Comeback Kid

By Daren Fonda

Will Mitsubishi's new pocket rocket, the 263-h.p. Eclipse GT, jump-start sales at Japan's most troubled automaker? The car hit dealerships this summer, lofted by strong reviews, and it leads a blitz of all-new models coming over the next two years. Unlike the profit machines Honda, Nissan and Toyota, Mitsubishi has been in automaker hell. The firm's corporate parent lost $4.4 billion in the past fiscal year, battered by a lingering scandal over vehicle defects, and U.S. sales plummeted one-third this year amid questions about whether Mitsubishi would vacate North America. That seems less likely now, especially if the Eclipse sparks a revival. The nameplate is a hot-rod icon; prior models were prized for their turbocharged engines and bargain prices. The new edition, featuring a throaty V-6, scraps the turbo but still races to 60 m.p.h. in under 7 sec., for a base price of $24,300. Eyeing our test car in North Adams, Mass., a tattooed teen said he would donate a body part to own it. We hope that's not necessary, but it's a good sign for Mitsubishi. --By Daren Fonda