1999 MIRAGE COUPE OFFERS FUN-TO-DRIVE STYLE AND VALUE

While the athletic exterior and driver-oriented interior of the 1999 Mitsubishi Mirage Coupe say "expensive sporty car," you'll be pleased to know its long list of standard equipment and low price scream "value." Most importantly, however, the fun-to-drive nature of this stylish coupe forever dispels the illusion that all small cars are dull and boring.

The benefits of Mirage Coupe most likely come from genetic engineering. Its siblings, Eclipse and 3000GT, are widely respected in the automotive industry for their unique combination of performance and style, and Mirage Coupe's spunky personality and aggressive styling are the direct result of it being a part of the Mitsubishi Motors' family.

Mirage Coupe's wedge-shaped profile and chiseled, muscular look is backed by confident, sporty handling. A 4-wheel independent suspension with a sophisticated multi-link design at the rear makes Mirage Coupe beg to be driven while providing a smooth ride for its passengers.

Yet Mirage Coupe has more than just good looks and graceful moves; it's also quite smart. While a slick-shifting 5-speed manual transmission is standard, an available 4-speed automatic actually adapts itself to the current driving style to maximize smoothness and fuel economy. And, during upshifts, the engine's torque is slightly reduced for an even more polished feel, an engineering feature once found only on expensive luxury cars.

Although Mirage Coupe is among the least expensive cars on the market, it's difficult to tell from the interior. A thoughtfully laid out dash puts controls where they should be, has a high quality look and feel, and many parts are coded for ease in recycling when Mirage Coupe reaches the end of its service life many years down the road, Mirage Coupe is available in two different models, allowing buyers to tailor this sporty car to their individual needs for performance and value.

Mirage Coupe DE

With its 1.5-liter SOHC 12-valve 4-cylinder engine, Mirage Coupe DE is designed for economy and value, but it's far from being an "econo-box." Durable yet stylish fabric trims the door panels and high-back seats, and its standard equipment list includes power steering, power-assisted ventilated front disc brakes, rear window defroster with a timer, a full-length center storage console, remote releases for the fuel door and trunk lid, a covered passenger visor mirror, map pockets -- even a slide-out dual cupholder.

And while Mirage Coupe DE offers style and value, it also has an extremely practical side, too. In 1998, Mirage Coupe DE (with CA/NLEV emissions equipment and manual transmission) was named as one of the "greenest" cars on the market by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.

Mirage Coupe LS

The extroverted model in the line, Mirage Coupe LS has a 1.8-liter SOHC 16-valve, 113-horsepower engine. To back up this sporty nature, Mirage Coupe has alloy wheels plus a front stabilizer bar, while it shows the world it means business with full-profile front and side air dams, and an aggressively styled rear spoiler.

Inside, there's air conditioning, AM/FM stereo with a CD player, full cloth sport seats and door trim, new black-on-white sport gauges, height adjustments for the driver's seat and steering column, 60/40-split fold-down rear seat, digital clock, intermittent wipers, and remote sideview mirrors. There's even a special, new-for-1999 sunglasses holder.

Mirage Coupe LS buyers can also choose a power glass sunroof, four-wheel anti-lock brakes (ABS), an option package that includes power windows, door locks and sideview mirrors, variable intermittent wipers and cruise control.

Both Mirage Coupe models also prove a small car can be safe, too. There are standard dual front air bags*, front 3-point safety belts with height adjustment, rear child restraint anchors, side-guard door beams, and a stiff body structure with front and rear crumple zones that help provide occupant protection in the event of a collision.

If you feel as though an affordable, well-built sporty car with performance to back up its aggressive looks is really an illusion, look again. The 1999 Mitsubishi Mirage Coupe may be just the car you've been imagining.