Best in Class?
Flashing lights, artificial smoke, loud, pumping trance music and a self-revealing cloth - it's the same run of the mill show that all manufacturers use to unveil show cars. Underneath it all, this pearl orange coloured figure gathered attention quicker than almost any other exhibit at this year's Canadian International Auto Show. And there it sat,
raised on a pedestal, the all-new 2006 Mitsubishi Eclipse in all its radiance and glory. In my head, whilst deep-voiced speaker went on about its sound system and powerful engine, all that went through my mind was my sincere hope that it would be as good to drive as it was to look at. From that moment on, and for the next six months, I was excited - and that rarely ever happens.
Six months later, the Eclipse is starting to ease into showrooms across Canada. I'm staring at it in the metal in Mitsubishi's corporate lot and it's looking better than in any photo. Having taken a general hint from the trendy sports car crew, its stylists added in long-running elements of the past two generations of Eclipse - cheese-grater doors of the third generation and towering spoiler
excluded. Slimmed down, the Concept-E's X-rated figure shows its extreme curves even more, particularly those perfectly shaped hips. Oh my, this car is so hot.
Between nose and tail are the details that will settle well with the Fast and the Furious crowd, details worthy of your attention. The rear end's form-fitting spoiler and afterburner LED tail lamps are glitzed up with automotive bling - 'chrome under glass' as Mitsubishi calls it - while the headlamps project through light purple tinted automotive sunglasses. Cornering bulbs up front and back are pearlized, appearing orange only when activated. You can dress the Eclipse up with a number of additional accessories, including an alloy, race-style fuel filler cap and a cool-looking aero kit. Surely, the latest model will be a kingpin in style and street cred.
Flashing lights, artificial smoke, loud, pumping trance music and a self-revealing cloth - it's the same run of the mill show that all manufacturers use to unveil show cars. Underneath it all, this pearl orange coloured figure gathered attention quicker than almost any other exhibit at this year's Canadian International Auto Show. And there it sat,
 |
| This pearl orange coloured figure gathered attention quicker than almost any other exhibit at this year's Canadian International Auto Show. (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press) |
Six months later, the Eclipse is starting to ease into showrooms across Canada. I'm staring at it in the metal in Mitsubishi's corporate lot and it's looking better than in any photo. Having taken a general hint from the trendy sports car crew, its stylists added in long-running elements of the past two generations of Eclipse - cheese-grater doors of the third generation and towering spoiler
 |
| The rear end's form-fitting spoiler and afterburner LED tail lamps are glitzed up with automotive bling. (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press) |
Between nose and tail are the details that will settle well with the Fast and the Furious crowd, details worthy of your attention. The rear end's form-fitting spoiler and afterburner LED tail lamps are glitzed up with automotive bling - 'chrome under glass' as Mitsubishi calls it - while the headlamps project through light purple tinted automotive sunglasses. Cornering bulbs up front and back are pearlized, appearing orange only when activated. You can dress the Eclipse up with a number of additional accessories, including an alloy, race-style fuel filler cap and a cool-looking aero kit. Surely, the latest model will be a kingpin in style and street cred.