Mitsubishi developed four models of the sporty compact automobile known as the Eclipse between 1989 and 2011. Over the course of the 1996 model year, a convertible body type was added.
The captive imports rebadged Eagle Talon and Plymouth Laser share the same vehicle platform and parts as the first two generations (1G and 2G). They were constructed when Mitsubishi Motors and Chrysler Corporation had a tight working connection. They operated under the name Diamond-Star Motors (DSM). The first two editions of the Mitsubishi Car Plaza retail chain were only offered for sale in Japan. (2000/2005) The Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Stratus shared a newly developed platform with the third-generation (3G). The fourth and last (20062012) generation (4G) Eclipse was released in May 2005, and it used the PS platform in place of the Chrysler platform that had been used for the previous three generations.
The Eclipse was named after an English racehorse that had won 26 races while unbeaten in the 18th century, according to Mitsubishi Motors.
Japan, North America, the Middle East, South Korea, the Philippines, Brazil, and China were the official markets for the Eclipse. The last Eclipse was produced at the end of August 2011 and afterwards sold at auction to benefit charity.
Mitsubishi revived the Eclipse moniker in 2017 for a small crossover car called the Eclipse Cross, which made its premiere at the Geneva Auto Show.
In This Article...
The Mitsubishi Eclipse GS is turbo, right?
The Eclipse GS-T is a pleasure to drive when the roads are dry and the weather is sunny and clear. Like the majority of contemporary sport coupes, the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine is paired with a superb five-speed manual transmission and drives the front wheels. The Eclipse can be driven almost exactly like a car with rear-wheel drive. When I was navigating turns, there were instances when I was able to cause the back end to slide a little.
We nonetheless benefited from front-wheel drive. Better adhesion is one of those benefits throughout the winter. This had the potential to be better but was constrained by the quality of the road surface. The Eclipse would have handled the bad weather better if I had been driving the car as normally as I could and had not been distracted by the excitement of great acceleration squeezing the back of the seat into my back. But there was still that rush, and I won’t deny that because of that rush, I took pleasure in the good and endured the terrible.
What exactly does GSX on a Mitsubishi Eclipse mean?
Despite being relatively ancient, the Eclipse GST (short for Grand Sport Turbo) and GSX (short for Grand Sport X) versions are still highly popular. Both the style and the engines of these two Eclipse variants are very similar. The transmission configuration is the primary distinction between the Eclipse GST and Eclipse GSX. Due to the fact that the Eclipse GST has front-wheel drive, only the front wheels of the car can move it forward. The GSX, on the other hand, has all-wheel drive. All four of the GSX’s wheels can receive power from the engine.
Undoubtedly, a vehicle with AWD drive, like the GSX, has a number of advantages over one with FWD, like the GST. One benefit is the ability to accelerate more quickly without entering a burnout while putting more power to the ground with less risk of the wheels slipping. Greater control is another benefit when driving on slippery surfaces, up steep inclines, or in other situations when one or more wheels have less traction.
The GSX’s AWD configuration is not without drawbacks, though. The extra weight of the parts required to power all the wheels is the first drawback. The extra weight is often a few hundred pounds, however it varies from model to model. When all other factors are held constant, the extra weight has a detrimental impact on the vehicle’s fuel efficiency. The second drawback is the transmission’s complexity rising due to the more working parts. Of fact, the likelihood that a part will fail increases with the number of moving parts. Additionally, the cost of maintenance goes up because every component eventually needs to be replaced due to wear and tear.
The GSX’s slightly larger rims, which it employs as opposed to the GST’s 16-inch rims, are the primary external difference between the two vehicles.
It all comes down to whether you want an AWD or FWD vehicle when deciding between a GST and GSX.
Summary:
A Mitsubishi Eclipse GS from 2007is it quick?
This Mitsubishi can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 8.7 seconds, from 0 to 100 km/h in 9.3 seconds, from 0 to 160 km/h (100 mph) in 24.7 seconds, from 0 to 200 km/h (124 mph) in 73 seconds, and the quarter mile drag time is 16.6 seconds, according to ProfessCarsTM estimates.
by Carey Russ
Sports coupes have recently come to the attention of several manufacturers. Mitsubishi not. It has been producing two that are standards in their respective classes for quite some time. The only surviving example of the high-tech Japanese coupes from the 1980s is the bigger 3000GT. All small, reasonably priced coupes are compared to the Eclipse and are generally found wanting.
Since the early 1990s, the Eclipse has been manufactured in Normal, Illinois, and significant updates were made in 1995. In 1997, the second generation received upgrades to its equipment and aesthetics. One factor in the Eclipse’s success is choice. A 2.0-liter, 140-horsepower engine and front-wheel drive are available in Eclipse coupes in the RS and GS trim levels. With a new “SportsValue” option package, the 1999 GS may be customized to resemble its more potent siblings, the front-wheel-drive GS-T and all-wheel-drive GSX. A 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with 210 horsepower is used in the GS-T and GSX. There is also a convertible version of the Eclipse if that isn’t enough variety for you. With a 2.4-liter, 141-horsepower engine, the Spyder is available in GS trim, or as a GS-T variant with the same turbocharged engine as the coupe.
1999 will see minor changes. This year, new black-on-white instruments are available for Turbo Eclipses and the GS with the Sports Value Package. To enhance its already excellent levels of handling and stopping, the GSX receives standard antilock brakes and a limited-slip rear differential.
A recent week spent driving a brand-new Eclipse GSX confirmed the advantages of turbocharging and all the exciting features of a true sports coupe. It had a minimal fuel appetite and a ton of really useful power for all types of driving. It’s a fantastic high-performance touring car thanks to its agile, stable handling and sufficient comfort to empty the tank without having to stop and stretch.
A turbo is present in a 1997 Mitsubishi Eclipse GS.
When the driver accelerates, especially on uneven pavement, all of the turbo power goes to the left front wheel and the car slides all over the place. It handles horribly. The automobile behaves erratically in corners. It isn’t a sports car, to put it briefly.
Are Mitsubishi Eclipses considered sporty cars?
This is due to the fact that they are linked to faster speeds and hazardous driving practices. Insurance companies would rank a Mitsubishi Eclipse as a sports car because that is how they classify them. Your age also affects your vehicle insurance because you are a new driver.
Which Mitsubishi Eclipse has AWD?
Which variant of the Mitsubishi Eclipse included all-wheel drive? In North America, only the Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX was offered with all-wheel drive. The front wheels of all other versions were driven. The GSX, commonly referred to as the Grand Sport X, was manufactured for the first two Eclipse models before being phased out in 2000.