TURBO POWER FOR ECLIPSE SPORT

The Eclipse Cross, first released locally early last year, is the first vehicle in the Mitsubishi Motors range making use of the carmaker’s new 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo engine. This 1,499 cc MIVEC engine, slightly smaller than the original 2.0-litre naturally aspirated power plant, delivers an impressive 110 kw at 5,500 rpm with 250 Nm of torque available from 2,000 to 3,500 rpm. As in its 2.0-litre counterpart, the four-cylinder engine is coupled to an automatic eight-step shift control Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) with Sport Mode. Combined with the CVT gearbox driving the front wheels, the Eclipse Cross 1.5T accelerates from standstill to 100 km/h in just under 9 seconds in Sport mode. The 1.5 Turbo model also shares the same advanced Dynamic Shield design with its normally aspirated cousin, with expressive, sporty and dynamic looks. It also has the same extensive equipment levels, including carbon fibre door inserts and new metal paddle shifts behind the steering wheel, and outstanding safety features as well as two new body colours – blue and silky white. Safety is taken care of by passive safety measures such as RISE (Reinforced Impact Safety Evolution) body construction, seven airbags, side-impact protection bars and Isofix child seat anchors, and a wide range of active systems. The 1.5T joins the existing 2.0L range of two- and all-wheel-drive models and is positioned at the top of the range. Prices range from R409,995 for the 2.0L CVT (two-wheel drive), R449,900 for the 2.0L CVT (AWD) and R459,995 for the new Eclipse Cross 1.5 T CVT (two-wheel drive).