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2011 Mitsubishi Eclipse

Improved Stance, A Hot-Looking New Exterior Design Element, Star-Studded Free Amenities Highlight the 2011 Mitsubishi Eclipse Coupe

Not only does the dynamically-styled and fun-to-drive 2011 Eclipse Coupe enter the new model year with enticing new design elements and expanded equipment for Mitsubishi's outstanding sports car, but the Japanese auto manufacturer's signature two-door model does so at the lowest price point ever for this generation of Eclipse.

Available in three trim levels - the 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission-equipped Eclipse GS, the well-appointed mid-grade Eclipse GS Sport with a 4-speed automatic transmission, and the top-of-the-line Eclipse GT and its enthusiast driver-oriented 5-speed Sportronic® automatic transmission with manual shifting capability - the Eclipse Coupe is produced right here in the United States alongside the company's family-friendly Endeavor crossover SUV, the affordably-priced but remarkably well-equipped mid-size Galant luxury sports sedan, and the Eclipse Coupe's top-down sibling, the Eclipse Spyder.

New for the 2011 Mitsubishi Eclipse Coupe

Black Painted Roof

For 2011, the Mitsubishi Eclipse reveals its dark side. All Mitsubishi Eclipse Coupe models - the base GS, the mid-grade GS Sport and the plush GT - now feature a very eye-catching greenhouse painted in black that is sandwiched between body-colored sheetmetal that stretches from the sweeping A- to C-pillars. This exciting new design element is not only aesthetically pleasing but pays tribute to the highly-successful original first-generation Eclipse Coupe that possessed a similarly dark-colored dome.

Ride Height Reduction

The 2011 Mitsubishi Eclipse Coupe now sports a ride height that has been lowered by over half an inch (15 mm), giving this remarkable sports car a sharper-looking, lower-profile stance. This reduced vehicle ride height has the additional benefit of slightly decreasing the car's aerodynamic drag, which helps to improve the Eclipse Coupe's overall fuel economy.

12V Accessory Outlet

A handy new feature on the 2011 Mitsubishi Eclipse Coupe model lineup is the addition of a 12V accessory power outlet. Ideally situated in the center console, it allows for the convenient powering/recharging and access to popular portable electronic devices including an iPod® or a GPS navigation system.

Expanded No-Cost Luxury Amenities for the 2011 Eclipse Coupe GS Sport

The mid-level 2011 Mitsubishi Eclipse GS Sport benefits from a richly expanded standard equipment package that receives numerous luxury upgrades with no additional increase to the car's MSRP. This improved package includes leather seating surfaces, heated front seats and side view mirrors, power driver seat, aluminum pedals, a strut tower brace, aluminum entrance sill and a tidy-looking clear lip spoiler.

Curvaceous Coupe Design

There's no doubt the current generation Mitsubishi Eclipse Coupe has earned a solid reputation as a dynamic sports machine with a luxurious 'attainable exotic' flair, but it is the car's utterly unique styling that truly sets it apart from its competition.

The Eclipse's very distinctive, curvaceous design theme is demonstrated most prominently in the car's boldly arcing roofline and the flared fenders at all four corners of the vehicle. The car's shapely rear end also exhibits a similarly pronounced, rounded flavor.

At the front, the blacked-out upper and lower grille sections that are bisected by an equally dark-colored front bumper insert look tall and imposing and give the 2011 Eclipse Coupe an aggressive, somewhat similar front fascia design to the signature smile of the company's ultra-high-performance Lancer Evolution sports sedan and the dynamic, all-new Outlander Sport compact crossover utility vehicle (CUV).

Standard Luxury Features = Excellent Value Proposition

All 2011 Mitsubishi Eclipse Coupes include a full complement of luxury amenities and features as part of a plentiful standard equipment package. Included items are a melodious 140-watt AM/FM/CD player with MP3 compatibility, 6 speakers and auxiliary audio input jacks; automatic headlamp shut off; anti-theft alarm system; cruise control; ice-blue LED illumination of the controls and instrumentation; air conditioning; remote keyless entry; tilt steering column with sport-wrapped leather steering wheel and power windows, side mirrors and door locks.

Standard exterior features on all 2011 Eclipse Coupes include halogen headlamps; sharp-looking 18-in. alloy wheels; dual exhaust outlets with polished tips; eye-catching, clear chrome LED tail lamps and 2-tone color-keyed bumpers.

