2017 Geneva Motor Show: Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross revealed

OFFICIAL images of Mitsubishi’s all-new compact SUV, the Eclipse Cross, have been revealed ahead of its scheduled debut at the Geneva Motor Show next week.

The Eclipse Cross, due on sale in Australia late this year, will sit between the small ASX and the mid-size Outlander in Mitsubishi’s SUV line-up and have the option of two engines. We won’t know the full details until its arrival in Geneva, but Mitsubishi has given us an official glimpse of the compact SUV to tide us over until then - which also affords us a good look at the latest evolution of the carmaker’s latest styling language.

With a tapered, curved roof and sharp styling, the Eclipse Cross has a coupe-like SUV shape, and at 4405mm long measures 35mm longer than the compact ASX and 290mm shorter than the Outlander.

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The new design also features a distinctive wedge profile, forward-raked rear window andpumped guards that give it a sportier, muscular look.

The show car’s red paint job is also a new colour for Mitsubishi's corporate palette.

Inside, the Eclipse Cross’s design is more refined than the norm for Mitsubishi, with black and silver details and a system featuring Mitsubishi’s new infotainment system. The “futuristic cockpit” also incorporates a head-up display, touchpad controller and smartphone connectivity including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

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Under the bonnet, the new SUV will feature a 1.5-litre petrol four cylinder engine or a 2.2-litre turbo diesel, mated to a CVT transmission with eight pre-set ratios, or a more conventional eight-speed torque converter automatic.

This is backed by an electronic all-wheel-drive system and Mitsubishi’s Super All-Wheel Control, an integrated vehicle dynamics control system incorporating brake-activated Active Yaw Control that “manages the torque feed and brake force at individual rear wheels to help the vehicle behave as the drive intends”. In layman's terms, it uses the brakes to pull the car in line around a corner.

That's all the details we have on hand for now: we’ll find out more when the Eclipse Cross is officially unveiled at next week’s Geneva Motor Show.