Improved Stance, A Hot-Looking New Exterior Design Element, Star-Studded Free Amenities Highlight the 2011 Mitsubishi Eclipse Coupe
10/04/2010
Mitsubishi
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(R) 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(R) 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(R) hands-free phone system and an extremely powerful yet crisp-sounding 650-watt Rockford-Fosgate(R) premium audio system with MP3 compatibility, 9 speakers (including a 10-in. subwoofer) and a pre-paid 3-month subscription to SIRIUS(R) 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(R) automatic transmission that allows the driver to manually shift gears via the gearshift lever when so desired. Along with this Sportronic(R) 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).
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc., (MMNA) is responsible for all manufacturing, finance, sales, marketing, research and development operations for Mitsubishi Motors in the United States. MMNA sells coupes, convertibles, sedans, sport utility vehicles, and light trucks through a network of approximately 400 dealers.