Mitsubishi Eclipse GS Sport

The model with the most equipment/best price point is the very affordable mid-level 2011 Eclipse GS Sport model that adds additional standard equipment on top of the base model including high-intensity discharge (HID) projector-type headlamps; electrochromic rearview mirror with backup camera system; power sliding glass sunroof with sun shade; Bluetooth® hands-free phone system and an extremely powerful yet crisp-sounding 650-watt Rockford-Fosgate® premium audio system with MP3 compatibility, 9 speakers (including a 10-in. subwoofer) and a pre-paid 3-month subscription to SIRIUS® satellite radio, along with the aforementioned expanded no-cost luxury amenities for the 2011 model year (leather seating surfaces; heated front seats and side view mirrors; power driver's seat; strut tower bar; clear lip spoiler and aluminum entrance sill and pedals).

Mitsubishi Eclipse GT

The premium-edition Eclipse GT adds all of the previous content plus an automatic climate control system.

Eclipse Powertrains: Capable and Efficient

Befitting the 2011 Mitsubishi Eclipse Coupe's snazzy styling and sporty handling are two distinct available engines.

Powering both the Eclipse GS and the Eclipse GS Sport is a capable 2.4-liter SOHC 16-valve normally-aspirated 4-cylinder engine that makes use of Mitsubishi Intelligent Valve timing Electronic Control (MIVEC) for maximum power production, fuel economy and reduced exhaust emissions. Utilizing a cast-iron engine block and an aluminum cylinder head, this engine creates 162 hp at 6,000 rpm and 162 lb.-ft. of torque at an even 4,000 rpm; redline occurs at 6,500 rpm. The base model Eclipse GS features two available transmissions - a crisp-shifting 5-speed manual transmission and a 4-speed automatic transmission - the mid-grade Eclipse GS Sport is equipped with the 4-speed automatic transmission.

Eager and smooth-revving, this 2.4-liter four-cylinder powerplant gets the job done in fun and efficient fashion with a highway fuel economy rating of 28 mpg.

The premium Eclipse GT model, however, is an even better fit with Mitsubishi's signature sports coupe as its included V-6 engine produces more than 100 horsepower more than the 4-cylinder unit - an excellent complement to the Eclipse's well tuned chassis and vibrant steering feel. Producing a stout 265 bhp at 5,750 rpm and a full 262 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,500 rpm, the 3.8-liter SOHC 24-valve MIVEC-equipped 6-cylinder engine takes the fun-to-drive 2011 Eclipse Coupe to a whole new level of performance. Like its 4-cylinder cousin, this powerplant features a cast iron block and aluminum cylinder heads, but the Eclipse GT comes standard with an exotic transmission not available with the other models: a 5-speed Sportronic® automatic transmission that allows the driver to manually shift gears via the gearshift lever when so desired. Along with this Sportronic® automatic transmission, a lowered, more aggressively-tuned sports suspension makes the Eclipse GT for choice for the sporting enthusiast that truly enjoys driving.

Sophisticated safety technologies included at no additional cost

The entire Mitsubishi Eclipse Coupe model lineup includes a wide array of sophisticated safety technologies to better protect driver and passengers that are included at no additional cost. These systems include an advanced supplemental restraint system (SRS) that consists of dual front air bags that feature dual action inflators with crash zone and seat position and occupant sensors; side air bags; curtain air bags; Active Stability Control (ASC) with Traction Control Logic (TCL) and anti-lock brakes (ABS) plus Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD).

by Mitsubishi

by Mitsubishi

2011 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder Packs Even More Luxury Features as Standard Equipment, Gets Sleek New Look with Lowered Ride Height

Possessing eye-catching styling whether its top is up or down, a vast selection of high-end luxury-oriented features and accessories included at no additional cost to the consumer and offering a driving experience on a par with infinitely more expensive, open-top grand touring machines, the sub-$30,000 introductory MSRP 2011 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder is a mid-size convertible sports car that leaves its rivals in its well-healed dust.

Available in two trim lines - a remarkably refined and well-equipped 'base' model Eclipse Spyder GS Sport with an able 4-cylinder engine and the even more plush and powerful V-6-equipped Eclipse Spyder GT - this good-looking and very fun-to-drive soft top is the ideal choice for the consumer who enjoys their time behind the wheel of a spirited sporting machine while letting the unobstructed sun shine in.

