,270 GT premium sport package with a long list of features from leather seats to 18-inch alloy wheels. There is no debate about the slam-dunk design of the shapely and striking 2+2 coupe, which harks back to the second-generation Eclipse and looks gorgeous from every angle. From the rear, it has a voluptuous shape reminiscent of the Audi TT coupe, albeit with a fastback profile, a skinny integrated chrome spoiler and an oversized exhaust outlet. The Eclipse slogan on the Mitsubishi Web site says, "You've practically lost your license just looking at it," and that rings true. As a pure styling statement, the Illinois-built Eclipse trumps just about every competitor, from the Scion tC to the Chevrolet Cobalt, largely because of its exaggerated curves and expensive look. "This car looks fast and, most of all, futuristic," Tassi said. "The design is so much better than anything out there." His criticisms: Mitsubishi should have lowered it more and put some kind of cover on the air dam, because it looks unfinished. And the black plastic caps that cover the holes for the fog lights on the base car look tacky and would have been more appealing if they were covered with honeycomb or wire-mesh trim. Our styling concerns were more practical. The wide rear pillars look good, but they create lousy rearward visibility. And those long doors may give the Eclipse a pleasing silhouette, but they require a lot of swing room, especially in tight parking spaces. Inside, the front bucket seats, which have plastic mesh built into the headrests, are surprisingly roomy and comfortable, although the big handbrake in the center console rubs up against the driver's right leg. The rear seats are a chore to climb in and out of. And all but the shortest people will find their heads grazing the ceiling and their knees higher than their hips, an uncomfortable position to maintain for any length of time. At night, the instrument panel is lit with a sophisticated, ice-blue color, a perfect match for the car's personality. Our test GS's Sun & Sound package included a center-mounted, top-of-the-instrument-panel display that was too crowded with information, including time, audio, temperature and compass. The cargo hold is surprisingly roomy and easily accommodates half a dozen grocery bags and other shallow gear. And the rear seat is the split-folding variety, adding flexibility . Besides looks, power is a major concern for would-be Eclipse buyers, and the new Mitsubishi performs adequately, but not overwhelmingly. The best choice is the GT version with the SOHC 3.8-liter V-6 that makes 263 horsepower and 260 pounds-feet of torque and is mated to a smooth-shifting six-speed manual transmission or a five-speed automatic Sportronic transmission. The previous-generation Eclipse GTS was outfitted with a 3.0-liter V-6 that made 210 horsepower. The Eclipse GT returns 18 miles per gallon in city driving and 27 mpg on the highway. The base GS model is equipped with a SOHC 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 162 horsepower and 162 pounds-feet of torque, outshining the four-cylinder previous model by 20 horsepower. The base Eclipse is nearly identical to the Scion tC equipped with the DOHC 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 160 horsepower and 163 pounds-feet of torque. But the Eclipse's four-cylinder is outmuscled by the supercharged engine in the new Chevrolet Cobalt SS, which makes 205 horsepower and 200 pounds-feet of torque. The 2006 Eclipse GS is mated to a five-speed manual transmission or a four-speed automatic. It returns 23 mpg in city driving and 30 mpg on the highway. The Eclipse's driving characteristics are satisfying for the most part, with decent handling and a smooth ride that is better than many sporty coupes, thanks to a generous 101.4-inch wheelbase. The Eclipse is built on the same substantial platform as the mid-size Galant sedan and the Endeavor crossover vehicle. Even though Tassi told us safety was last on his list of concerns when buying a new car, we have to give Mitsubishi credit for loading up the Eclipse with an impressive amount of safety features for a car that starts around $20,000. The base GS comes equipped with standard side air bags for front passengers and side air curtains that protect all four passengers. The Eclipse has standard antilock brakes, while the GT version adds standard traction control. Stability control is not available. Mitsubishi also has adopted a lengthy, Korean-style warranty on the Eclipse. The coupe has a 10-year or 100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty and a 5-year, 60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty. In an e-mail sent the day after he drove the Eclipse, Tassi reflected on why he found the redesigned Mitsubishi coupe so appealing. "I realize that I have limited financial options," he wrote. "Until I start making big money at a big job, I'm not going to be able to afford the high-end cars I like. So instead, I will settle for cars that remind me of them."
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