Mitsubishi Eclipse Is Back As a Rebadged LeafMitsubishi Motors (Mitsubishi Motors)If you were watching television in the late 1990s and early 2000s, odds are good you have some fairly strong advertising associations with the Mitsubishi Eclipse. You couldn't get through a new episode of 24 or The West Wing or Alias in those days without seeing proto-hipster Gen Xers swaying inside their two-door Mitsubishis to the sounds of Dirty Vegas or Spacehog between act breaks. The ads were so ubiquitous, they even received the highest honor of the era: a Chappelle's Show spoof.Well, it's time to find "Days Go By" on Spotify and bust out your newsboy cap, because the Mitsubishi Eclipse is coming back for the 2027 model year ... in a manner of speaking. Instead of returning on a coupe or convertible, the Eclipse nameplate is coming back to American on a compact EV that happens to be a rebadged Nissan Leaf.Mitsubishi Motors (Mitsubishi Motors)(To be fair, there actually is currently a vehicle named "Eclipse" in Mitsubishi's showrooms, in the form of the Eclipse Cross crossover. That said, don't beat yourself up if you forgot that car exists; your author certainly did before he double-checked the company's website.)AdvertisementAdvertisementMitsubishi isn't hiding the Nissan connection here; the company's press release for the 2027 Eclipse Sportback states right in its second paragraph that the model is "based on the highly touted new-generation Nissan Leaf," but will "offer cosmetic changes that differentiate the two vehicles." As you can see in these initial images, that basically means Mitsu-specific front and rear fasciae; to these millennial eyes, at least, this Eclipse actually looks a bit better than the latest version of Nissan's affordable EV.Pricing and powertrain details weren't provided in the launch announcement, but given the commonality with the Leaf, it's easy to make some educated guesses. For example, it seems very unlikely the Eclipse Sportback will have a starting price higher than the Nissan's $31,535, and seeing as how all 2026-and-newer Leafs in the U.S. have a 75-kWh battery pack and a 215-hp electric motor solely feeding the front wheels, that layout seems like a lock for the new Mitsubishi, as well.Mitsubishi Motors (Mitsubishi Motors)The newest car to wear the Eclipse badge is expected to hit showrooms sometime in the latter half of 2026. In the meantime, well ... kick back and enjoy a little "In the Meantime."You Might Also LikeIf You Can Only Own One Car, Make It One of TheseThese Are the Most Popular Cars by State
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