Back in the 80s, something unusual happened. Chrysler and Mitsubishi joined forces to form an alliance called Diamond Star Motors or commonly called DSM. The odd pair was the one responsible for some of the best Mitsubishi/Chrysler cars like Eclipse, Plymouth Laser, Eagle Talon, Mitsubishi Starion, or Chrysler Conquest, Colt, Dodge Stealth, or Mitsubishi 3000GT, etc. out of which Eclipse has probably been the most successful platform, all thanks to its very popular top trim GSX. Fun fact: GSX stands for Grand Sport X. It was so good that Car and Driver featured the Eclipse Turbo on their Ten Best Cars list for four consecutive years. Studded with an in-built all-wheel-drive system and a potent turbocharged four-cylinder engine, Eclipse defined power and performance for budget-oriented people, especially the second generation of the lineup.

Produced between 1989 and 2011, Mitsubishi Eclipse was a compact sports car. Fun fact: it was named after the mighty British racehorse from the 18th century that won over 26 races. The first Eclipse GSX was introduced in the market as an entry-level sports coupe, equipped with a turbocharged engine and a stunning all-wheel-drive system (almost unheard of in this particular segment). Eclipse became a huge success mostly because of the style and performance it delivered at affordable prices, not to mention how mod-friendly it was. Lack of competition in the sports coupe segment during the 90s helped it succeed too, of course. However, competition grew rapidly and a lot of rivals appeared offering the same amount of power and performance at comparable prices. To keep up with the market, Mitsubishi made several modifications and brought the second generation of the Eclipse in 1995. The 1996 Eclipse GSX was the second year model from the second generation of Mitsubishi Eclipse. The model was redesigned to include a newer engine, larger interiors, dual airbags, and restyled looks, etc. to face the changing markets.

Mitsubishi Eclipse was popular anyways but Fast and Furious immortalized it in many ways. The 1996 Eclipse GSX was more refined than the previous models in terms of looks, design, power, and performance. Read the piece for more details.

Why is the 1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX considered special by the loyalists? Scroll through the end to find out.

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1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX Was An Improved, Redesigned Model

1996 eclipse Gsx - EvolutionM - Mitsubishi Lancer and Lancer Evolution Community
via: Evolution M

Eclipse did very well for the first few years. However, the problem is that the sports coupe segment has always been youth-obsessed which means fresh faces are more sought after than the established models. By 1993, a lot of new rivals had come up most of them priced lower than the Eclipse and it was getting tougher for Eclipse to stay relevant in the market. To keep it in competition, Mitsubishi made a host of improvements in the second generation, and thus came the 1996 GSX model. Audio systems were modified, interiors were redesigned, Homelink transmitter was made standard, a panic feature was introduced in the optional remote keyless entry systems, etc. In addition to all these, the exteriors were restyled for more aggressive looks, and three new colors were added to the lineup. Grey is probably the rarest color you will find on an Eclipse. 1996 GSX was the only year to have the beautiful grey color option.

The Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX was not just a poor man’s Evo. It was insanely stylish, powerful, and comfortable, especially for that price. At the original MSRP of about $26K (as per Nada Guides), the ’96 Eclipse GSX was an absolute steal.

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It Is The Most Underrated Tuner Car

1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX - Exhaust, Launch and Driving around
via: YouTube

The Eclipse GSX practically kick-started the import car culture in the US. It is probably the last remaining affordable (Japanese) combo of looks, personality, and performance packed in a sports coupe. Although these got a bad reputation they were pretty good in reality (barring a few mechanical issues, turbo lag, slightly cramped back seats, maintenance costs, etc.). They were reliable, fun, fast, and fuel-efficient. The ’96 Eclipse GSX had everything: power, handling, style, safety, and comfort. What more can one ask for from a compact sports car?

Eclipse (and not the Supra, or Sti, or Skyline) was also the car to kick start the biggest and the most popular car movie franchise, Fast and Furious. While the second generation did pretty well, many believe that Eclipse peaked in the year 1997, which is another thing that makes the 1996 model special. It looked great and drove even better. 1996 was hands down the best year for the model.

Powered by the turbocharged four-cylinder 4G63T powertrain, which also powers the Evo, 1996 Eclipse GSX was once upon a time the most powerful, comfortable, and capable car you would find. It is probably why people never really forgot about the stunner. The model has since unofficially become a collector’s car for the loyalists and it’s extremely rare and expensive to find one nowadays.

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