Many of us still haven’t quite got over the fact that Mitsubishi revived the iconic “Eclipse” nameplate back in 2017 – just to use it on a crossover dubbed the Eclipse Cross. That, by the way, was already nine years ago, and now for its second-generation model, the Japanese carmaker has thrown yet another curveball – it’s now a fully electric vehicle (EV), named the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross EV.
The design of the all-new Eclipse Cross EV is based on a concept Mitsubishi calls “Smart Armor.” Mitsubishi says this philosophy conveys robustness and security by incorporating powerful, armor-like design elements. This is immediately evident at the front, where the rugged design is characterised by a heavily sculpted bumper and a unique arrangement for the daytime running lights (DRLs).
The “Smart Armor” design philosophy continues along the car’s sleek profile, which is enhanced by flush door handles. To clearly identify the vehicle as an EV, a small emblem is placed on both front doors.
At the back, the rear bumper, painted black on both the top and bottom portions, creates a multi-layered look that is mirrored in the shape of the taillights. Also equipped on the exterior is a panoramic sunroof with an electrochromic function.
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While its exterior styling does its best to distinguish itself as a Mitsubishi model, it’s hard to hide the model’s Renault roots inside, with the overall layout essentially mirroring that of the Renault Scenic E-Tech that it is based on. Configured as a five-seater, it features a portrait-oriented 12.3-inch display, with Google built-in that supports additional apps available via the Google Play Store.
The driver gets a digital instrument cluster of an unspecified size, but Mitsubishi states that the Eclipse Cross EV will be equipped with 48-colour ambient lighting, a Harmon Kardon sound system with five presets, and four drive modes: Personal, Eco, Comfort, and Sport.
Like the Renault, the all-new Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross EV is also built on the CMF-EV platform, an architecture co-developed by Nissan and Renault as part of their Alliance partnership.
As such, the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross EV will also share the same front-wheel drive electric powertrain that produces 217 hp (160 kW) and 300 Nm from a single motor. This is juiced by an 87 kWh battery pack, which enables a range of 600 km (WLTP). Charging is supported with AC charging at 22 kW and DC charging at 150 kW.
Using a suite of sensors, including a forward radar, ultrasonic sensors, and cameras, the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross EV is equipped with a host of ADAS features. These include adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality, a driver monitoring system, intelligent speed assistance, and emergency lane assistance.
The all-new Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross EV is slated to be launched in European markets before the end of 2025. It will be manufactured at Renault’s ElectriCity plant in Douai, France, which is the Renault Group’s EV production hub. Mitsubishi has also announced that a variant with a shorter range is scheduled to be launched in 2026.
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