• The 1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse was at home on the open road.ROAD image by Nisakorn Neera from Fotolia.com
  
  The 1999 Eclipse GST was a mid-size car produced by Japanese automaker Mitsubishi in association with American automaker Chrysler. It was a sporty car that continued the legacy of the original Eclipse, which was first sold in 1990. Since the Eclipse model line underwent a major refresh in 2000 it has continued to be a strong seller. The 1999 model is notable for several performance characteristics.
  
  

Model and Production

• The Eclipse GST was a high trim level of the 1999 Eclipse model. Mitsubishi offered the GST trim as an option for both the coupe and convertible variants of the Eclipse. For the convertible it represented the highest trim level. On the coupe, GST ranked above the RS and GS Eclipses, but below the top-of-the-line, all-wheel drive GSX.
  
  The 1999 Eclipse was the final production year for the second generation of the Eclipse. Mitsubishi engineers designed the 1999 Eclipse to use Chrysler's universal PJ chassis, shared with the Eagle Talon, Dodge Avenger and Chrysler Sebring.
  
  

Engine

• The 1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse GST included a 2.0 liter inline-4 cylinder engine. This engine, designated the 4G63 by Mitsubishi, used dual overhead cams and an integrated turbocharger to produce 210 horsepower and 220 ft.lbs. or torque. The multi-point fuel injected engine also used 16 valves (four per cylinder) and featured a bore of 85mm, a stroke of 88mm and an 8.5 compression ratio.
  
  

Dimensions

• The 1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse GST had slightly different dimensions as either a hatchback coupe of soft-top convertible. Both body styles were 172.4 inches long on a 98.9-inch wheelbase. The convertible was 68.7 inches wide and 52.8 inches tall while the coupe was slightly smaller at 68.5 inches wide and 49.8 inches tall.
  
  

Layout

• Both the convertible (known as the Spyder) and the hatchback coupe of the 1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse GST used a conventional front engine/front-wheel drive layout. The engine was mounted in a transverse position, perpendicular to the length of the car. Both models also featured seating for four. One significant difference between the Spyder and coupe was the Spyder's enclosed trunk, as opposed to the coupe's hatchback cargo area that was open to the rear seats.
  
  

Other Specs

• Several other specifications further distinguish the 1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse GST. All models came with a 15.9 gallon fuel tank, along with a fuel economy rating of 23 miles per gallon in city driving and 31 mpg on the highway. Four-wheel disc brakes came standard on all GST Eclipses, along with 16-inch chrome alloy wheels with P205/55VR16 tires. Curb weight of the coupe was just under 3,000 lbs. while the Spyder weighed in at 3,053 lbs.