People oft criticize me of thinking that that the Eclipse will be "the" car of 2006, most cases pinned on the fact that Mitsubishi's arithmetic for the Eclipse doesn't add up to a true performance machine. Admittedly, this is true; such concerns are justified considering that the latest car's underpinnings are from the same Platform America skeleton used in Mitsubishi's midsize Endeavor SUV and Galant family sedan. The fourth-gen Illinois-built Eclipse encounters yet another growth spurt, gaining some 15 mm (0.6 inches) in wheelbase, 58 mm (2.3 inches) in length and 84 mm (3.3 inches) in width. Both front and rear tracks are 61 mm (2.4 inches) wider as well, filling in those gorgeous hips and adding to
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| Both front and rear tracks are 61 mm wider as well, filling in those gorgeous hips and adding to the Eclipse's road-hugging demeanor. (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press) |
the Eclipse's road-hugging demeanor. The downside is that it packs on some 163 kg (360 lbs) of extra weight and as you know, extra weight and girth do not a sports car make. But before dismissing the Eclipse as a flop in the making, continue to read. You might just be surprised.
First stop is the engine department, which has been seriously upgraded to keep up with consistent weight gains. It gives the flashy body the legs that the third generation never had. While there are no arguments that last year's 200-horsepower 3.0-litre V6 delivered the smoothness which no prior turbo-four could ever offer, how it went about its business was more laid back and relaxed than adrenaline inducing, too smooth for the urgency which sports compact drivers demand. Thank goodness for the new V6, which deals an ace action card. Mitsubishi decided to make a stop over at the parts bin, picking out the large displacement 3.8-litre cast-iron V6, topped with an aluminum head. While in most applications it generates 245 horses, Mitsubishi added MIVEC variable intake valve timing and a high performance cam profile
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| Mitsubishi decided to make a stop over at the parts bin, picking out the large displacement 3.8-litre cast-iron V6, topped with an aluminum head. (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press) |
switchover to further caffeinate existing performance abilities. Its 263-horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque beat most rivals, toppling powerhouse compacts and aiming for bigger, beefier prey such as Nissan's 350Z and Mazda's RX-8.
As with the 164-horsepower 2.4-litre MIVEC I-4 found in the Eclipse GS and Lancer Ralliart, the V6-powered Eclipse uses displacement to its advantage. There's no need to rev the engine hard to feel thrust, as power is always on tap and ready to deliver a satisfying punch, powerful enough to pin you to the seat and gently rearrange your internal organs. Even with my optional 235-width Goodyear Eagle RS-A tires on 18-inch wheels, there's more than enough torque to overwhelm. In first gear the V6-powered Eclipse struggles to find traction all the way up to redline, when the tires emit a resounding chirp through fast-paced second-gear upshifts. At 4,000 rpm, there's a subtle switch over to the 'hot' camshaft profile, though it's not as obvious as the kick-in-the-pants motion of hyperactive Hondas and Acuras. 100 km/h whips by in a little over six seconds, provided you deactivate the traction control, which otherwise limits power to prevent torque steer. Pull does not diminish in higher gears. Complimenting the performance is a baritone exhaust note that urges you to seek out underground parking lots and lengthy tunnels, its reverberating echo sure to send chills down your spine.
