Mitsubishi is putting out a strong foothold in the sub-$30,000 convertible car segment with the latest Eclipse Spyder 2011. With its rigid, reinforced structure, a 0.6 in. (15 mm) ride height reduction and a large 18-in. alloy wheel/tire combination (the latter two items new no-cost additions for the 2011 model year), the Eclipse Spyder possesses athletic handling in addition to offering a very comfortable open-top touring experience. Other new amenities added to the 2011 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder's standard equipment package include leather seating surfaces, heated front seats and side view mirrors, power driver's seat, high-intensity discharge (HID) headlamps and aluminum pedals and entrance sill.
Thanks to an expanded standard equipment package for the 2011 model year, the Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder makes a very compelling choice for the consumer in search of a low-priced/luxuriously-appointed sporty vehicle in the sub-$30,000 convertible car segment.
With its rigid, reinforced structure, a 0.6 in. (15 mm) ride height reduction and a large 18-in. alloy wheel/tire combination (the latter two items new no-cost additions for the 2011 model year), the Eclipse Spyder possesses athletic handling in addition to offering a very comfortable open-top touring experience.
Other new amenities added to the 2011 Eclipse Spyder's standard equipment package include leather seating surfaces, heated front seats and side view mirrors, power driver's seat, high-intensity discharge (HID) headlamps and aluminum pedals and entrance sill.
These new luxury items join a long list of no-cost upscale amenities to be found on every Eclipse Spyder including a 9-speaker (including an 8-in. subwoofer that is neatly integrated into the rear seat area) 650-watt Rockford-Fosgate® premium AM/FM/CD audio system with MP3 playback capability, a 6-disc in-dash CD changer, auxiliary audio input jack and a 3-month pre-paid service subscription to SIRIUS® satellite radio; air conditioning; automatic headlamp shut off; parabolic fog lamps; black-colored upper and lower grille sections; front strut tower brace; cruise control; Bluetooth® hands-free phone system; rearview camera; steering wheel-mounted audio controls and leather-wrapped shift knob and steering wheel.
In addition to a well-equipped Eclipse GS Sport model, a more powerful and richly-appointed Eclipse GT is offered that sports automatic climate control and a wind deflector that greatly reduces turbulence and wind noise within the cabin.
Speaking of minimizing sound intrusion, the multi-layer construction of the cloth convertible top not only helps to keep the cabin quiet when the top is closed but, aesthetically, looks very similar to the high-quality headliner found within the Eclipse coupe. The power soft top, featuring a rear glass window and defroster, retracts and stows out of sight under a flush-fitting powered tonneau cover in less than 20 seconds.
Quality materials, easy to operate controls, highly-visible gauges with cool ice blue LED elimination at night and exceptionally good ergonomics highlight the interior of the Eclipse Spyder. In addition to providing outstanding comfort, the high-back front bucket seats are also designed with stylish open head restraints that not only look good but offer enhanced visibility rearward.
The powerful yet silky-smooth-sounding Rockford-Fosgate® sound system has been specifically designed for the Eclipse Spyder for optimal sound quality in both top-up and top-down driving.
The normally-aspirated 4-cylinder engine providing the motive force in the Eclipse Spyder GS Sport is 2.4-liters in displacement, produces 162 horsepower and features a 4-speed automatic transmission. The 3.8-liter V-6-powered Eclipse Spyder GT pumps out a full 265 horsepower and utilizes a 5-speed automatic transmission. Both automatic transmissions allow the driver to manually navigate through the gears, thanks to Mitsubishi's Sportronic ® shift technology. Both the 4- and 6-cylinder engines are equipped with Mitsubishi Innovative Valve Timing Electronic Control (MIVEC) to maximize power production across a wide swath of the engine's rev range and boost fuel efficiency.
Active safety features including advanced dual front air bag supplemental restraint system (SRS) with seat position and occupant sensors; head and thorax side air bags; Active Stability Control (ASC) and Traction Control Logic (TCL); and an anti-lock braking system (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) are equipped on every 2011 Eclipse Spyder at no additional cost to the consumer.
| Key Specifications | |
| Wheelbase: | 101.4 in. |
| Length: | 180.4 in. |
| Height: | 54.1 in. |
| Width: | 72.2 in. |
| Curb weight: | GS - 3,527 lbs. / GT - 3,763 lbs. |
| EPA Fuel Economy | City | Hwy |
| Eclipse Spyder GS Sport | 19 | 27 |
| Eclipse Spyder GT | 16 | 24 |
Major Standard Features
- 18-in alloy wheels
- 650-watt Rockford-Fosgate® premium audio system, including SIRIUS® satellite radio
- Bluetooth® hands-free phone system with voice recognition
- Rearview camera system
- Air conditioning
- Anti-lock brake system (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) and Active Stability Control (ASC)
- Electronic traction control
- Cruise control
- Leather seating surfaces
- Heated front seats and side view mirrors
- Dual-stage front air bag SRS with front passenger occupant sensors
- Front seat mounted side-impact air bags
- Engine immobilizer anti-theft system
- 12 V accessory outlet in center console
- High-intensity discharge (HID) headlights
- Fog lamps
- Keyless entry
- Auxiliary input jack
- Power cloth soft top with powered tonneau cover
- Power windows, locks and mirrors
- Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
- Power driver's seat
- Aluminum pedals
- Aluminum entrance sill
