2006 Mitsubishi Eclipse Preview

The EVO, however good, has nothing to do with the Eclipse from an engineering perspective. Certainly the brand's sporting DNA is

The new sport coupe rides on Galant/Endeavor rolling stock, which is why it's so accommodating inside, and why it should track with the best in the business. (Photo: Mitsubishi Motors North America)

passed down, just like its other models, but the new sport coupe rides on Galant/Endeavor rolling stock, which is why it's so accommodating inside, and why it should track with the best in the business - something I'll find out for myself when I get to drive it later this month.

What I'm looking forward to is the optional drivetrain. Not that its naturally aspirated 2.4-litre four-cylinder won't be fun. While the car is a bit on the heavy side at 1,485 kilos (3,274 lbs), especially when compared to the lightweight RSX, the MIVEC-enhanced 165-horsepower base engine, as found in the Eclipse GS, should still feel energetic. It's basically the same engine that makes the Lancer Ralliart such a joy to drive, sporting three additional horsepower and an identical torque rating of 162 lb-ft.

But as refined and rev happy as the four-cylinder is, the Eclipse GT's potent 3.8-litre V6 should go a long way to make the car a Mustang V6 fighter. The car weighs a bit more than the four-cylinder Eclipse, at 1,575 kilos

The Eclipse GT's potent 3.8-litre V6 should go a long way to make the car a Mustang V6 fighter. (Photo: Mitsubishi Motors North America)

(3,472 lbs), but with almost a hundred horsepower in the positive the MIVEC-equipped V6 should more than make up for the curbweight handicap.

MIVEC stands for Mitsubishi Innovative Valve timing and lift Electronic Control, by the way, a system that both engines receive. While optimizing emissions and fuel economy, the sophisticated system also enhances power and broadens the torque curve. While the Lancer features MIVEC technology already, the Eclipse will be the first application of the variable valve control system in a V6. Look for the engine to also find its way into sporting versions of the Galant and Endeavor, similar to the Ralliart concept versions of each Mitsubishi introduced at SEMA last year.