You may need a bit of an introduction for this post to make sense. Here goes: Mitsubishi still makes the Eclipse, Endeavor and the Gallant. There. Done. Moving along.
As part of something called Jump 13, Mitsubishi has officially announced the cancellation of the Eclipse, the Endeavor and the Gallant in favor of smaller, fuel efficient cars for sale both here and in emerging markets. Mitsubishi's range will include six new hybrid, electric and plug-in hybrids by 2015. Their plant in Normal, Illinois will remain open and will most likely build the new Outlander Sport.
We're not saying this is a Hail Mary, but......
93aero says:
08:47 AM, 01/20/11
While we appreciate the introduction, i think everyone is fully aware of the Mitsu line up thanks to the constant barrage of cars they give you guys to test long term. I am very much excited to see these 3 cars go, as you have officially run out of Mitsubishis to test until they start brining around those econocars. THANK GOD.
lostboyz says:
09:00 AM, 01/20/11
and mistubishi sells what 30k cars a year? I couldn't care less of a has been brand. Even the Lancer Evo is going soft. I do miss the great DSM days though.
coolb944 says:
09:14 AM, 01/20/11
The Eclipse could have done well, if it wasn't so portly, and if the interior weren't so chintzy looking. With the higher quality interiors coming in less expensive cars these days, who would want to drive it?
They should have reduced the size and weight on this generation when it came out, and gone back to all 4-cylinder engines.
I was trying to think of anything Mitsubishi makes that is exciting, and someone mentioned the Lancer Evo. I totally forgot about it. Bad sign I'd say!
coolb944 says:
09:17 AM, 01/20/11
BTW, Jump 13 must mean jump ship in 2013 and sink to an untimely death. Mitsu really doesn't seem to be going much of anywhere. I'm hard pressed to think that their onslaught of high efficiency small cars is going to turn their fortunes around in this country.
rsholland says:
10:24 AM, 01/20/11
So no more EVO?
stress83 says:
10:55 AM, 01/20/11
Kind of a shame to see the Eclipse be canceled. It's a shame they could not have done something to bring the platform back to emulate what the 1g & 2g offered consumers. In those days, I don't think there was a hotter compact car than the GSX.
throwback says:
11:38 AM, 01/20/11
I don't understand the killing of the Eclipse. Build it off the lancer platform and make it lighter and fun to drive. I'm still not sure why Mitsu is still in the US, are they making any money?
greenpony says:
11:59 AM, 01/20/11
A couple years ago I was wondering why the Galant and Eclipse were still around. Can't say I've thought at all about the Endeavor.
sabastian says:
12:23 PM, 01/20/11
Don't let the door hit you on the way out.
carlisimo says:
01:36 PM, 01/20/11
I'm surprised that a company in the American market would eliminate their mid-sized platform. Isn't that where all the sales tend to be?
As for the Eclipse, I'm not surprised. I don't think it's that bad, but coupes have been unpopular for years now. I still don't really understand why.
altimadude05 says:
02:04 PM, 01/20/11
carlisimo said: "I'm surprised that a company in the American market would eliminate their mid-sized platform. Isn't that where all the sales tend to be?"
Um, when's the last time you've seen a new Galant? I've only seen three in the last year, and the only reason why I knew they were new is that they changed the tail lights. The Galant was never really competitive, and the best years for it (in terms of popularity) was late 90's early 2000s.
Wake up and drive? Rest in peace.
boost4 says:
03:58 PM, 01/20/11
I can see canceling and re-imagining the Eclipse and Endeavor into smaller, more economical vehicles. But there was never really a good reason that a mid-large size, aerodynamic sedan like the Galant should have fuel economy on the low end of the competition.
This is a company that was a pioneer of gas direct injection back in their home market in the late 90's. Mitsu also makes great diesel engines. It seems to me MMNA is figuring - we can't compete with the other Asian brands being able to make non-hybrid large cars that get mid 30's highway economy and sell them profitably so we'll just throw in the towel. Which is a shame when there is so much potential volume if you earn even a small slice of it.
themandarin says:
07:51 PM, 01/20/11
Wait a second, this yellow one looks sweet!
fvfvsix says:
11:17 PM, 01/20/11
Mitsu is one car company I'd really enjoy seeing leave the US market. I was one of the fools who bought a 2000 eclipse, or as I call it, my worst automotive nightmare.