- Olga Kokorina
- Translated by Andrey Tishin
- Ru Fr He
Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross crossover. 1st generation 2017
The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is a compact-class crossover produced by Mitsubishi Motors Corporation. Its production began in the late 2017. ‘Eclipse’ is the name of the sports coupe (produced from 1989 to 2011), ‘Cross’ indicates the bodywork type (crossover). The model was unveiled on March 7, 2017, at the Geneva Motor Show.
Exterior
The first Eclipse Cross was developed by Mitsubishi independently – before the company merged with the Renault-Nissan alliance. The model is based on the same global platform called GS, as in ASX and Outlander. It’s 4405 mm long, 1805 mm wide, and 1685 mm tall. Obviously, the 2017 model year Eclipse Cross is between the ASX (4,295 mm) and Outlander (4,695 mm) in terms of dimensions. The wheelbase is the same as that of the ASX and Outlander, 2670 mm.
The main advantage of the crossover is its striking exterior. The exterior was designed by Tsunehiro Kunimoto, the designer of the Nissan Juke. Eclipse Cross is also unusual and revolutionary. This car looks dynamic even in statics. Body lines are sweeping, short overhangs, high wheel openings and rear spoiler create its aggressive look. The front end is designed in the corporate Dynamic Shield style. 9 bright body colors are offered for the clients.
Interior
This car is a 5-seater. The seats are equipped with side support, comfortable for front and rear passengers, convenient even for travel over long distances, the sound damping is at a high level. The materials are leather, alcantara, and chrome plastic. The central console has analog controls. The projection display, multimedia system supporting Android and CarPlay, touchpad on the central tunnel, and multifunctional steering wheel make driving much easier. The steering wheel is height- and reach-adjustable, and the driver’s seat is electrically adjustable.
A sunroof and a curtain airbag for rear passengers are available as options. Also, the backrests of the rear seats can be tilted in a very wide range. If the rear row is free, it can be moved forward in parts by as much as twenty centimeters, and then the volume of the luggage compartment will increase from 341 to 448 L. The road clearance is 180 mm, the rigidity of the bodywork is provided by high-strength steels.
Engines and chassis
Every Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross 2017/2018 version is powered by the same 1,5-L turbocharged gasoline engine with an output of 163 hp. The transmission is CVT with 8 speeds, and simulation of switching between these ‘virtual’ gears is quite plausible. We shall note that the gasoline turbocharged engine is capable to give a full drive in a wide range: from 1800 up to 4500 rpm. The fuel consumption for 100 km is 8.1 L in the 4WD version and 7.5 L in FWD (as reported by the manufacturer). The new Eclipse Cross is dynamic, the traction is smooth, with no trace of turbo lag, good dynamics even after 130 km/h. It takes 9.7 seconds to speed up from 0 to 100 km/h, the top speed is 200 km/h.
The chassis is designed similarly to the co-platform models of the brand: McPherson and springs in front, springs and multilink in back. It is set up for soft motion: it absorbs small bumps, on smooth waves it gives out swinging, and in turns, at a good speed it shows rollability. The lightweight steering wheel with slight feedback is also a sign of the urban car.
Equipment
The 2018/2019 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is equipped with a lot of options. These options include Stop and Go system, an electric automatic handbrake, circular sensors to scan the space around the car. They are based on adaptive cruise control, operating to the complete stop, lane-keeping aid, and collision warning systems.
What does the nameplate ‘S-AWC’ on the trunk door in the 4WD version mean? Alas, the intrigue is far-fetched: Eclipse Crosse has the most usual crossover 4WD with one multi-disc clutch that connects the rear axle. The traction vector is controlled only by software but does it so effectively as if there is an active differential with controllable blocking in transmission really. In fact, you will move off easily, even having taken one of the wheels off the ground. However, you will have to try hard to take off a wheel like this: it is almost impossible to locate its long-wheelbase suspension, similar to those of SUVs, in diagonal.
