We'll say it up front: The all-new Eclipse GT is a huge improvement over the previous generation, but that's not the only thing we're looking for when seeking a winner. Ultimately, we were left wanting more: more control, more room, more visibility. On paper, Mitsubishi's investment is good: unique styling inside and out, more power, stiffer body, wider track, and more braking. The real-world results, however, are a mixed bag. The new 3.8-liter V-6 producing 263 horsepower motivated our GT as one of only four contestants able to reach 100 mph in the quarter mile.

But all that power channeled through a front-drive, six-speed manual transmission makes the driver feel like he's keeping two mortal enemies from a fight. Several editors noted, during hard takeoffs, the torque steer and front-end lift are so dramatic they thought something might be wrong with the front anti-roll bar. However, we did have high praise for the new front-end geometry for how well it handles through the twisties. At speed, the GT dives into and transitions out of hard cornering like a pro, as long as you're smooth on the throttle.