Beleaguered Japanese automaker Mitsubishi sure isn’t acting like a company in trouble. In fact, to the delight of auto enthusiasts everywhere, the “Driven to Thrill” brand seems to be pouring an awful lot of resources into rebuilding their high-performance reputation. Fruits of that labor have included a passel of Lancer Evolution varieties, and a wholly improved Eclipse. And now, whatever hedonists currently hold sway at Mitsubishi HQ have brought us a ragtop iteration of that iconic sports coupe, and they made it good. The 2007 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder GT we just tested makes none of the typical convertible concessions, and preserves all of the coupe’s cachet.
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From the moment you lay eyes on it, the Spyder’s allure is palpable. Mitsubishi stylists are to be applauded for avoiding the typical chopped-top-as-an-afterthought look; the design is striking even with the top up. And once opened to the elements, the topless Eclipse suffers not a single aesthetic misstep; the proportions are balanced, and the overall look is exotic. Of course, the Eclipse coupe wasn’t a bad starting point; both benefit from the sculpted waist, jeweled clear-lens head- and tail-lights, and aggressive wheels filling flared fenders, pushed far out to the corners.
Follow this link for full Mitsubishi Eclipse Road Test
Follow this link for Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder Pictures