2006 Mistubishi Eclipse GT - Cool As Ice

By Isaac Bouchard
Contributing Automotive Writer

Coco Channel is reputed to have said, "Fashion is what goes out of fashion." More than any other category of cars, this applies to sports coupes. The people who purchase them are willing to give up practicality and storage space for a sense of style; therefore, as automotive design evolves, what was the new hotness quickly becomes yesterday's news.

The inevitable compromises associated with being cool as ice are well exemplified by the new Mitsubishi Eclipse. Its voluptuous curves draw heavily upon recent show car trends, creating a shape that stands out in traffic. Copious attention to detail is evident in items such as the 'gunsite' head- and taillamps, the chromed-glass rear spoiler, and the compound curves of the hood. The Eclipse garners mostly positive reviews from curbside critics, though some thought the car's overhangs too pronounced, and the bulging rear fenders make the 17" wheel/tire combo appear too small; this is exaggerated by the overlarge clearance between tire and body.

The interior continues the emphasis of style over substance. The dash looks terrific, with motorcycle-style pod gauges and a 3-D padded dash. The seats look sexy, and prove quite comfortable. Unfortunately, there is almost no useful storage space, and despite the Eclipse's prodigious size and heft, the backseats are nigh on useless; trunk room beneath the hatch is also quite tight. Also, rear three-quarter vision is atrocious, and the output of the a/c is very poor. Daylight points up the mediocre quality of the materials used inside, but the cockpit is transformed by darkness. The dramatic architecture is highlighted by bright blue lighting, which serves to create a beguiling ambiance that makes it an enticing place for a moonlit romp.

Overall, the driving experience is first-rate. The new 3.8 liter V6 runs exceedingly strong, with an emphatic growl and prodigious spread of torque. It is one of the rare engines that actually feels stronger than its rated 263hp and 260lbs/ft of torque. The tester's powerplant was coupled to a five speed automatic that cracked off smooth and quick shifts, though its manumatic mode wasn't much fun do play with due to a general tardiness in carrying out the driver's orders and a lack of paddle shifts. The hard core will be better served by the available 6-speed manual (not available for testing).

Mitsubishi has done a great job of quelling the torquesteer usually associated with such high horsepower in a front wheel drive car, but the downside is a sense of isolation from what the front tires' contact patches are up to. This isn't a major shortcoming, as the chassis is otherwise so predictable. Push hard into a corner, and the front will eventually start to run wide. With the traction control switched off, a lift of the throttle serves to rotate the Eclipse nicely, positioning it for a strong exit. The tight damping and excellent body control really pay off here, allowing this heavyweight (3500 pound) to corner flat and resist excessive brake dive or acceleration squat. There's no ride penalty to pay; the Eclipse feels very European in its snubbed-down yet compliant motion over bad pavement. The only complaints center around excessive road noise that makes highway drives tiring, and a very large turning circle.

Final thoughts include the observation that Mitsubishi, a company with the youngest average owners in the industry, most definitely needs to provide a better basic stereo with connectivity for iPod's and the like (the dash's design precludes the owner from fitting an aftermarket head unit). And, to bring us back to where we started, prospective buyers need to know that what's in will soon be out.

COMPETITION: Ford Mustang, Mazda RX-8, Acura RSX

HIGHS: Attention-grabbing bod; excellent road manners and power.

LOWS: Heavily tilted style/substance balance, inherent limitations of front wheel drive, excessive heft.

PRICING: GT manual base MSRP $23,699; automatic base $24,599; hard-loaded GT automatic $28,269

FUEL ECONOMY: EPA estimates 19MPG city/28MPG highway

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