Eclipse

This sporty Mitsubishi nameplate began as a compact front-wheel-drive coupe developed for the North American market and launched for the 1990 model year. Built initially through Diamond-Star Motors, it quickly became one of the brand’s best-known performance-oriented coupes in the United States, helped by a combination of sharp styling, accessible pricing, and an enthusiast-friendly chassis. The range expanded during the 1990s with an open-top Spyder variant, while the second generation also reached Japan, where it was sold from the mid-1990s as a distinctive imported coupe. A third generation arrived for the 2000 model year with a more rounded design and a broader mainstream focus, followed by a fourth generation in the mid-2000s that kept the car positioned as a stylish sporty coupe rather than a pure sports car. Over its life, the nameplate became especially associated with the tuning and import-performance scene, and it also appeared in convertible form. The model’s North American production ended in 2011, with the final model year generally recognized as 2012, after which the nameplate was retired until Mitsubishi later reused the Eclipse name on the unrelated Eclipse Cross.