Mitsubishi may have taken a long time to introduce new products in India, but it looks like things are about to change. After the Outlander, the next big launch from Mitsubishi India will be the Eclipse Cross - a new five-seat SUV that's already on sale abroad.
Speaking to Autocar India on the sidelines of the launch of the Outlander, Uttam Bose, Managing Director, Mitsubishi India, confirmed the Eclipse Cross is indeed being readied for the Indian market. Post the addition of certain features mandated by Indian regulations, the Eclipse Cross will be launched in 2020.
"Of the products in the pipeline, the launch of the Eclipse Cross will take place sooner. It already has BS-VI-compliant engines, we just need to incorporate the OBD-II, a seat belt reminder system and a speed alert system. We're planning to launch the Eclipse Cross by 2020."
The Eclipse Cross is based on a modified version of the platform that underpins the Outlander. Size-wise, it's a shade bigger than both, the Jeep Compass as well as the Hyundai Creta. The Eclipse Cross sports a bold, chrome-heavy face, a coupe-like roofline and a split-tailgate design that'll doubtless polarise opinion.
Inside, the Eclipse Cross has seating for five, leather upholstery, a panoramic sunroof, a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a Rockford Fosgate music system, among other features. Also on the equipment list are a 360-degree parking camera, a head-up display and dual-zone climate control. Additionally, the Eclipse Cross' rear seats have a sliding function that can free up as much as 200mm of legroom.
In international markets, the only engine on offer with the Eclipse Cross at this time is a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol that makes 163hp and 250Nm of torque. A 2.2-litre diesel – which will be BS-VI-compliant – is expected to be made available in due course, and will also be offered on the India-spec Eclipse Cross. Abroad, the petrol engine is paired with a CVT, while the diesel is expected to get an eight-speed torque converter automatic. As such, the petrol is available in global markets in front-wheel-drive as well as all-wheel-drive forms, but the diesel is expected to be AWD only.
One thing that the Eclipse Cross will definitely have going for it will be its focus on safety. In terms of safety equipment, the Eclipse Cross has seven airbags, a collision mitigation system, a lane departure warning system and rear cross traffic alert, and it even secured a five-star rating in the Euro NCAP crash tests.
When it launches in India sometime in 2020, the Eclipse Cross will slot in under the Outlander, and could be priced to take on the Jeep Compass.
Think the Eclipse Cross looks appealing? Let us know in the comments.
Also see:
Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross image gallery