2009 Mitsubishi Eclipse and Eclipse Spyder

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What is it?
2009 Mitsubishi Eclipse and Eclipse Spyder

What's special about it?
Though there are no great changes to the 2009 Mitsubishi Eclipse you'll see at the 2008 Chicago Auto Show, it will look more like the Evolution X — and sharing a likeness with a hero car is never a bad thing.

The split-grille schnoz that made us slightly uncomfortable in the presence of earlier Eclipse coupes and Eclipse Spyders is gone. It's replaced by the maw of Mitsubishi's new corporate trapezoidal grille. The retrofit suits the Eclipse, as if the car has always been meant to look this mouthy. On GT models, you'll also note a standard set of high-intensity-discharge headlamps — a feature never before offered on Mitsu's coupe and convertible.

Wander around back and you'll see the dual exhaust outlets that have become an aesthetic requirement for coupes in this price range, even the front-wheel-drive ones. But these pipes are indicative of a real dual exhaust system on the GT. It coaxes an extra 2 horsepower and 2 more pound-feet of torque out of the 3.8-liter V6, now rated at 265 hp and 262 lb-ft.

This chunky coupe and convertible have never been known for short braking distances, so it's good to see that Mitsubishi is also sizing up the rear brake discs on GT models. Stability control, already included on the limited-edition '08 Eclipse SE-V6 coupe, will be standard on all 2009 GT coupes and convertibles when they go on sale this summer.

What's Edmunds' take?
If we'd been allowed to order up changes for the Eclipse, we would have put the car on a weight-loss plan — starting with the removal of the not-very-useful rear seats, à la Concept RA. Even without radical dieting, though, the 2009 Mitsubishi Eclipse and Eclipse Spyder do look better than last year's models, which is good news for anyone with a soft spot for torque-rich front-drivers. — Erin Riches, Senior Editor