The Mitsubishi Eclipse has been popular with 20-something buyers for years, and the styling reflects this. Every piece of external metal is different than that used on the pre-2006 Eclipse, but there's no mistaking the current model for anything but an Eclipse.

The lines on this latest-generation Eclipse are softer than those of the previous-generation. Everything looks a little rounder. Headlight housings are not so angular, as if they'd been chopped out of the corner of the car. The lights are more eye-like, with the outer corner tugged gracefully back into the fender. The front end has been relaxed with the opening of a split grille, filled with recessed black honeycomb mesh, above the bumper. Fog lamps have been moved to the sides, into the bumper's bend beneath the headlights. Wheels are farther apart than in the previous-generation Eclipse, by more than two inches. It creates a more planted look, promising better stability when cornering.

The softer look continues in side profile. The A-pillar and C-pillar flow into the hood and trunk. Door panels tuck inward as they approach the B-pillar, giving the Eclipse what the stylists call a wasp-waist look. We'd call it corseted. The rocker panel bulge fills the lower portion of the doors, tying together the robustly blistered fenders. The rear wheel wells beg for larger tires, even on the GT.

As for the rear view, the word bulbous comes to mind. A minimalist, translucent-cum-three-dimensional plastic spoiler arcs across the liftgate between the clear-lensed taillights. The rear license plate fits in a recess in the fulsome rear fascia. A faux underbody airflow extractor panel fills the bottom quarter of the body-color fascia. From the rear, the GT is distinguished by a special exhaust tip.

The outside door handles are an awkward design that's likely to cost unwary drivers and passengers fingernails.