Mitsubishi Eclipse History
Catalog record
This is a brief catalog introduction with limited source documentation. A licensed, identity-checked lead photograph has not yet been added for this page. Detailed year, configuration and ownership coverage must be identified separately; this page is not a complete vehicle catalog.
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The Eclipse arrived in the US for the 1990 model year — produced at the Diamond-Star Motors joint-venture plant in Normal, Illinois alongside the Eagle Talon and Plymouth Laser. Five trims were offered; only the GSX (all-wheel drive, turbocharged) and GS Turbo (front-drive, turbocharged) broke from the front-drive norm, and those AWD turbo models quickly became tuner and rally icons.
A voluptuous second generation debuted for 1995 with a new platform and a Spyder convertible option added for 1996. Third-generation (2000) Eclipses dropped the turbocharged four and AWD in favor of a 205-hp 3.0-liter V6, widening the car's footprint but alienating some enthusiasts. The fourth and final generation (2006) grew the coupe and Spyder further; Mitsubishi discontinued the Eclipse nameplate after the 2012 model year, later reviving the badge on an unrelated compact crossover (Eclipse Cross).
Across its life the Eclipse sold well over a million units globally and remains one of the most recognized Japanese sport coupes of the 1990s.
Generations
First generation (1G DSM) · 1G DSM
The Diamond-Star Motors era — turbocharged AWD GSX and FWD GS Turbo; built alongside Eagle Talon and Plymouth Laser.
1990 Photo: “1990 Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX Turbo in Maranello Red, front left, 05-23-2026.jpg” by Cutlass / Wikimedia Commons — CC0 1.0. Cropped to 16:9.
1993 Photo: “1993 Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX (4815542974).jpg” by Spanish Coches / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Second generation (2G DSM) · 2G DSM
Curvaceous redesign with Spyder convertible added for 1996; still offered turbocharged and AWD variants.
1999 Photo: “Mitsubishi Eclipse 2.4 GS Spyder 1999 (40193474705).jpg” by RL GNZLZ from Chile / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Third generation · 3G
Grew larger on a new Galant-derived platform; AWD and the turbo four dropped in favor of a V6.
2002 Photo: “Mitsubishi Eclipse 2.4 RS 2002 (36402820102).jpg” by RL GNZLZ from Chile / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
2003 Photo: “2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder GT in Sterling Silver Metallic, Front Right, 03-13-2023.jpg” by Elise240SX / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Fourth generation · 4G
Final generation — bigger, heavier coupe and Spyder; discontinued after 2012.
2007 Photo: “2007 Mitsubishi Eclipse GS Special Package.jpg” by 2000chevymontecarlo / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
2009 Photo: “2009 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder GT in Satin Meisai Pearl, Front Left, 10-08-2022.jpg” by Elise240SX / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
2011 Photo: “Mitsubishi Eclipse 2.4 GS Sport 2011 (14006799921).jpg” by order_242 from Chile / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Body styles
- Coupe
- Convertible (Spyder)
Notable special editions & performance variants
Eclipse GSX
All-wheel-drive, turbocharged version of the first two generations — the 'DSM' legend that spawned a huge tuner following.
Eclipse Spyder
Convertible (soft-top) variant introduced for 1996 as part of the second generation; continued through the fourth generation.
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