Solar Eclipse revealed at Detroit

Mitsubishi will unveil a pair of new cars at next month’s North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

First-up is the Eclipse Spyder, an open version of the recently-redesigned coupe and likely to go on sale in 2007.

The Spyder will be the sixth new vehicle launch for its makers in less than three years, and it promises 2+2 accommodation and stylish design for an affordable price tag. It will be available in GS and GT trims, both powered by a MIVEC petrol engine.

Perhaps some way further into the future is the Concept-CT MIEV. Mitsubishi calls it ‘a forward-thinking design study in B-segment packaging’, roughly translated that means a modern city car. The CT was designed at the Mitsubishi Motors design centre in Cypress, California, and features a petrol/electric hybrid powertrain.

Alongside the conventional petrol engine, the CT uses Mitsubishi’s In-wheel motor Electronic Vehicle (MIEV) technology, as previewed by the Evo MIEV at the Tokyo Motor Show earlier this year.