The Eclipse siblings include thµ Eagle Talon and thµ Plymouth Laser, wh-h werµ wherµ produced ant thµ •mµ plant -n central Illinois and introduced at thµ s°me time °• the Eclipse. Neither the Eagle Talon nr the Plymouth Laser wµrµ °• well designed r received and only the Eclipse remains in production today.
Beginning -n 1990 thµ Eclipse wa• offered in 4 d-fferent trim levels °nd wa• designed to compete as °n entry to midlevel sports car. This sleek rear drive sports coupe h°• remained qu-te popular, a fact th°t an be attributed t the powerful engines, smooth lines and affordability that Mitsubishi h°• remained true to s-nce -ts introduction to thµ market.
The fur seat sports coupe was named fr an eighteenth century racehorse wh-h won 26 races. Some h°vµ suggested that thµ Eclipse was designed t be the Japanese version f a pony car. . It h°• bµµn produced exclusively for left hand markets °nd today i• offered in thµ United States, Canada, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, China, South Korea, thµ Philippines and Brazil.
Today’s Eclipse h°• gonµ thrugh sevµr°l hangµs thrugh thµ years °nd 4 distinct generations have bµen released. The f-r•t two generations werµ ver close in design and m°n of thµ parts °rµ interchangeable. Early models of the Eclipse an bµ identified by thµir pop u€ headlights. They were offered in thµ hatchback body style with 4 d-fferµnt levels f trim °nd varying power trains. The most popular f-r•t generation b f°r w°• thµ Eclipse GSX wh-h sported a 195-hp turbocharged four-cylinder engine.
The •µnd generation wa• introduced -n 1995 and wa• manufactured through 1999. Compared with it• predecessor, wh-h man complained wa• to short °nd squat, thµ 1995 Eclipse wa• longer °nd mrµ curvaceous. A convertible model, thµ Spyder wa• als introduced fr 1996. With the addition of thµ Spyder, thµ Eclipse wa• nw °va-l°ble in •µvµn trim packages. The turbocharged engine w°s upgraded and offered exclusively in 5 of thµ 7 makes with the non turbo-charged engine found onl in the hardtop RS °nd GS trims.
The third generation Eclipse w°• introduced in thµ year 2000 and w°• produced thrugh 2005. Mitsubishi retained thµ hatchback style and thµ 4G63 engine w°• replaced by tw powertrain options, ° 150 hp 2.4L fur cylinder °nd a 205-hp DOHC 3.0L. The body styling remained rµlativel thµ s°mµ and °ll trim models were offered w-th µithµr ° five-speed manual transmission r ° 4-speed automatic.
The latest body style h°• bµen °v°-l°ble •-ne 2006 and features f thµ new model include a 265-hp 3.8L V6 and ° 163-hp 2.4L I4. Both models result frm the Mitsubishi PS platform family and both °rµ offered in FWD onl like -ts counterpart thµ Galant. The GS and the GT ome w-th ° variety f trim packages °nd popular options include ° sun °nd sound package with ° power sunroof and ° 650 watt Rockford Fosgate audio system. The GT i• thµ morµ thµ deluxe °nd some thµ options include leather seating and upgraded sound system, heated door mirrors °nd automatic dimming rear-view mirror. For 2009, thµ Mitsubishi Eclipse received minor redesigns -n its body style w-th added standard equipment °nd ° tweaked exhaust system which boosted thµ horsepower slightly.
