New Eclipse on sale now
5/19/05, 07:38 PM
#1
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I guess it's that bad at Mitsubishi......
Mitsubishi launches 2006 Eclipse early; automaker counting heavily on new model's success
KATHY JACKSON | Automotive News
Posted Date: 5/19/05
LOS ANGELES -- Mitsubishi, in an urgent need to revive sales and its brand image in this country, is putting its redesigned 2006 Eclipse coupe on sale 10 days earlier than planned.
The four-door coupe went on sale Thursday at a base price of $19,994 including the shipping charge. The 2005 model was priced at $20,274 including shipping.
The ad campaign begins this weekend.
The company originally planned to put some of the vehicles into dealerships for display and promotional purposes on Memorial Day. The official sales date and ad launch was set for June 12.
But Mitsubishi is counting on the Eclipse to bring some spark back to the brand. Sales plunged 40.2 percent in the first four months of the year compared with 2004. Each nameplate was down by double digits, including the Eclipse coupe, down 22.0 percent.
"Feedback and reactions from dealers and consumers has been overwhelmingly positive," said Dave Schembri, executive vice president of sales and marketing for Mitsubishi Motors North America Inc. "Since our product ramp up had been virtually flawless, we saw no reason to hold back on deliveries of this fabulous new car to showrooms."
The redesigned Eclipse comes in two models, the GS and the GT. The GS comes with a 2.4-liter, 162-hp four-cylinder engine with either a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic transmission. The four-cylinder engine in the current Eclipse makes 147 hp.
The GT has a 3.8-liter, 263-hp V-6 with either a six-speed manual or a five-speed automatic transmission. The current 3.0-liter V-6 makes 200 hp in the GT and 210 hp in the GTS.
The Rockford Fosgate audio system uses 650 watts and has nine speakers.
The primary target customers are singles and married couples aged 25 to 35. The secondary customers are baby boomers with older children and empty nesters looking for a personal car.
The car is built at the Mitsubishi plant in Normal, Ill. It has capacity for 42,000 coupes annually.
Mitsubishi launches 2006 Eclipse early; automaker counting heavily on new model's success
KATHY JACKSON | Automotive News
Posted Date: 5/19/05
LOS ANGELES -- Mitsubishi, in an urgent need to revive sales and its brand image in this country, is putting its redesigned 2006 Eclipse coupe on sale 10 days earlier than planned.
The four-door coupe went on sale Thursday at a base price of $19,994 including the shipping charge. The 2005 model was priced at $20,274 including shipping.
The ad campaign begins this weekend.
The company originally planned to put some of the vehicles into dealerships for display and promotional purposes on Memorial Day. The official sales date and ad launch was set for June 12.
But Mitsubishi is counting on the Eclipse to bring some spark back to the brand. Sales plunged 40.2 percent in the first four months of the year compared with 2004. Each nameplate was down by double digits, including the Eclipse coupe, down 22.0 percent.
"Feedback and reactions from dealers and consumers has been overwhelmingly positive," said Dave Schembri, executive vice president of sales and marketing for Mitsubishi Motors North America Inc. "Since our product ramp up had been virtually flawless, we saw no reason to hold back on deliveries of this fabulous new car to showrooms."
The redesigned Eclipse comes in two models, the GS and the GT. The GS comes with a 2.4-liter, 162-hp four-cylinder engine with either a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic transmission. The four-cylinder engine in the current Eclipse makes 147 hp.
The GT has a 3.8-liter, 263-hp V-6 with either a six-speed manual or a five-speed automatic transmission. The current 3.0-liter V-6 makes 200 hp in the GT and 210 hp in the GTS.
The Rockford Fosgate audio system uses 650 watts and has nine speakers.
The primary target customers are singles and married couples aged 25 to 35. The secondary customers are baby boomers with older children and empty nesters looking for a personal car.
The car is built at the Mitsubishi plant in Normal, Ill. It has capacity for 42,000 coupes annually.
5/20/05, 06:40 AM
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Autoweek had an article on this car. If you were to load up a GT with all the options, and automatic, your pushing $30K. You can buy a Mustang GT for $28K well equipped. Now, I can't wait for the people who start saying that this car is nicer than a Mustnang or Mustang GT.
5/20/05, 07:20 AM
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It's not bad compared to the last generation of Eclipses...but its a FWD fat tard at 3570 lbs and a 61/39 weight distribution. Track numbers are 350Z-like:
0-60 in 5.8s, 1/4 in 14.4 @ 101.
