When the Eclipse Concept-E debuted at the 2004 North American International Auto Show, it gave a pretty good idea of what the next generation Eclipse would look like. Smooth rounded lines are reminiscent of the second generation Eclipse that ended production in the late nineties. Whether or not Eclipse fans liked the design of the concept, many of the styling cues from the concept remained when the actual production version was introduced just a year later. Making its way around the Monterey peninsula during the Pebble Beach Concours weekend, the Sunset Pearlescent Eclipse GT test car turned more than its share of heads in the abundance of classic and exotic cars. It's obviously a car that has the ability to be noticed. Now the Eclipse has hit showrooms, and Mitsubishi is hoping it will lead a revival for the company struggling in sales.
One of the main technical differences from the previous generation is the dimensions of the car. Mitsubishi has increased everything - wheelbase by .6 inches, width by 3.3 inches, and length by 2.9 inches. The main reason for the larger profile is that the Eclipse is based on the Galant sedan platform. While this might help with leg and head room, it definitely doesn't help with the weight. The base GS weighs in at a hefty 3274 lbs and the GT at a heavy 3472 lbs.