2006 Mitsubishi Eclipse Preview

Taking a seat inside helped me to appreciate the car's comfortable and supportive front seats, which feature large bolsters to hold

The terra cotta (Avant-Garde) interior is simply decadent, and my personal favorite. (Photo: Mitsubishi Motors North America)

driver and front passenger in place during aggressive maneuvers, and integrated headrests. The four-spoke steering wheel is ideal for 9 o'clock, 3 o'clock hand positioning, and the unique instrument panel delivers easy readability via large motorcycle-inspired gauges. These are backlit in Ice Blue, according to Mitsubishi, but which should look nice at night.

The Eclipse interior will be available in three interior colour schemes, including charcoal, or Techno-Sports in Mitsubishi-speak, medium gray (Hi-Q), and terra cotta (Avant-Garde), what I believe will be my personal favourite - I haven't seen the others yet so it's hard to tell, but the latter is simply decadent.

So, Mitsubishi's new coupe has the edge in styling, interior size and execution, but what about performance? This is something that the Japanese brand does very well. In fact, it's what Mitsubishi does better than just about any other entry-level auto manufacturer around. Its Galant sedan is a serious performer, besting the class sales leaders from handling to acceleration, while offering up a compliant ride. The Endeavor SUV is much the same. One of the best in the car-based crossover class for snaking through circuitous highways and byways, while delivering

Performance is what Mitsubishi does better than just about any other entry-level auto manufacturer around. (Photo: Mitsubishi Motors North America)

uncanny comfort that European SUVs costing thousands more can't seem to match. I would be amiss if I forgot to mention the otherworldly EVO VIII that I drove last year in regular and MR trim levels, which has recently been replaced and upgraded with the EVO IX. I said then, and I reiterate, it might just be the most engaging four-door I've ever driven. While we can't get it here in Canada, and won't get the EVO IX either, due to a problem federalizing its bumpers, or more accurately the oil-cooler integrated within its front bumper, the Lancer Ralliart is a fair compensation prize. It's one of the best in its class too, just another example of Mitsubishi's deep pool of seriously talented engineers.