The year was 1990, the market was crowded with all sorts of sports coupe such as Toyota Celica, Nissan 240SX, Ford Probe. Then, Mitsubishi introduced a small 2 door hatchback with edgy styling and a powerful turbo charged engine. It was the only car on the market that had 200 HP and was selling under $20k. Street racing crowd quickly noticed this car, and the Eclipse legend was born.
Unfortunately, Mitsubishi took a detour from the formula of success with the 3rd generation Eclipse. It was made bigger, softer, and rounder. The edgy styling was replaced with plain vanilla ovals; turbo power was replaced by V6 engine. The weight went up. Instead of a pocket rocket, the 3rd generation Eclipse became a boulevard cruiser.
Now, with this 4th generation Eclipse, Mitsubishi seem to be on the right track. The styling is modern and aggressive, took many designing cues from the popular 2nd generation Eclipse. Interior is filled with “bling bling”: 4 pod instrument panel back lit with blue LCD illumination, sports buckets, and the extra large sub-woofer. Power from a MIVEC 3.8-liter V6 engine mated to a 6-speed manual transmission, lifted directly from the Evolution MR.
The new 3.8-liter V6 engine provides ample power for this car; however, it needs to be reved to get out most of the power. The 6-speed manual provides good, crisp shifting action. Unfortunately this new Eclipse is still plagued by the front heaviness; it is not as nimble as the earlier versions. Mountains and race tracks may not be the best environment for it.
Sharp styling, strong engine, base model starts at below $20k, this new Eclipse will cause some concerns for its main competitors such as RSX, Tiburon, Accord Coupe, and Solara. This might be the rainmaker Mitsubishi USA has been waiting for.
終於，MITSUBISHI MOTORS這次抓對方向，瞭解到如何利用本身優勢與對手競爭，從1989年起進駐市場的平價跑車Eclipse回來了！這樣的說法或許讓許多車迷迷惑，依照筆者本身定義，上一代販賣的Eclipse不單是性能，就連外型都令人非議，更別談延續其跑車名望，因此當筆者目睹新車款於Detroit AutoShow揭幕後，心中大石方得以落下，這新款勢必會受到相當的歡迎。
Eclipse 創造話題的代名詞
從外觀至內裝，Eclipse新款可說是徹底翻修，延續的路線亦回歸原始，就連線條也跳過毀譽參半的第三代，走回九零年代末期的二代思維，目的是找回痴醉Eclipse設計的年輕車迷。觀察新車款對比過去，當年Eclipse掀起的汽車科技，是摒除其造型外的特色，四輪獨立懸吊、速度感應式轉向機構、通風煞車碟盤、ABS選配等，這在今日稀鬆平常的配備，在那個時空背景可是時髦發明，因此筆者對新款抱持幾分期待。
加入二萬美金戰火區
Eclipse主打的為北美市場，迎面遭遇的是FORD Mustang，雙門2＋2座椅設計、大排氣量引擎、二輪驅動和拉風造型，兩部車均執著造型卻各自表述，一是肌肉、圓弧線條，另一則是回歸原始精神，都是讓人垂涎的尤物。Mustang自去年推出便開紅盤，為應付訂單而將產量調整至20萬，這塊市場大餅正是岌岌可危的MITSUBISHI所需，藉此扳回過去產品劣勢。以價格級距區分是對手林立的戰區，兩萬美金的選擇包含：ACURA RSX、HYUNDAI Tiburon、HONDA Accord Coupe和TOYOTA Solara等，每一輛都有其特色，價錢均和Eclipse衝突，以此推論想要竄起，相較多年前局勢競爭將更為激烈。
渾身散發科技感
提完市場觀點，來觀察一下Eclipse新車特質，概念化設計充斥下筆者感覺如駕駛概念車般，難以區分的頭、尾總成，不注意還有點難分辨前後，這種錯覺過去曾出現AUDI TT上，鮮豔的橙色塗裝（Sunset Pearlescent），攫取不少路人目光，大面積前、後車窗和天窗使車內採光飽滿，搭配黑、橙雙色內裝未來感十足，車尾的透明燈罩與晶鑽造型，表達出Eclipse那種神秘帶有熱情的氣質。唯一美中不足，是突兀的車高，離地高六吋很難讓人接受跑車說法，原廠應考慮換短彈簧與修改減震筒以降低車高，否則空有18吋鋁圈卻霸氣難伸。
內裝炫目度一流
若是駕駛Galant的車主，相信對Eclipse散發的藍光（ICE BLUE ILLUMINATION）印象深刻，兩大兩小的儀錶顯示精簡，多數資訊如羅盤、音響和時間等資訊，悉數集中於中控台上的液晶螢幕上。類似三輻的四輻真皮方向盤抓感佳，駕駛者可從後方控鍵操作MP3音響。為滿足年輕族群喜好，此番Eclipse選擇ROCKFORD為伙伴，試駕車內洋洋灑灑多達九支喇叭，後面碩大的SUBWOOFER音效震撼，低音衝擊著筆者耳朵力道非凡。新車款與過去相同，前座包覆、支撐到空間都有上乘水準，但2＋2座椅配置加上圓弧車體限制，後座僅供參考用，載客太過勉強，幸而六/四分離的設計，讓車主多幾分空間利用機能！
性能進化 史上最強
3.8升V6引擎是Eclipse送給車迷的第一份禮，這具採用MIVEC技術的動力核心，可輸出263hp/5,750rpm、最大扭力260lb-ft/4,500rpm，帳面數字理解新車性能不容小覷。第二份禮是與Lancer Evolution MR共用的六速手排變速箱，手感、齒比皆同，這亦是筆者最喜愛的部分，其魅力更勝其耀眼造型。同樣地為攻入平價區，買家擁有162hp的2.4升MIVEC四缸引擎和五速手排、四速自排款，六缸的除六速手排還有五速自排提供。
直線是我家 攻彎道非其專長
一如預期，這輛FF跑車實際動態受車重分配62/38影響，靈活性在彎道流暢度不足，MIVEC機構屬高轉速特性，儘管低速扭力不差，卻少了想像中所要的飽滿、紮實，筆者得一路催谷至4,500rpm後迫使MIVEC打開，源源力道方得釋放。公路巡航進入高速域方知大排氣量優勢，兩千轉時速達80mph，那種從容不迫會讓人上癮。轉入連續彎後測試，新Eclipse阻尼偏硬但側傾明顯，推斷車高是一關鍵，且前檔玻璃雖屬大面積設計，但下沿視野仍受阻隔，其死角不利於激烈狀態駕駛。整體觀之，Eclipse沿襲的還是美式主流風格，暢快加速、流線身段與前衛座艙格局，呈現與Lancer Evolution相異其趣的樂趣，兩車各具魅力。
收歸民心 品牌救世主
Eclipse從最早崛起時，便以創意獨具、酷炫吸引年輕買家，進而贏得消費者對MITSUBISHI品牌的忠誠，只是近年來缺乏強勢產品，自然在競爭激烈的市場中遭到淹沒，此時Eclipse出現如天降甘霖般，可為其重新樹立口碑。幸而新款推出使其擺脫陳舊形象、基本款兩萬美金內（19,399-24,599）的起價，加上比同級優厚的保固期，相信這些都會是Eclipse勝出的籌碼。
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