All-New 2006 Mitsubishi Eclipse Named 'GT of the Year' by Maxim Magazine

Mitsubishi Motors Hits Prestigious Maxim List for First Time as One of Only 10 Winning Vehicles

CYPRESS, Calif., Oct. 12 -- Maxim magazine, the highest-circulation men's lifestyle magazine in the United States, has chosen the all-new 2006 Mitsubishi Eclipse as "GT of the Year" in its fourth annual "Cars of the Year" issue. The Eclipse was selected from a field of more than 45 vehicles reviewed by the magazine and will be featured with nine other winning vehicles in the November 2005 issue of Maxim, scheduled to hit newsstands on October 15.

"Mitsubishi Motors is excited to receive this award because it confirms that the Eclipse offers unrivaled performance, styling and value," said Dave Schembri, executive vice president of sales and marketing at Mitsubishi Motors North America. "We are pleased that Maxim's editors recognize the thrill you get driving an Eclipse."

Every year, Maxim's editorial board gathers and identifies the year's most significant new vehicles. The editors select the 10 that most impress them as "Cars of the Year" and categorize each according to its segment. This is the first time a Mitsubishi Motors product has made the Maxim list.

"The 2006 Mitsubishi Eclipse delivers key features a guy desires in a sporty car, and it comes at a price that won't drain his wallet," said Maxim Automotive Editor Jon Wilde. "The Eclipse looks fast even while parked, and we truly appreciated the GT when cranking the 650-watt Rockford Fosgate sound system while testing the MIVEC-enabled V-6 on the open road."

The 2006 Eclipse, launched in May 2005, is new from the ground up, including dynamic performance enhancements that now surpass the Ford Mustang V6 with 263 horsepower and overwhelm the Acura RSX with 260 lbs.-ft. of torque. Add to that an eye-catching bold design, and it's not surprising that Maxim would bestow this honor upon the Eclipse.

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc., (MMNA) is responsible for all manufacturing, finance, sales, marketing, research and development operations of the Mitsubishi Motors Corporation in the United States and Canada. Mitsubishi Motors sells coupes, convertibles, sedans and sport utility vehicles through a network of approximately 570 dealers. For more information, contact the Mitsubishi Motors News Bureau at (888) 560-6672 or visit media.mitsubishicars.com.