Mitsubishi's Eclipse Concept
At January's North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Mitsubishi is showing this slightly disguised concept version of the next-generation Eclipse sport coupe that's coming early in 2005 as a 2006 model. The concept includes an electric hybrid, all-wheel-drive system that's unlikely to sneak into production any time soon, is covered in obscenely expensive orange paint (The color is called glowing header orange.) that flops to red in the right light, and has radical plasma head lamps and neon "crackle tube" turn signals that are probably only legal on Neptune, but the rest of the car is tantalizing enough to just about make up for that.
Make no mistake, this car's overall shape is almost a direct lift from the next production Eclipse. The concept is about the same size as the current Eclipse, but the proportions have been changed with shorter front and rear overhangs and a shorter hood. The sliced, down-side window shape will also be part of the production Eclipse, along with the blistered fenders, curvaceous door surfaces, barely sloped fastback, and the cut at the taillights that leaves a surface for the third brake light. A particularly belligerent touch is the front strut tower bar that has been moved up so that it's exposed and abuts the trailing edge of the hood. That's just flat-out charismatic. The concept is relentlessly interesting in form and texture.
The basic platform for the new Eclipse will be the one that debuted under the Endeavor SUV last year and also underpins the new Galant sedan (both of which are built in the same Illinois plant as the Eclipse). So it's no surprise to find the Endeavor's hulking 3.8-liter, DOHC, 24-valve, iron-block V6 planted in this car's nose or that trucklet's four-speed automatic supporting it.
What's new is the second electric motor in the rear and the battery pack running down the concept's spine. The electric motor drives the rear wheels in concert with the fronts to produce all-wheel drive. Regenerative braking and other Prius-like technologies charge the batteries and manage the power system. This "E-Boost" system is experimental, but at least Mitsu is thinking about AWD in the Eclipse again.
One neat by-product of the hybrid installation is that it forced designers to move the dual exhausts to the sides of the Concept, where they exit just forward of the rear wheels.
Look closely at the bottom of the doors just behind the front wheels. That's a fold-down flap that opens with the door to expose a gorgeous aluminum hinge. If a detail like that makes it into production, we'll all know that Mitsubishi is swinging for the fences with this next Eclipse.
Lexus IS430 Concept
In the annals of good ideas, the marriage of the compact Lexus IS sports sedan with the company's 4.3-liter V8 has to be up there with the spork and putting marinara sauce on pasta. But while this union has been explored in Europe, it hasn't shown up in the United States until now.
Built by Rod Millen's Long Beach, Calif., shop in cooperation with Lexus and displayed at November's SEMA show, this "IS 430" has a DOHC, 32-valve V8 yanked out of a GS 430 under its hood, lashed to a Getrag six-speed manual gearbox and then a rear limited-slip differential. Thanks to some womping on the engine, output now, says Lexus, is up around 340 hp.
Inevitably, Millen's shop also pumped up the suspension and brakes to keep up with the new power-stiffer, lowered springs all around with four Brembo assemblies. Those are Speed Star SSR 18-inch wheels at each corner with the fronts inside 265/35ZR-18 Michelin Pilot Sport Cup radials and the rear smothered in massive 325/40ZR-18s.
SCC will have more on this car, including the Chip Foose redecoration, when it's tested next month.