New for the 2011 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder

Vastly Expanded No-Cost Luxury Features (GS Sport)

For the 2011 model year, the entry-level Eclipse Spyder GS Sport adds a plethora of high-end luxury amenities to its already heavily-appointed standard equipment package. Among the new additions are leather seating surfaces; heated front seats and side view mirrors; power driver's seat; very attractive 18-in. alloy wheels; high intensity discharge (HID) headlights; and aluminum pedals and entrance sills. Many automobile manufacturers charge consumers

thousands of dollars extra for such upmarket accessories, but the 2011 Eclipse Spyder GS Sport includes them free of charge.

Lowered Ride Height

Both the 2011 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder GS Sport and GT models now feature a ride height that has been lowered by 0.6 in. (15 mm). This not only infuses the handsome and sporty 2+2 convertible with a more aggressive look but also improves the car's aerodynamics.

12V Accessory Outlet

A convenient new included on every 2011 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder is the addition of a 12V accessory power outlet. Located on the center console, it provides an ideal location for accessing and/or conveniently powering/recharging popular portable electronic devices including an iPod® or a GPS navigation system.

Along Came a Spyder

Many convertible cars in the sub-$30,000 price category skimp on design details when it comes to materials associated with their soft tops in the name of cost-cutting, but this is certainly not the case with the 2011 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder.

From the get go, Mitsubishi engineers designed the Eclipse platform for both enclosed coupe and open-top convertible configurations, so the top-down version includes all of the essential chassis reinforcements to maintain the vehicle's structural integrity - the Spyder feels just as solid as the coupe when out on the open road.

With the top up, the cabin remains surprisingly quiet, thanks to a high-quality, multi-layer cloth top (not cheap vinyl like some class competitor's convertible tops) with a headliner that looks identical to that found in the closed-top coupe.

The Eclipse Spyder's power top folds quickly and completely out of view beneath a flush-fitting, hard shell tonneau cover in only about 19 seconds. The top's rear window is composed of glass and features a defroster - no flimsy plastic window here. And while wind buffeting is minimal in the Eclipse Spyder GS Sport, it is reduced even further in the top-of-the-line Eclipse Spyder GT, thanks to an included removable wind deflector.

Choice of Fuel-Saving 4-cylinder or Vastly More Powerful V-6 Engines

Every 2011 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder GS Sport is equipped with a normally-aspirated 2.4-liter (2378 cc) SOHC 16-valve 4-cylinder engine that features a sturdy cast iron block and a lightweight aluminum cylinder head. With a bore and stroke of 3.43 x 3.94 in. (87.0 x 100.0 mm) and a compression ratio of 9.5:1, this engine produces its maximum power output of 162 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and its peak torque of 162 lb.-ft. at a much lower 4,000 rpm. Additional cost savings to the consumer is achieved thanks to this engine's ability to run on regular unleaded gasoline.

To make the most of the fun handling capabilities of this top-down sports car, all of the top-tier 2011 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder GT models are powered by an engine that produces more than 100 horsepower over that of the 4-cylinder powerplant in the Eclipse Spyder GS Sport. The potent engine propelling the GT is a rev-happy, normally-aspirated 3.8-liter (3828 cc) SOHC 24-valve V-6 engine that, like the 4-cylinder unit, is composed of a high-strength cast iron block topped off by aluminum-alloy cylinder heads. With a higher compression ratio than the 4-cylinder engine and a bore and stroke measuring 3.74 x 3.54 in. (95.0 x 90.0 mm), this highly-capable V-6 is a joy to put through its paces with a full 265 horsepower on tap at 5,750 rpm and 262 lb.-ft. of torque produced at 4,500 rpm.

To achieve optimal power, low emissions and maximize fuel efficiency, both the I-4 and V-6 engines include Mitsubishi Innovative Valve timing Electronic Control (MIVEC) variable valve-timing system. Each engine's rpm redline threshold is reached at 6,500 on the tachometer.

Matching the sumptuous ride offered by the Eclipse Spyder's rock-solid chassis and smooth-operating engines are a pair of automatic transmissions more than up to the task. The 4-cylinder-powered Eclipse GS Sport features an effortlessly-shifting 4-speed automatic transmission while the Eclipse GT adds an additional cog to its 5-speed automatic gearbox. Both units feature Mitsubishi's Sportronic® transmission technology that allows the driver to make quick manual gear changes by pushing forward or pulling back on the gearshift lever.

Opulently Loaded Standard Equipment Package

If the 2011 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder's deluxe open air driving experience isn't enough to satiate its owner's desire for an upscale ride, then perhaps the car's very long list of included lavish features and appointments will do the trick.

