The Eclipse name keeps finding new homes that have nothing to do with the sport coupe sold from 1989 to 2011. First it landed on the Eclipse Cross crossover, and now Mitsubishi has confirmed a new Eclipse Sportback EV bound for North America as a 2027 model in the back half of this year. Beneath that Triple Diamond badge sits nothing more than a lightly reskinned new-generation Nissan Leaf, so anyone holding out for a true heir to the original should brace for disappointment.

Visually, most people will just see a Leaf wearing Mitsubishi emblems, but the Eclipse Sportback does have a few redesigned bits. Up front, the bumper gets a different grille and horizontal intakes with aerodynamic detailing. Despite the official claims, the LED headlights look awfully close to the Nissan units, the difference being that they aren’t connected by a strip of black trim.

More: Mitsubishi’s Building A Kei-Sized Pajero, And A Nissan Pickup For America

The profile is also identical, keeping the original crossover fastback silhouette, though it picks up fresh EV emblems on the front doors along with chrome accents around the windows and on the three-spoke 18-inch aero wheel covers borrowed from the Leaf S+.

At the back, Mitsubishi’s designers kept their input minimal: a sculpted rear bumper, a new tailgate that drops the glossy black trim of the Nissan, and custom LED taillight graphics. Naturally, the Eclipse Sportback won’t get the Z-inspired “3D holographic LEDs” of the flagship Nissan Leaf Platinum+ trim.

More: Nissan’s New Rogue Plug-in Hybrid Isn’t Even A Nissan

The company hasn’t shown the interior yet, but don’t expect much beyond a Mitsubishi emblem on the steering wheel. The Leaf comes with dual screens measuring 12.3 or 14.3 inches, depending on the trim. Whether the Mitsubishi version gets the dimming panoramic electrochromic roof and the clever Bose Personal audio setup with speakers built into the headrests remains to be seen.

Under the skin, the Eclipse Sportback rides on the CMF-EV architecture shared with the Nissan Leaf and Ariya. Full technical specs will come later, but the Leaf offers a choice between 52 kWh and 75 kWh battery packs and a single electric motor making either 174 hp (130 kW / 176 PS) or 214 hp (160 kW / 218 PS). EPA range tops out at 303 miles (488 km).

More: Nissan Beats Tesla To $25K EV Musk Said Would Never Happen

Mitsubishi has promised more details and pricing in the near future ahead of the market launch. The company also confirmed the Eclipse Sportback will be joined by an “all-new rugged, off-road derivative of the Outlander SUV” in early 2027, followed by a new or significantly revised vehicle every year through 2030.

Mitsubishi

The new, all-electric Ferrari Luce has spent the past week since its launch as the internet’s favorite target. Keyboard critics have torn into the styling, AI renders have circulated to demonstrate how trivially the design could be fixed, and even the share price took a brief tumble.

Not even Toblerone could help itself in poking fun at Ferrari. Heck, even Ferrari’s legendary former boss, Luca di Montezemolo, suggested the Luce is so horrible that not even the Chinese would dare copy it. Both Mazda and Nissan have since jumped on the bandwagon, having their say on the controversial EV.

Read: The Swiss Are Supposed To Be Neutral, But Even Toblerone’s Trolling Ferrari

Mazda came first, simply posting a photo of the original Mazda Luce SS that it introduced back in the 1960s. It appears Ferrari quietly snagged the international trademark for Luce earlier this year after Mazda let it lapse. While the Japanese brand can no longer use the name, there’s no denying the original Luce looks much better than the new Ferrari. The top comment? “Mazda making fun of Ferrari before GTA6,” with more than 4,500 likes.

Ferrari Leaf?

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Soon after, Nissan Ireland jumped onto Instagram. Immediately after the Luce was unveiled, some online pundits began comparing it to the new Nissan Leaf, posting side-by-side photos of the two.

Nissan re-posted one of these images, showing the side profile of the Leaf compared to the Luce, writing “We admit, we’re flattered,” and adding “They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, so thank you Ferrari.”

The most obvious similarity between the duo is the two-tone black-and-blue paint schemes they were presented in. You could also argue that the rear hatch of the Luce is similar to the Leaf, as are the black rocker panels, but in general, we don’t think the Luce and Leaf look that much alike. Nevertheless, Nissan Ireland took down the post shortly after it was shared, perhaps because the social media intern received a call from their boss.

Perhaps the funniest meme we’ve seen of the Ferrari Luce is an AI rendering comparing it to an Apple computer mouse. But if the Luce somehow sells well, Ferrari could end up getting the last laugh.

POV: You’re charging your new Ferrari Luce pic.twitter.com/L86GfLVzSV

— Apple Design (@TheAppleDesign) May 25, 2026

Nissan has scrapped plans to build electric drive axles at a factory near its Sunderland home in the UK, even after committing roughly $65 million to the project it announced just last year. The about-face is the latest piece of collateral damage from a company trying to drag itself out of a deep financial hole.

The EV drive units, which package the motor, inverter, and reducer into a single assembly, were going to be built by Nissan’s JATCO subsidiary at the Sunderland site, which opened last year. The UK government had thrown in a £12 million ($16 million) grant to help get things moving, and the facility was on track to bring in 183 new hires, although only 20 have actually been brought aboard so far.

Read: Nissan’s Cuts In Europe Could Make Space For A Chinese Roommate

The initial plan was for the factory to produce up to 340,000 EV drive units each year and it would have joined other facilities that JATCO operates in Mexico, China, and Thailand. According to Nissan, the reversal comes as part of the RE:Nissan revival plan, which aims to turn around the company’s dire economic situation. Nissan is now reviewing whether the plant can be adapted to build other types of powertrains instead.

Fighting Falling Sales

Nissan’s EV business in Europe is having a rough run too. Nikkei Asia reports that Ariya sales fell 44 percent in the 2025 fiscal year compared to the year before. Leaf sales cratered by 99 percent, though that figure comes with an asterisk: the old car has been retired and replaced by a more affordable new crossover. Nissan is banking on the new Leaf to become its top-selling EV in the region.

The company says there will be no immediate job losses among the 20 staff working at the site while it assesses whether the plant can be adapted to produce other powertrains. Despite the expensive change in plans, a government spokesperson says it will continue to support the brand.

“The UK automotive industry is vital to the North East,” they told the BBC. “That’s why, through our Modern Industrial Strategy, we’re delivering nearly £1bn of DRIVE35 capital and R&D funding to strengthen manufacturers and local supply chains in the region.”