• The 2006 Eclipse takes styling cues from the second-generation model.alpine road image by Julia Britvich from Fotolia.com
  
  2006 marked the introduction of an all-new Mitsubishi Eclipse, the fourth-generation offering of the Japanese automaker's sport compact coupe. The new Eclipse grew in size, weight and power compared with the previous model, and received generally favorable reviews from the automotive press despite Mitsubishi's serious financial problems at the time. Contemporary competitors included the Volkswagen GTI and R32, Hyundai Tiburon and Honda Civic Si.
  
  

Engines

• The Eclipse had two engine options. Base models carried Mitsubishi's 4G69 motor, a single-cam 16-valve 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder. The cylinder bore and stroke were 87 mm and 100 mm, respectively, and the compression ratio was 9.5 to 1. The motor made 162 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 162 ft.-lb. of torque at 4,000 rpm. A second engine, the 6G75, powered the GT models. The single-cam 24-valve V6 had a 90-mm bore and 95-mm stroke, and a 10.5-to-1 compression ratio. Power output was 263 horsepower at 5,750 rpm and 260 ft.-lb. torque at 4,500 rpm.
  
  

Drivetrain and Chassis

• All fourth-generation Eclipse models used front-wheel drive. Four transmissions were available, depending on the trim level. The GS had either a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic, while the GT had a six-speed manual or a five-speed automatic. A four-wheel independent suspension with MacPherson struts up front and a multi-link setup in the back was coupled with traction and stability controls. Both models had four-wheel disc brakes, with the GT having four ventilated discs, compared to the GS's two.
  
  

Exterior and Interior

• The fourth-generation Eclipse was larger and than the outgoing 2005 model. The 2006 model was 179.7 inches long, 72.2 inches wide and 53.5 inches tall. The car rode on a 101.4-inch wheelbase and weighed 3,274 lb. with the four-cylinder engine and 3,472 lb. with the V6 engine. The convertible Eclipse Spyder was not offered until the 2007 model year. The interior had seating for four in a 2+2 configuration, with optional leather seating with contrast-stitched piping available in the GT only. Driver, passenger and side airbags provided additional safety. No navigation system was offered.
  
  

Performance

• In Motor Trend testing, a 2006 Eclipse GT accelerated from zero to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds, running through the quarter mile in 14.2 seconds at 100.9 mph. On the skid pad, the sport compact pulled 0.79 g of lateral acceleration. Braking from 60 to zero mph took 116 feet. The EPA estimated fuel economy at 23 mpg city and 30 mpg highway for the four-cylinder, and 18 mpg city and 27 mpg highway for the V6.