Along with very comfortable front seats that pamper the body, cool ice-blue LED illumination of the instruments and controls and a stylish interior design, other luxury touches inside the Eclipse Spyder include a sweet-sounding 650-watt Rockford-Fosgate® 6-CD/MP3 audio system with 9 speakers (including an 8-in. subwoofer) and steering wheel-mounted controls, speed compensated volume control, auxiliary audio input jack and a 3-month pre-paid subscription to SIRIUS® satellite radio; Bluetooth® hands-free phone system; rearview backup camera; 6-way power driver's seat; heated front seats and side view mirrors; leather seating surfaces; aluminum pedals and entrance sill; air conditioning; cruise control; remote keyless entry; and power windows, mirrors and door locks.

Other included upscale details are high intensity discharge (HID) headlights; machine-finish 18-in. alloy wheels; dual exhaust outlets with exhaust finishers; clear and chrome LED tail lights; sharp-looking blacked-out upper and lower grille sections; and automatic headlamp shutoff.

A Safe Spyder

Every 2011 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder includes numerous ingenious safety design features and technologies incorporated into this convertible 2+2. Among these are an advanced dual front air bag supplemental restraint system (SRS) including dual action inflator with crash zone and seat position and occupant sensors; both head and thorax side air bags; energy-absorbing front and rear crumple zones and side impact door protection. Advanced electronic driver aids that help the driver to control the vehicle in adverse traction situations include anti-lock brakes (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD); Active Stability Control (ASC) and Traction Control Logic (TCL). A Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) that can alert the driver should a tire's air pressure fall below a safe level is also included at no charge.

by Mitsubishi

by Mitsubishi

The Mitsubishi Eclipse was introduced in 1989 and has remained in production in the modern era. The name 'Eclipse' came from a eighteenth century English racing horse which won 26 races. Since its inception, it has been redesigned on a number of occasions, and there has been four distinct generations. The first two generations were very similar and shared many mechanical components and design features. The third generation was a redesigned vehicle sitting a top a new platform.

There were four trim levels available for the first generation Mitsubishi Eclipse. The top-of-the line trim level was an all wheel drive version; the others were front-wheel drive. Both were available with the optional turbocharged engine. The trim levels included the base, GS, GS-T, and GSX. The base engine was a 1.8-liter 8-valve SOHC engine that produced just under 100 horsepower. The GS with DOHC was a 2-liter engine that raised horsepower to 136. The turbocharged version had over 180 horsepower.

Attached to the engine were a five-speed manual gearbox as standard equipment. A four-speed automatic was available for an additional cost. The AWD models included a limited-slip center differential and output shaft for a transfer case that was different than the FWD versions.

The second generation of the Eclipse began production in 1995 and continued into 1999. A Spyder version was now available, which offered convertible driving. Horsepower on all engines improved; the base 2.0-liter engine produced 140 horsepower. The 2.4-liter engine produced 141 and the 2.0-liter engine with turbocharger produced 210 horsepower.

There were now seven trim levels available including the RS, GS, GS Spyder, GS-T, GS-T Spyder and GSX.

In 1997 the model was giving aesthetic improvements. The front grille was updated, the headlights reshaped, and the driving lights became smaller and round. The reverse lights were moved away from their central position.

Built along side of the Eclipse was the Eagle Talon which was produced until 1989 when Eagle went out of business. The Talon was available in Base, ESi, TSi, and TSi AWD. Minor styling changes between the Talon and the Eclipse segregated these two vehicles.

The third generation of the eclipse appeared in 2000 and remained in production until 2005. It was a drastic styling change from its pior-self, with styling cues borrowed from the Mitsubishi SST design study which had debuted at the 1998 North American International Auto Show.

The Eclipse now shared a platform with the 8th generation Galant. Weight and size increased, and so did the engines displacement size. The base engine was a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that produced 140 horsepower. The 3.0-liter V6 engine raised horsepower to the tune of 200 horsepower.

The GTS trim was introduced in 2003. It had a 10:1 compression ratio and an improved Variable Induction Management air intake system that raised horsepower by 10.

The fourth generation of the Eclipse was shown at the 2005 Detroit Auto Show. The big news was the 3.8-liter V6 engine that raised horsepower to 263. The base 2.4-liter engine is rated at 165 horsepower. There is only one drive type available - front wheel drive. The Spyder version was released for 2007 at the North American International Auto Show.

by Dan Vaughan