In the last issue of our magazine, we introduced the new Eclipse Cross with the front-wheel drive. Now comes the turn of a fully featured four-wheel-drive vehicle.
Until this vehicle appeared in a serial form, which at Mitsubishi represents the visual concept of Dynamic Shields, it went through several phases. First was the XR-PHEV concept in the fall of 2013, and two years later we could see the XR-PHEV II concept in Geneva. In 2017, the serial production version was presented as part of the world premiere, again in Switzerland. This was eventually followed by its arrival to the first customers, who got it at the turn of 2017/2018. Mitsubishi is celebrating its 100th anniversary, and in the context of this event, we must recall that it has used the four-wheel drive 4WD since 1936 and the S-AWC (Super-All Wheel Control) system since 1987. Assessing stylistics is an individual matter, but let’s remember that the energetic and alluring style of the Eclipse Cross was awarded the “Good Design Award 2018ˮ in Japan. Honest Japanese craftsmanship also needs to be added to its style.
A Higher Level of Features
The fact that you are sitting in a vehicle with the highest Instyle features is evident in the leather seat-covers and a 7-inch colour touch screen. The driver finds a good position behind the steering wheel thanks to the electronically adjustable seat. There is a head-up display in front of the driver, for example, and an adjustable cruise control, a dead-angle tracking system, a lane-change assistant, a system for reversing, 360-degree ambient sensing, a parking camera and parking sensors at the front and rear. Getting in is no trouble, as there is sufficient room both in front and back. Thanks to the sliding rear seat, the luggage space ranges from 341 to 448 litres.
Efficient Drive
Mitsubishi has thus far installed the same 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine (120 kW, 163 hp / 5500 rpm, 250 Nm/1800 – 4500 rpm) to this vehicle, which is why its performance is cultivated and quiet and the vehicle moves easily in the city. The CVT gearbox has 8-speeds pre-set, so it eliminates the classic output of the continuously variable transmissions used in the past. The undercarriage with the multi-element rear axle shows a compromise between sporty and comfortable tuning. The Eclipse Cross, thanks to its proven four-wheel drive (S-AWC), can also cope with the terrain, and it has a hill assist control available. The maker reports an acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 9.8 seconds and a combined consumption of 7.0 litres/100 km. Buyers will pay 30,290 euro for this interesting vehicle with the highest Instyle features.
Text: Peter Stano, photo: Mitsubishi
