Eclipse Cross

Make
Mitsubishi
Segment
SUV

The Mitsubishi Eclipse was a compact sports car that was produced between 1989 and 2011. Today, however, the Eclipse has been resurrected as a compact crossover. The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross has only been on sale since the beginning of 2018, but Mitsubishi is already preparing to give it an update to keep it looking fresh in the competitive crossover market.

Our spies have caught a camouflaged prototype being put through its paces for the first time, and there are some noticeable differences. At the front, the updated Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross adopts slimmer headlights and a new grille that looks similar to the recently updated Mitsubishi L200 pickup sold in Europe.

More changes can be seen at the back. The sporty rear split-screen spoiler design, for example, is gone, giving the Eclipse Cross facelift a more conventional look than the current version. The rear lights are now positioned horizontally, which makes the back of the crossover look wider, and the roof spoiler is larger and has a different design.

Elsewhere, the sculptured side sills have also been changed and the facelifted model looks slightly larger than the current Eclipse Cross, confirming reports that Mitsubishi's SUV lineup is getting a growth spurt.

Unfortunately, we don't get a look inside the cabin so we'll have to wait and see if the interior receives any changes. Engine options haven't been confirmed, but new hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions could join the Eclipse Cross lineup. The current Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is offered with a 1.5-liter turbocharged inline-4 gasoline engine producing 152 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. Power is sent through a continuously variable automatic transmission. This unit should carry over but it could get a slight power increase.

Also expect a price increase over the current model, which starts at $22,995. There's no word yet when the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross facelift will debut, but its current state of development suggests it could break cover later this year.