Mitsubishi’s upcoming EV for North America is called the Eclipse Sportback

Mitsubishi is adding a new model to its roster for its North American market, and it comes with a familiar foundation. The Eclipse Sportback is a compact electric hatchback built on the same CMF-EV platform that underpins the latest Nissan Leaf. According to Mitsubishi, this EV will go on sale later this year.

Visually, Mitsubishi did put in some real effort to distinguish it from its Nissan counterpart. Up front, the Triple Diamond logo takes center stage on a redesigned nose, flanked by a lighting signature that shares some DNA with the LEAF but gets its own unique twist sitting above a completely reworked bumper. Out back, the LEAF's taillights are gone, replaced by a set of opposing L-shaped markers that echo the front-end design. Bold Mitsubishi lettering runs across the trunk lid, and the rear bumper has been reshaped as well.

The differences continue around the body. The C-pillar trim is unique to the Eclipse, the side skirts feature subtle striations, and the alloy wheels feature a chunkier, geometric design. It's not a dramatic transformation, but it's enough to give the Eclipse its own identity on the road.

Interior photos haven't been released yet, and given the shared platform, it's reasonable to assume the cabin will closely mirror what Nissan is already offering.

On the powertrain side, Mitsubishi hasn't published official specs, but the CMF-EV platform gives us a pretty good idea of what's coming. The LEAF currently offers a 52 kWh or a larger 75 kWh liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery, good for up to 436 km and 622 km of range respectively under the WLTP cycle. Motor options on the LEAF range from 174 hp with 345 Nm of torque to a stronger 215 hp unit producing 355 Nm, and the Eclipse will likely follow the same pattern.

Sales are expected to kick off in the second half of this year, with pricing and full specs set to follow closer to the launch date. For now, North America appears to be the primary target market, which does raise a fair question for the rest of us: will the Mitsubishi Eclipse Sportback eventually make it to other shores?