Had they come out with a Turbo or Supercharged V6 with AWD and better weight distribution, I would have considered one - if it was priced right.
I believe it's based on the Galant platform. Would have been cool, it they used the Lancer Evo platform instead
0-60 in 5.8s, 1/4 in 14.4 @ 101.
Had they come out with a Turbo or Supercharged V6 with AWD and better weight distribution, I would have considered one - if it was priced right.
I believe it's based on the Galant platform. Would have been cool, it they used the Lancer Evo platform instead
5/20/05, 08:23 AM
#5
Tasca Super Boss 429 Member
Originally posted by thezeppelin8@May 19, 2005, 7:55 PM
four doors? thats new to me. i guess they went the rx-8 way
four doors? thats new to me. i guess they went the rx-8 way
5/20/05, 09:34 AM
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5/20/05, 09:46 AM
#7
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Originally posted by racerx@May 20, 2005, 9:23 AM
It's not bad compared to the last generation of Eclipses...but its a FWD fat tard at 3570 lbs and a 61/39 weight distribution. Track numbers are 350Z-like:
0-60 in 5.8s, 1/4 in 14.4 @ 101.
Had they come out with a Turbo or Supercharged V6 with AWD and better weight distribution, I would have considered one - if it was priced right.
I believe it's based on the Galant platform. Would have been cool, it they used the Lancer Evo platform instead
It's not bad compared to the last generation of Eclipses...but its a FWD fat tard at 3570 lbs and a 61/39 weight distribution. Track numbers are 350Z-like:
0-60 in 5.8s, 1/4 in 14.4 @ 101.
Had they come out with a Turbo or Supercharged V6 with AWD and better weight distribution, I would have considered one - if it was priced right.
I believe it's based on the Galant platform. Would have been cool, it they used the Lancer Evo platform instead
You're right racerx they pushed them out too fast. Go Ford!
5/20/05, 01:08 PM
#8
um, which end is the front? 
5/20/05, 03:03 PM
#9
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They just get worse and worse with every redesign!
5/26/05, 06:58 PM
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Just got back my local Mitsu dealer...he had one base (no options) L-4, stickered at $20,850 and a fairly loaded GT at just over $28K. The base GT is just under $25K.
The car is a little bigger than the previous design. Both models include 6 airbags - dash, seat, and side air - something Ford ought to consider on Mustang coupes.
Mileage is 23/29 for the L-4 and 19/28 for the V6. The GT comes with a strut tower brace.
It is still an Eclipse - dash layout is the same, only more 'modern' but all the instrutments are in the same place. Both the hood and rear hatch weight a lot - both are very heavy. The base model has 50 series 17 inch wheels and the GT had the optional 18. Leather is only available in a $3,000+ option package. The V6 requires premium fuel.
Still has the cross brace behind the seat (when you pop the hatch. Not a bad looking car, but the Mustang is a real GT - ie. V8. If production is only 42,000 a car that will stink. There are tons of used around here.
The car is a little bigger than the previous design. Both models include 6 airbags - dash, seat, and side air - something Ford ought to consider on Mustang coupes.
Mileage is 23/29 for the L-4 and 19/28 for the V6. The GT comes with a strut tower brace.
It is still an Eclipse - dash layout is the same, only more 'modern' but all the instrutments are in the same place. Both the hood and rear hatch weight a lot - both are very heavy. The base model has 50 series 17 inch wheels and the GT had the optional 18. Leather is only available in a $3,000+ option package. The V6 requires premium fuel.
Still has the cross brace behind the seat (when you pop the hatch. Not a bad looking car, but the Mustang is a real GT - ie. V8. If production is only 42,000 a car that will stink. There are tons of used around here.
5/26/05, 07:11 PM
#11
AKA 1 BULLITT------------ Legacy TMS Member
Originally posted by htwag@May 26, 2005, 9:01 PM
... a fairly loaded GT at just over $28K. The base GT is just under $25K...
... a fairly loaded GT at just over $28K. The base GT is just under $25K...
I never knew the Japanese had such great sense of humor! Hilarious!
5/27/05, 03:19 AM
#14
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I saw a new GT also and it's better looking in person and the interior looks nice but a bit snug for a guy who is 6'2" and 200 pounds. The rear view of the car doesn't bother me.....it's the nose. I can't call it the front of the car because it actually looks like a nose.
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