Quickshift 6 ::: 2006 Mitsubishi Eclipse GT

The Eclipse has been around since 1990. I can remember

a time when the Eclipse was identical to an Eagle Talon and I would read car magazines and drool over the AWD platform and the potential these turbo-charged cars possessed. With time the 4 cylinder turbo was dropped in favor of a 6 cylinder and a revised body style which dramatically changed the looks of what was one of the most influential and tunable cars of the import movement. Now with the latest release from Mitsubishi, the tides have changed again. My first impression of the new Eclipse was that it looked bulky, a bit on the chunky side, and very different from anything around. It has a wide stance with lines that cut deep into the body and are a far cry from the smooth flowing look of the early Eclipses. To be quite honest, I was not a fan of the newest arrival based on looks. I remember passing by one sitting at a dealership and not even taking a second look. But I do believe in the old saying, "never judge a book by its cover." What did raise my interest in the 2006 Eclipse GT was its Mivec engine. The new power plant is a 3.8L V6 pumping out a whopping 263 HP… that's WRX territory… matched up with a 6-speed tranny and suddenly… like closing time at the bar, looks aren't all that important. The GT package also comes standard with traction control, a strut tower bar, 17-inch wheels, anti-theft immobilizer, auto-off halogens, power everything, anti-lock brakes, 6 speaker CD/MP3 compatible audio system, rear spoiler, 6 air bags, fog lights and much more. Everything you would expect from a high-performance sports car is included on the GT model. If you want to kick it up a notch, put your money on the Eclipse SE and you'll get 18-inch rollers and a five-piece aerodynamic body kit factory installed. Take a closer look at the new Eclipse driving experience and you'll find it very appealing with a straight-forward gauge cluster, stubby shifter, and easy-access controls. Now only if we could get Mitsubishi to throw in some lambo doors.

More info: Mitsubishi Cars