Mitsubishi teases “radically changed” Eclipse Cross

MITSUBISHI Motors Corporation (MMC) has released the first teaser image of its redesigned Eclipse Cross compact SUV as well as a few titbits of information pointing to what we can expect, including a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) drivetrain.

Said to have “radically changed” front and rear designs, the sole teaser image does not give much away given it has been taken from side-on, however we can see the overall silhouette of the car has gone unchanged, as has the sloping window line.

Looking carefully at what we can see of the front, the familiar MMC chrome inserts can be spied once again underling the new slim headlights, before tracing down what will be the grille and flicking back towards the wheelarches.

One notable change revealed by the teaser image is the absence of the current model’s red brake strip across the tailgate which also looks to have been made a little more generic – however only time will tell.

According to MMC design general manage Seiji Watanabe, the new design draws inspiration from MMC’s e-Evolution Concept and emphasises the “strength and dynamics” of the brand’s “SUV heritage”.

“The Eclipse Cross is the first step toward the next generation of Mitsubishi Design, and there is so much more to come,” he said.

While no official details have been released yet, MMC has confirmed that a PHEV powertrain is under development for the Eclipse Cross – but only for select markets – following on from the success of the bigger Outlander PHEV.

At this stage it is not clear if the compact PHEV will make it Down Under, however a Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited (MMAL) spokesperson has confirmed to GoAuto that the local subsidiary has its hand firmly in the air to secure it here.

As for local timing, MMC says the new Eclipse Cross will be launched worldwide by the end of March next year with the internal combustion engines expected here first before the PHEV (if it gets the green light).

Eclipse Cross sales are down 44.9 per cent so far this year ending August with MMAL shifting 2780 units, accounting for just 4.7 per cent of the sub-$40,000 compact SUV segment.