Here's Why The Mitsubishi Eclipse Had That Giant Hood Bump (it Wasn't For The Turbo)

For anyone who came of property successful nan '90s, nan first-gen Mitsubishi Eclipse looked for illustration it came consecutive disconnected a Gran Turismo loading surface pinch its debased stance, pop-up lights, and unmistakable bulging hood. Most of america assumed it was hiding a turbo aliases immoderate exotic intake plumbing -– because of course it had to be. But nan truth is, that bump wasn't location for boost astatine all. Nope. It was location to springiness abstraction for nan engine.

The communicative starts pinch Diamond-Star Motors (DSM), nan late-'80s associated task betwixt Mitsubishi and Chrysler that birthed triplets: nan Mitsubishi Eclipse, Eagle Talon, and Plymouth Laser. All 3 shared platforms, powertrains, and creation quirks -– for illustration that mysterious hood swell. Underneath sat nan 4G63 engine, which was 1 of nan astir beloved four-cylinders of its era. According to long-time DSM owners connected forums for illustration DSMtalk and Mighty Car Mods, nan bulge was partially a tooling discuss for that engine. It allowed a azygous hood pressing to fresh some turbo and non-turbo variants, pinch added clearance for the cam cogwheel cover. This was nan easiest solution — amended than modifying nan full 4G63 itself, right?

In different words, it was a creation calved of practicality, not performance. But successful emblematic '90s fashion, that creation determination gave nan Eclipse an fierce "don't messiness pinch me" look that helped specify its street-cred identity.

Despite nan fable it created, nan hood bump didn't do overmuch for performance. It wasn't channeling immoderate cold-air intake aliases cooling nan turbo, dissimilar nan hood scoops successful turbocharged cars. It was mostly dormant weight shaped for illustration ambition, but it did make accumulation simpler. Mitsubishi engineers could stamp nan aforesaid hood crossed nan lineup, redeeming costs while maintaining capable headroom — virtually — for nan different motor setups.

Still, nan bump's ocular effect couldn't beryllium ignored. To nan untrained eye, it looked purposeful, almost for illustration it screamed "forced induction" — moreover if a humble non-turbo 1.8L 5MT aliases 2.0L 16V turbo motor sat nether nan hood. It besides made room for an motor enthusiasts love, with galore seeing nan bump arsenic a creation quirk that made moreover guidelines models look meaner than they were. The car — bump and each — was iconic, and erstwhile it was featured successful "Fast and nan Furious" arsenic Paul Walker's ride, that position was escalated. Fanboys wanted nan Eclipse (even replicating nan build) aft seeing it decked-up pinch neon greenish paint, decals, and underglow lights. 

By nan third-generation Eclipse (2000 onward), Mitsubishi ditched nan bulge entirely. Its looks were tamed and nan under-hood layouts were cleaner, starring to nan sleek '90s jellybean quality taking over. The hood bump became a relic, near arsenic a byproduct of cross-company engineering and happy accidents.

So no, nan bump wasn't for nan turbo. It was for making things fit. But for illustration astir bully creation quirks, it stuck successful our representation because it looked accelerated — and furious — moreover erstwhile opinionated still.