Introduction

Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder - 2007  First Drive: LA JOLLA, Calif. – Men and women suffering from arachnophobia hate spiders, but would love getting caught in the new 2007 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder’s web. Eight legs are replaced by four wheels on this bold Spyder, and the critter features an alluring rather than repugnant appearance that should attract buyers looking for a fun, sexy ride.

Traditionally, those buyers have been women, but Mitsubishi thinks the latest iteration of the Eclipse Spyder will also appeal to men. Why? It’s not a “chick car.” Rather, the redesigned Eclipse Spyder has been boldly styled and engineered for truly responsive sports car handling, and even though it has seats for four and is heavier than pure performance machines like the Mazda MX-5 Miata or Honda S2000, it’s up to the task – especially in GT attire. As for the styling, during a test drive of nearly 200 miles, it attracted plenty of attention among onlookers – from both Mars and Venus – who gave a thumbs-up for its alluring appearance, which looks more like a pricey Lexus SC430 or Audi TT than a mainstream Mitsubishi.

While the racy Lancer Evolution sedan clearly represents Mitsubishi’s flagship performance standard, the Eclipse has always stood for affordable performance, without the bone-jarring ride and boy-racer equipment of the Evo. Now it has gone upscale in many respects, and Mitsubishi claims its new 2007 Eclipse Spyder is a “reward car” built for “Gen-E” (for everyone), but we disagree. We still see it as a boy- or girl-racer ragtop, a car sold on good looks and Mitsubishi’s hip Japanese-cool advertising imagery. But hey, sometimes distinctive styling and a catchy ad campaign are all you need to sell affordable performance to the masses.

Model Mix

Like its sibling, the Eclipse coupe, the 2007 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder comes in GS and GT trim. Base GS models arrive with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine making 162 horsepower, equipped with a standard five-speed manual transmission or an optional four-speed automatic with a Sportronic manual shift feature. Standard GS equipment includes a power cloth convertible top, an integrated rear spoiler, 17-inch alloy wheels, power windows/locks/mirrors, air conditioning, cruise control and a tilt steering wheel.

Opting for Spyder GT classification yields a 3.8-liter V6 delivering 260 horsepower, set up with a standard six-speed manual or an optional five-speed automatic with Sportronic shifting. Fog lights, traction control, a compass, and an ambient temperature gauge are also added to the equation. The optional Premium Sport Package, available exclusively to GT buyers, brings 18-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 235/45 tires, power six-way driver’s seat adjustment, automatic climate control, leather seats with front heaters, heated exterior mirrors, and aluminum pedals.

Both GS and GT models are equipped with a 650-watt Rockford Fosgate audio system that includes a six-disc in-dash CD changer, eight-inch subwoofer and automatic sound optimization that adjusts the audio volume according to wind noise. The subwoofer is placed between the two rear chairs, creating a pair of buckets for short riders and short rides. To protect those riders no matter how short the ride, all 2007 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyders receive dual stage front airbags and front seat-mounted side-impact airbags. And, for those who think blue backlighting is still a novelty, Mitsubishi has illuminated the instrument cluster with “ice blue” LEDs.

Mitsubishi expects to sell equal numbers of GS and GT models, and hopes that the addition of the Spyder to the Eclipse lineup helps bolster this Asian automaker’s bottom line. Speaking of the bottom line, we found the Spyder’s quite favorable. The base price for the 2007 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder GS is $25,984 – a bit higher than a Ford Mustang V6 Premium Convertible – while the uplevel GT model starts at $26,864 – lower than a Ford Mustang GT Deluxe Convertible. Those prices include Mitsubishi’s $595 destination charge. Eclipse Spyders will appear in dealerships as 2007 models at the end of March, 2006, just in time for spring.