Mitsubishi's Eclipse Sportback EV Is a Rebadged Nissan Leaf
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- Mitsubishi confirmed the 2027 Eclipse Sportback EV in a press release, openly stating it is "sourced from" Alliance partner Nissan and based on the next-generation Leaf — despite marketing it as the "global debut of an all-new fully electric vehicle."
- Mechanical specs are identical to the 2026 Nissan Leaf: a 75 kWh liquid-cooled battery, a native NACS port for Tesla Superchargers, and 150 kW DC fast charging that takes the pack from 10% to 80% in about 35 minutes.
- Mitsubishi only reskinned the car — swapping in its own front and rear fascias, a different lighting signature, sporty alloy wheels, and Triple Diamond badging — while Nissan retains control of the platform, battery, and software.
- The Eclipse Sportback is scheduled to launch in late summer or early fall 2026 across the US and Canada through roughly 300 US dealer partners, becoming Mitsubishi's first real US EV since the i-MiEV was discontinued.
- Range and pricing remain unannounced, though the source notes the 2026 Leaf delivers 259–303 miles of EPA range and starts at $29,990, suggesting Mitsubishi will land near those numbers, likely a bit higher for the styling.
- The Eclipse nameplate previously belonged to a sport coupe and then the Eclipse Cross crossover; the article notes the name keeps migrating while "the substance keeps shrinking."
Why it matters: Mitsubishi's first US EV in over a decade is essentially a Nissan with a new grille — a shortcut that puts a competitive electric crossover into ~300 showrooms without the R&D spend, but leaves Mitsubishi entirely dependent on Nissan's platform, battery, and software roadmap.
