At the 2008 Chicago Auto Show, Mitsubishi elected to forego the usual pomp and circumstance associated with a typical product introduction. The company simply put its new product out on the floor for all to see: slightly refreshed versions of its midsize Galant sedan and sporty Eclipse coupe and Spyder convertible.
2009 Mitsubishi Galant
2009 Mitsubishi Galant
2009 Mitsubishi Galant
The 2009 Mitsubishi Galant gets freshened exterior styling, as well as a revised model lineup. Base DE and uplevel GTS trim levels go away. Instead, Galant's model roster for 2009 includes ES, Sport Edition, Sport V6, and Ralliart. ES and Sport Edition reprise Mitsu's 160-horsepower 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and four-speed automatic transmission. The Sport V6 has a 230-horsepower 3.8-liter V6 engine and a five-speed automatic. That particular V6 engine was not a part of this
sedan's 2008 model year lineup.
The Ralliart trim level also returns for 2009. It still has a 258-horsepower 3.8-liter V6 engine and five-speed automatic transmission, both borrowed from Mitsubishi's Eclipse. The 2009 Galant gets a few new available features as well, including a Bluetooth wireless cell phone link and a rearview camera that goes with the optional navigation system. Mitsubishi officials didn't announce prices, but the 2009 Galant should be on sale this summer.
2009 Mitsubishi Eclipse and Eclipse Spyder
2009 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder
2009 Mitsubishi Eclipse
Like the 2009 Galant, Mitsubishi's sporty Eclipse coupe and Eclipse Spyder convertible get revised exterior styling. The changes come in the form of reworked front and rear fascias. Top-line GT models also gain a dual-outlet exhaust, which helps further distinguish it from the base GS trim. Speaking of the GS, it still has a 162-horsepower 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and the choice of a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission. Thanks to the dual-outlet exhaust, the top-line GTs get a very slight power boost. The 3.8-liter V6 engine now makes 265 horsepower versus the 2008 versions' 263. Other changes to the GT specifically include the addition of a larger rear spoiler, high-intensity headlights, and an antiskid system to supplement the standard traction control system.
Eclipse Spyder convertibles retain their power-folding soft top and heated glass rear window and share the exact same changes as their coupe siblings. As Eclipse and Spyder aren't wildly different, don't count on their prices changing much either when the 2009 models go on sale this summer.
