MITSUBISHI Motors Australia Restricted (MMAL) expects main revisions to the up to date Eclipse Cross small SUV that went on sale this week will assist enhance recognition of a mannequin that bought round 7000 models per yr from its launch in late 2017 till COVID-19 stalled a lot of the automotive trade.
In its first full yr on sale, the Eclipse Cross discovered 7521 house owners in Australia and grabbed a 6.1 per cent share of the small SUV phase to hitch the class’s high 10 sellers checklist that its smaller ASX sibling has constantly dominated for years with a share within the mid-teens.
Final yr the Eclipse Cross misplaced a little bit of floor with 6998 bought, and phase share slipping to five.7 per cent because the MG ZS hit its straps and the Kia Seltos was launched, whereas the ASX additionally loved a 9.3 per cent gross sales uplift.
The Eclipse Cross is down greater than 40 per cent year-to-date with its phase share of 4.8 per cent simply three share factors above the MG ZS in a phase that has slumped 7.9 per cent in contrast with final yr in opposition to an total new-vehicle market that has suffered a decline of 18.8 per cent.
MMAL product technique mission supervisor Tony Dorrington instructed GoAuto that if and when the market returns to some type of normality in 2021, the overhauled Eclipse Cross – 140mm longer than earlier than with styling updates and gear upgrades throughout the vary – was anticipated to “outperform gross sales of the pre-update mannequin” and prone to appeal to consumers from different segments, presumably into their first SUV.
“Eclipse Cross has all the time been a strong performer in a really aggressive phase,” mentioned Mr Dorrington, who cited “consolation, comfort, elevated house and styling” as causes for the projected gross sales uptick.
“There was sturdy curiosity at each seller degree and by site visitors metrics on our pre-launch web site with a excessive variety of registrations of curiosity obtained,” he mentioned.
“We count on there to be vital curiosity within the new Eclipse Cross submit launch.”
Though Mr Dorrington predicted the second-lowest LS trim degree to be the most well-liked Eclipse Cross variant – $32,590 plus on-road prices with front-wheel drive – it was a mixture of elevated inside house and the introduction of a brand new Aspire variant ($34,990 plus on-roads) that opened the door to elevated gross sales.
“The Eclipse Cross Aspire has its personal distinct really feel and fills a niche out there, whereas providing SUV clients a spread of know-how at a price for cash worth level,” mentioned Mr Dorrington.
Just like the ASX with which it shares a showroom and phase, round 30 per cent of complete Eclipse Cross quantity is bought to fleets, in line with Mr Dorrington.
The Aspire uniquely comes with a mixture of ‘microsuede’ and imitation leather-based upholstery plus leatherette door inserts together with a lot of the Exceed’s know-how, together with adaptive cruise management with cease and go, surround-view cameras, entrance parking sensors, dual-zone local weather management, electrical driver’s seat adjustment, heated entrance seats, a self-dimming rearview mirror and a 510-watt premium “Mitsubishi Energy” sound system with eight audio system.
Mr Dorrington declined to touch upon anticipated specification break up however mentioned that simply 15 per cent of Eclipse Cross clients went for the $2500 all-wheel-drive possibility that’s out there on the LS and Exceed grades and that the front-drive-only Aspire was anticipated to “appeal to new clients and characterize a major share of Eclipse Cross gross sales”.
Requested to increase on the shopper profile and competitor panorama, Mr Dorrington mentioned the elevated size “places Eclipse Cross into a category of its personal”.
“Whereas it is going to proceed to compete within the small SUV phase, we additionally count on to draw consumers from different segments together with first-time new SUV consumers,” he added.
An extra 140mm of size means the brand new Eclipse Cross has gone from being 75mm shorter than a Hyundai Tucson medium SUV to being 65mm longer.
Mr Dorrington defined that the wheelbase had remained at 2670mm, with the rear overhang rising by 105mm to liberate further cargo capability and rear legroom. The remaining 35mm goes into elevated entrance overhang.
