Mitsubishi To Reveal The 2007 Eclipse Spyder And Concept-CT MIEV At The 2006 NAIAS

Mitsubishi Motors North America (MMNA) will push the limits again with the world reveals of two more vehicles that thrill - the 2007 Eclipse Spyder and the Concept-CT MIEV - at the upcoming 2006 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in January. The company is building its strongest product portfolio in history, launching six new vehicles in less than three years, including the all-new 2006 Eclipse, Raider mid-size pickup truck, and now the ’07 Eclipse Spyder.

“The Eclipse Spyder and the breakthrough Concept-CT continue the excitement of the brand and demonstrate new design directions and potential future technologies,” said MMNA President and CEO Rich Gilligan. “We are rebuilding our brand with products that consistently reinforce our commitment to being driven to thrill.” 2007 Eclipse Spyder

Based on the widely acclaimed 2006 Eclipse coupe, the ’07 Spyder will provide drop-top fun combined with head-turning design. Luxurious enhancements will place the affordable 2 + 2 convertible in an attainable exotic position. Both GS and GT trim lines will be available, each with a powerful MIVEC engine and 650-watt Rockford Fosgate Premium Audio system - along with a few other surprise features usually reserved for high-priced convertibles and cabriolets.

Concept-CT

The world reveal of the innovative Concept-CT MIEV will showcase a forward-thinking design study in B-segment packaging. The concept’s inspiration was to create a “Compact-Technology” model - a desirable small car optimized for today’s needs. Designed at the Mitsubishi Motors design center in Cypress, Calif., the Concept-CT will feature a hybrid powertrain - incorporating a representative gasoline engine with Mitsubishi In-wheel motor Electronic Vehicle (MIEV) technology, a function recently shown at the Tokyo Motor Show, whereby the wheels are driven by four outer-rotor, in-wheel electric motors. Combining environmental technology and exciting design characteristics along with the all-wheel-drive MIEV system, the concept provides a glimpse into the future of next-generation hybrid powertrain vehicles. The “in-wheel motor” component systems, with accompanying graphics and video, will be displayed at the Mitsubishi NAIAS exhibit.