2012 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER Review

Overview

The 2012 Eclipse Spyder is a four-passenger convertible sports car loaded with more power, impressive design touches, deeper sound, modern safety equipment, and premium warranties. The Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder is a front-wheel drive vehicle, available in GS and GT trim levels. The entry-level Eclipse Spyder GS Sport gets a plethora of high-end luxury amenities to its already heavily-appointed standard equipment package for the 2012 model year. Leather seating surfaces; heated front seats and side view mirrors; power driver's seat; very attractive 18-inch alloy wheels; high intensity discharge (HID) headlights; and aluminum pedals and entrance sills are among the key features. Other automobile manufacturers charge huge for such up market accessories, but the 2012 Eclipse Spyder GS Sport includes them free of charge.

Powertrain And Performance

The Eclipse Spyder GS is powered by a 162-horsepower 2.4-liter MIVEC Inline four-cylinder engine mated to a standard five-speed manual gearbox. A four-speed automatic transmission is optional. The Eclipse Spyder GT comes with a 265-horsepower 3.8-liter MIVEC V6 engine paired with a standard six-speed manual transmission. Buyers can choose an optional five-speed automatic transmission on the GT version. The 2012 Eclipse Spyder GT sprints to 60 mph in close to seven seconds. Estimated fuel economy of the 2011 Eclipse Spyder GS is 19/26 mpg (City/Highway) and that of the Eclipse Spyder GT is 16/25 mpg (City/Highway).

Build And Styling

The "attainable exotic" Eclipse Spyder GS model gets some additional styling enhancements and all models receive new technology features for 2012. The GS model features restyled two-tone front and rear bumper fascias similar to the GT model. It also gets Active Stability Control (ASC) as standard equipment. Inside, hands-free Bluetooth system with voice recognition and rearview camera system which is displayed on the rearview mirror for added safety are standard. The GT model now adds several additional premium standard features with a 6-way power driver's seat, leather seating surfaces, heated front seats, heated exterior mirrors, automatic climate control system, aluminum pedals, and a machined wheel finish. The 2012 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder reflects the concept car design of the Eclipse coupe with muscular and sleek lines and a new cloth fabric interior. The rigid platform provides comfortable ride quality and sporty road manners. Standard exterior features include new blacked-out front and rear fascia; 17-inch alloy wheels; all-season tires; solid rear brake discs; high intensity discharge headlamps; fog lamps with silver bezels; heated glass rear window with auto shut-off timer; side window defroster; and keyless entry. Additional features on the GT trim include xenon headlights; larger rear brakes; 18-inch alloy wheels; and an outside temperature display. The inside of the 2012 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder is impressive and driver-friendly. The instrument panel has easy-to-use controls, while the leather-wrapped steering wheel comes with audio system remote controls. Rear visibility has been enhanced by high-back front bucket seats. A standard 650-watt Rockford-Fosgate Premium Audio System with six-CD/MP3 Player and nine speakers has been exclusively tuned for the 2012 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder. Optional packages that can be added on the 2012 Eclipse Spyder are Deluxe Leather Package (on GS); Premium Sport Package (on GT); Aero Package; and Accessory Package.

Safety Features

Sophisticated safety devices offered on the 2012 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder include anti-theft system; six advanced airbags; three-point seatbelts; head restraints; front seatbelt pre-tensioners; engine immobilizer; anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution; lower anchors in the rear seat; and tire pressure monitoring system. The top-grade GT model is equipped with active stability control and traction control.