The fourth generation Mitsubishi Eclipse is nearing the end of its career and to mark the occasion, the Japanese manufacturer has announced a final special edition for the Coupe and Spyder models.
 
Mitsubishi will cease production of the Eclipse after the upcoming 2012 model year without offering a replacement model, the SE Special Edition is the manufacturer's way of saying goodbye to a model series produced since 1989.

Eclipse trim levels (GS, GS Sport and GT) will be available as SE Special Edition versions which includes “SE” side decals, black side mirrors and 18-inch dark finish alloy wheels, along with the high-end standard features available on the Eclipse GS Sport versions of both the coupe and convertible models.
 
Standard equipment includes leather upholstery with heated front seats and a power-adjustable driver's seat, rearview camera, Bluetooth hands-free phone access, heated side mirrors and a 9-speaker, 650-watt Rockford Fosgate audio system with SIRIUS satellite radio. The coupe version also includes a sunroof.

The Eclipse SE Special Edition will be available with two engine options: a naturally-aspirated 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine that produces 162-horsepower (in the GS/GS Sport models) or a 265-horsepower 3.8-liter V6 engine (for the GT model). 

The latter is mated to a 5-speed Sportronic automatic transmission that allows the driver to manually select gearshifts when desired. GT-based SE models also get an automatic climate control system.

Prices have not yet been announced.

By Dan Mihalascu

The New York Auto Show, Scion’s version of the Toyota FT-86 sports coupe concept, finally made its world premiere today.

The study is named FR-S, which stands for ‘Front-Engine, Rear-wheel drive, Sport’, though we prefer the definition given by Jack Hollis, Scion vice president, during the New York Show presentation. “FR-S stands for Front-engine… Rear-wheel drive… Sport.

Though it’s hard to pinpoint all the changes without having the cars side by side, the photos reveal a tweaked front end with revamped headlamps and a different bumper design without the aftermarket like add-on LED strips.

Looking at the coupe’s profile, we see beefier and more heavily sculptured front and rear fenders plus new side sills and mirrors, and larger alloy wheels with a different design.

In addition, the FT-86 II’s gaudy fender air vents have been removed.


Scion’s interpretation of the FT-86 includes a new rear fascia with a more protruding boot design that ditches the tuner-esque rear wing, different tail lamps and an impressive rear diffuser.

Other changes include the roof that projects into the rear windshield. 

However, the company revealed that the flat four engine will incorporate Toyota’s D4-S injection system, which utilizes both direct and port injection, resulting in increased horsepower and torque throughout the entire powerband, without sacrificing MPG – or at least that’s what the company claims.

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