Purists should look away now, because Mitsubishi has reused the Eclipse name for a second time, on another vehicle that’s quite to different to its series of sporty coupes.
Unusually for a rebadged model, Mitsubishi happily admits the new Eclipse Sportback EV is based on the “highly touted new-generation Nissan Leaf“.
Up front there’s a new bumper with crisper lines, and a sharply rectangular lower air intake that juts forward. Other changes include restyled lighting graphics and a faux grille between the headlights with vertical 3D slats.
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Along the side, differences include a prominent arc of chrome tracing the upper edge of the windows, giant EV badging on the front doors, and redesigned alloy wheels.
At the back the restyled bumper has a sharp upside-down U-shaped graphic and a more prominent diffuser-style insert. There’s also a colour-coded stretch of plastic bookended by tail-lights with new internals.
The new Eclipse Sportback EV will go on sale in the US during the second half of 2026, but availability in other markets has yet to be confirmed. Mitsubishi hasn’t released any details about pricing or specification, but mechanically it’s unlikely to stray far from the Leaf.
Globally the Leaf is available in two front-wheel drive configurations. The first pairs a 130kW/344Nm motor with a 52kWh battery. This model has a claimed WLTP range of 436km and DC fast-charging that tops out at 105kW.
The longer-range variant has a more powerful 160kW/354Nm motor up front, a larger a 75kWh battery pack, supports DC fast-charging at up to 150kW, and has a WLTP range of 604km.
Launched in 1989, the Mitsubishi Eclipse was a sporty three-door ’coupe‘ designed specifically for the North American market. Built in Normal, Illinois at the factory now owned by Rivian, the Eclipse was also sold as the Eagle Talon and Plymouth Laser. Later generations were reworked to become the Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Stratus.
After four generations, the last Eclipse was made in 2012. The name was revived, as the Eclipse Cross, in 2018 for a small SUV that slots between the ASX and Outlander.
Over the last few years Mitsubishi has been leaning on its partner Renault to help bulk up its range in Europe, where it has the Colt (a rebadged Renault Clio), ASX (Captur), and Grandis (Symbioz).
The Renault-based ASX is now sold Down Under after the Mitsubishi-developed model had to be withdrawn due to Australian design standards.