2007 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder - exterior design
The 2007 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder is unabashedly a car for people who enjoy being noticed. Like the Eclipse coupe on which it is based, the Eclipse Spyder originated in the Mitsubishi Design Studio in Cypress, California. Also like the Eclipse coupe, the new Spyder brings much of its original design concept into the showroom - a rare feat in the auto industry. Comparisons of concept drawings and the production model clearly show the lineage.
The Eclipse Spyder was designed to make a bold, emotional statement, the kind of car that elicits the "gotta have it" reaction that helps turn onlookers into buyers. At the same time, the designers sought to give the Spyder classic forms that will ensure it still looks fresh in the years to come.
Mitsubishi designers also gave the Spyder two distinct looks: top-up "chopped" coupe and top-down speedster.
Athletic "About to Spring" Proportions
Compared to the previous-generation model, the 2007 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder is longer, wider and taller. The wheelbase has increased by a half-inch, to 101.4-in. The wheels have been pushed outward to the corners of the vehicle with a wider 61.8-in. track, which improves balance and handling stability.
At 179.7-in., the overall length of Eclipse Spyder has increased by nearly three inches. The longer wheelbase and 72.2-in. width endow the new Spyder with more athletic proportions than before and also contribute to increased interior room.
The teardrop-influenced body shape and "wasp waist" midsection suggest athletic performance, speed and agility. With its overall wedge shape and muscular haunches, the Eclipse mimics a crouching feline, making the vehicle appear smaller than it is.
"There's a lot of tension inherent in the surface, so even when the car is standing still, it looks as if it's just about to spring," said Dan Sims, general manager of Mitsubishi Research and Design North America.
On the surface, the Eclipse Spyder's "skin" appears to be stretched tightly over a well-toned and athletic body. The short, broad hood and fast windshield were carried over from the original concept. The grill features jet nacelle-inspired grill intakes that suggest the performance potential. Bumpers flow smoothly into the fender metal. Teardrop detail is echoed through other parts, such as the door handles and fuel filler door.
The Eclipse Spyder's proportions were designed to suggest a two-seat sports car while providing four seats. The car's flanks are defined by strong shoulder lines that begin just aft of the A-pillars and extend the length of the vehicle. Viewed from the side, these shoulder lines flow upward toward the rear and help to create a sense of forward motion.
From its low front bumper to its high rear decklid, the Eclipse's wedge shape helps optimize aerodynamic performance, which contributes to fuel efficiency and reduced wind noise. The windshield molding and side-view mirrors are designed to reduce turbulence and wind noise. A unique clear trunk spoiler that integrates a center-mounted LED brake lamp accents the sculpted "bobbed" rear.
The Eclipse Spyder GS is equipped with standard 17-in., lipless five-spoke aluminum alloy wheels and colored-keyed side-view mirrors and door handles. The Eclipse Spyder GT adds a stainless steel exhaust tip and offers available 18-in., lipless seven-spoke aluminum alloy wheels as part of the optional Premium Sport Package.
Premium-Level Automatic Top
Mitsubishi designed the 2007 Eclipse Spyder to be a convertible for all seasons, and this becomes especially clear when examining the power convertible top. The previous-generation Eclipse Spyders featured high-quality convertible tops, but for the latest generation, the designers wanted to enhance the top's style and function and take it to a level expected on more expensive cars.
The power-operated top features a multi-layer fabric with a separate polyester/cotton interior headliner and a heated glass rear window. A new hydraulic system reduces operating noise in comparison to the electric motors used in the previous model.
Perhaps most impressive about the Eclipse Spyder's automatic top is that it folds completely out of sight under a flush-fitting powered tonneau cover in about 19 seconds. This premium-level design eliminates a visible top stack that can give some convertibles a "baby buggy" look.
The Spyder's top features a cloth outer layer, compared to vinyl used on some cars in this price segment. The top's full head liner provides the quiet, snug interior feeling of a coupe when the top is raised, and the top is designed to resist "ballooning" at highway speeds.
The acrylic cloth outer layer is solution-dyed before the threads are spun together. This coloring method helps ensure that the top's color will remain consistent for years, even at high-wear points like the frame/bow connections and window seams.
Unlike convertible tops that are vat-dyed after they are woven, the Spyder's top will not prematurely discolor at the wear points and start fading.
A natural rubber inner layer serves as a membrane between the acrylic outer and cotton inner lining, natural rubber being better than the commonly used butyl when it comes to severe weather. Rubber has a natural ability to hold its shape and resists shrinking and stretching after long exposure to extreme heat and cold. A convertible top lined with butyl can become difficult to close when it is cold and will eventually cause the "ballooning effect" of arching the top when it is up and the vehicle is moving at highway speeds.
The outer and inner materials of the Spyder's top are individually lined with rubber in a process called "knife-over-roll" coating. Under oven heat, molten rubber is drawn across the material with a hot blade during a five-step/five-layer process. The outer and inner layers are then fused together and set aside to cure for six weeks. Lower-grade convertible top material is simply layered like a sandwich and pressed.
To check for durability, the Spyder's top material then undergoes a Tabor Test, where sandpaper is ground into the fabric to simulate folding and unfolding a top stack covered with road grime. The fabric is also water-pressure tested and literally "cultured" to test for its resistance to mildew and fungus. The Spyder's top material is made with a built-in mold inhibitor and fungicide.
Self-sealing Short Stroke Window Mechanism
The Eclipse Spyder window glass regulators use a electronic short-stroke function to optimize the window seal and help reduce interior noise. The mechanism improves sealing between the door window glass and weather strip. When opening and closing a door, even with the ignition off, the window is self-sealing - it lowers slightly and then returns to the fully closed position.
This feature is more commonly seen on more expensive luxury brand models, including the Audi TT, BMW 3-Series, and Porsche Boxster. In addition, the use of double guide-rails to support the window glass helps to control window glass vibration when the door is closed.
Wind Deflector (late availability)
For the first time, the Eclipse Spyder will be available with an optional wind deflector, designed to reduce air turbulence during top-down driving. The deflector is included in the Premium Sport Package for the Spyder GT. The deflector weighs less than one pound, and installation is easy, requiring no tools. It can remain in place with the top up, if desired, or will fold to one-quarter its size for back seat or trunk storage when not in use.
Front Lamps
Mitsubishi designers sought to make the Eclipse more "expressive" through its lighting design.
Eclipse head lamps employ an efficient double-filament lamp with a multi-parabola lens and a blue-tint "monocle" lens. By optimizing the shape of the multi-parabola lens to maximize the bulb's projection, the beam pattern has been enhanced to help provide outstanding illumination. The front turn signal indicator, front side marker and front side reflex reflector have been integrated into the front lamp assembly to create an effective, compact, composite light unit. Both the GS and GT models include fog lamps as standard equipment, and all Eclipse models feature the battery-saving auto-off head lamp feature.
Rear Lamps
The rear lamps combine the rear turn signal, rear tail and brake lamp, reverse lamp and reflex reflector in a compact size. The LED light source eliminates the need for red lenses and combines with the clear outer lens to create a fresh high-tech look that some owners might otherwise seek in the aftermarket for added expense and with unknown quality. An aluminized reflector adds brightness to the beams and improves illumination. Adopting LEDs also improves stop lamp illumination response time.
Exterior Colors
The Eclipse Spyder's color palette accentuates the concept car styling. Available colors combine a mechanical, metallic tinted effect with warm earth tones to create a rich, upscale appearance. The seven exterior colors are Liquid Silver, Ultra Red, Pure Red, Kalapana Black, Frost White Pearl, Satin Meisai and Sunset Pearlescent.