The break up sliding rear bench has been ditched in favour of a standard mounted base, with official boot capability now matching the 405L that would solely be achieved within the earlier mannequin with the seats slid all the way in which ahead and the reclining backrests of their most upright place.
Mr Dorrington confirmed that the present GS platform had been carried over, with “a number of ADR (Australian Design Rule) approvals” required for the redesign in addition to information equipped to ANCAP to point out the occupant, pedestrian, whiplash and driver help applied sciences carried out a minimum of in addition to the mannequin that achieved a five-star ranking in 2017.
Ranging from $30,290 plus on-road prices for the front-drive ES, price of entry to the Eclipse Cross vary has risen by $300, whereas on the high finish the flagship Exceed now prices $1300 further at $38,290 plus on-roads for front-wheel drive.
Mr Dorrington mentioned the value will increase went in the direction of the range-wide inclusion of ahead collision mitigation and larger 8.0-inch touchscreen media system plus further supplies required to increase the bodywork by 140mm. On the Exceed, the premium sound system, built-in TomTom satellite tv for pc navigation and addition of heated rear seats and steering wheel contributed to the additional price.
Commonplace gear throughout the vary consists of 18-inch alloy wheels, an 8.0-inch touchscreen media system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Bluetooth connectivity, audio streaming, voice management and DAB+ digital radio. On the bottom ES this runs by means of 4 audio system.
There are additionally paddle shifters, a reversing digital camera, single-zone local weather management, LED daytime working lights, rear roof spoiler, two USB ports, hill begin help, cruise management and a cargo blind. Each ES and LS have fabric upholstery.
Stepping as much as the LS provides keyless entry and begin, LED fog lamps, rear parking sensors, rear privateness glass, one-touch window opening and shutting, rain sensing wipers, black roof rails, an illuminated self-importance mirror, ambient lighting on the entrance door trims, nightfall sensing headlights, heated energy folding mirrors, a rear armrest with cup holders, automated excessive beam, illuminated entrance door trim, six-speaker stereo, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and an electrical park brake with auto maintain.
Specs for the Aspire are outlined above, whereas the Exceed flagship provides leather-based upholstery, LED headlights, electrical passenger seat adjustment, TomTom satellite tv for pc navigation with “What3Words” exact location entry, a double sunroof, driver’s seat map pocket, head-up show, heated steering wheel and rear seats and a black inside headlining.
Commonplace security gear on all variants contains seven airbags, traction, stability and yaw controls in addition to ahead collision mitigation. To this the ES provides lane departure warning, whereas the Aspire good points blind spot monitoring with rear cross site visitors alert and lane change help. The Exceed additionally has unintended acceleration mitigation.
All variants are powered by the identical turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine as beforehand, with outputs unchanged – 110kW at 5500rpm and 250Nm between 2000 and 3500rpm – driving by means of a repeatedly variable automated transmission with eight simulated stepped ratios activated through paddle-shift or guide shift gate on the gear selector.
Official combined-cycle gasoline consumption is 7.3 litres per 100 kilometres for front-drive variants or 7.7L/100km for all-wheel drive. Respective carbon dioxide emissions are rated at 165 grams per kilometre and 174g/km.
A brand new White Diamond paint end joins the vary of six out there colors, with metallic and pearlescent choices costing $740 further and status paint $940.
Mr Dorrington confirmed {that a} plug-in hybrid (PHEV) drivetrain will be part of the vary in future, though timing has not but been finalised by MMAL.
“Whereas introduction of the PHEV variant has been confirmed, there’s nonetheless sturdy demand for gasoline environment friendly inside combustion engines comparable to that fitted to the brand new Eclipse Cross,” he mentioned.
Nevertheless, Mr Dorrington wouldn’t be drawn on whether or not the electrified Eclipse Cross destined for Australia can have the identical vehicle-to-grid functionality of its bigger Outlander stablemate.
2021 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross pricing*
| ES (a) | $30,290 |
| LS (a) | $32,590 |
| LS AWD (a) | $35,090 |
| Aspire (a) | $34,990 |
| Exceed (a) | $38,290 |
| Exceed AWD (a) | $40,790 |
*Excludes on-road prices
