RIP the Mitsubishi Eclipse

The only surprise here to me is that it took this long. Unfortunately in my opinion Mitsubishi has gone terribly wrong with the eclipse since the 99 model. The 2G was the car that import kids fell in love with. With it’s funky look and turbocharged engine it was a modder’s dream. Despite what you think about the movie the car even became a legend in its bright green hued Fast and the Furious incarnation.

The 2G eclipse really was an amazing car and is part of the Import Scene history, the 3G not so much. Back in the day when I was thinking about replacing my original car, The Probe GT, it was right when the 3G was in concept mode.

In 98 Mitsubishi showed off the SST concept car at the North American Auto Show and it was a downright beautiful car with a turbocharged engine. The 3G eclipse was supposedly going to be based off the SST and I for one was sold.

I was all ready to be the first in line to get my hands on the new Eclipse, but then the 3G eclipse came out and they basically stripped all the sexy away from the outside and removed the heart. With its turbo heart gone they left a neutered awkward looking sad little car.

The eclipse quickly went from the car every import nut wished was in their driveway to the car the nobody really wanted. Hollywood tried to make it a star in 2 Fast 2 Furious but it was more of the comic relief for the film.

The 4G was introduced in 2006 and while it looked a little better, it still had no turbo so nobody like us really wanted it especially since the Evo was now available in the US.

Think about it this way, the 2010 Eclipse GT has a base MSRP of just a bit more than $29,000. The 2010 Lancer Ralliart is available with a turbo engine, AWD and a base MSRP of around $28,000.

So it doesn’t really surprise me that the Eclipse is dead, what does surprise me is how long it took to die.