New Mitsubishi Eclipse SUV teased for Geneva debut as a Qashqai rival

New Mitsubishi Eclipse SUV teased for Geneva debut

Mitsubishi are teasing a new compact SUV for a Geneva Motor Show debut, thought to be the Mitsubishi Eclipse and aimed at the Nissan Qashqai.

There’s a new Mitsubishi SUV on the way to sit between Mitsubishi’s AX and Outlander, expected to be called the Mitsubishi Eclipse, and the tease for the new model starts with the usual single, shadowy, image (above).

Looking to us rather like the XR-PHEV II Concept from Geneva in 2015 (photos below), the new SUV will sit below Mitsubishi’s successful Outlander and take aim at the Nissan Qashqai.

That means a coupe roofline and slim glasshouse, with a nose which looks familiar Mitsubishi and a back end that’s a bit more angular and feisty than we’re used to from the Japanese car maker.

Although the XR Concept came with a hybrid powertrain, it seems unlikely Mitsubishi will offer the same on the new Eclipse, instead delivering the Eclipse with a choice of a 1.5 litre petrol turbo and 2.2 litre diesel, together with a CVT gearbox and Mitsubishi’s S-AWC 4WD.

According to Mitsubishi:

With its striking design, the sporty, coupe-like SUV will line up alongside the Mitsubishi ASX and Mitsubishi Outlander to broaden the brand’s model range and introduce a whole new audience to Mitsubishi Motors, a name long associated with stylish, tough and extremely capable SUVs and 4X4s.

Expect another tease or three from the Mitsubishi tease machine between now and the Eclipse’s debut at the start of March in Geneva.