In an investment that’s as central to your daily life and safety as a car, these elements can make all the difference. But adapting a car to the busy and increasingly connected lifestyles of the 21st century doesn’t just mean loading it up with tech; it’s just as important that all details are intuitive and simple to use while on the road. The 2022 Eclipse Cross showcases a range of features that can keep life running smoothly, and even help drivers stay more connected, organized, and emergency-ready. But the trick is in designing these benefits to be so subtle and seamless, you won’t even think about them in the moment they’re helping you out.
During Your Morning Routine
Shivering in the driver’s seat while your car warms up on a cold morning. Searching frantically for your keys while your passenger waits outside for you to unlock the car. Not being able to find your car in a crowded parking lot. Any of these sound familiar? There’s no reason such minor inconveniences should still exist in a time when we can control all the lighting in our homes with our voices. In fact, that same technology is part of the solution. In the Mitsubishi Connect system, smartphone and Amazon Alexa or Google Home™ integration help you remotely interact with your car, even while you’re doing something else entirely. Before you even get out the door, you can get the car started and adjust climate control, communicating easily with the Eclipse Cross even while communicating with your kid who’s still tying their shoes even though you’re already five minutes late. The system also ensures there are no more surprises, with maintenance reminders, remote door lock and unlock, and parental controls like speed and curfew alerts.
On Weekend Adventures
Nothing shuts down a scenic drive faster than the unpredictable roads that often accompany good views. Even for the most experienced drivers, snowy or off-road conditions require expertise and a lot of concentration: reading the road and making snap judgments about how fast to go or how to navigate. But considering Mitsubishi Motors designers have honed their skills at motorsport events like the Dakar Rally, the question isn’t whether the Eclipse Cross can handle tricky roads, but how it can actively help drivers have the smoothest experience on those roads. The Eclipse Cross’s Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC) kicks in on slippery streets and hairpin turns, helping to stabilize the car by using multiple inputs to figure out which wheel has the most traction at any given moment. It then assists with providing power to the proper wheels while accelerating, turning, or braking—but without any jerky indications to the driver that their car is ensuring every move is happening as they intend.
On Busy Roads
The most critical car technology enables you to very literally ignore it so that you can focus on the road and get where you’re going, safely. Ironically, some of the little driving distractions that you may not have thought about otherwise is also vital to being a good driver: the information on your dashboard. Head-Up Display is an unobtrusive feature that allows you to access what you need to know while driving, but without moving your eyes from the road. Set above the steering wheel on a clear panel, Head-Up Display allows you to see your speed and cruise control indicators, all without taking your eyes off the road.
When You’re Running Late
Unobtrusive assistance may be most important during the most common instances of in-car distraction: while you’re stressed because you’re running late, stuck in traffic, or very likely, both at the same time. In these scenarios, it’s tempting to fiddle with your phone to see if there are alternate routes or send a quick text to let someone know you’re late. But it should never be necessary to put your safety at risk just to communicate and adapt on the go. The Eclipse Cross features an available 8” display with Apple CarPlay® and Android™ Auto, offering the same range of services and voice command capabilities that make cell phones so convenient off the road. On the road, the factory embedded navigation system offers audible turn-by-turn directions and information on the fastest route, while TomTom integration and the Smartphone-link Display Audio App offers audio updates on traffic so you can get the information you need while driving safely. All that’s left is to call your boss and let them know you’re on your way, without ever once taking your eyes off the road.
On the Way to an Appointment
Even while most GPS apps feature increasingly sophisticated capabilities, there are still plenty of instances in which they can’t quite get you exactly where you need to go. So many people still find themselves jotting down lengthy additional directions to find the precise location of meeting spots, trailheads, office complex entrances, or stadium parking. Avoiding the problem would require knowledge of latitude/longitude pinpointing that most of us don’t have. Or do we? The Eclipse Cross’s navigation system takes advantage of existing apps to eliminate the GPS problems we all take for granted. Integrated into the system is a clever app called what3words that assigns a specific combination of words to any 3-meter square in the world. The right parking garage at your doctor’s appointment, then, may be represented by “similar.organic.secretly.” Using the navigation touchscreen, you can pinpoint any specific destination point and either start driving, save it for later, or keep it in mind to text it to a friend—no more missed connections or late arrivals.
When Things Don’t Go According to Plan
Emergency preparedness should never be put off, but it’s often such a hassle or expense that it can take up undue amounts of logistical space in a driver’s mind. Insurance options, likewise, so often feel like heavy decisions—what’s a plan that feels sufficient enough for an unknowable future? Mitsubishi’s Road Assist+ app resolves these stressors by more seamlessly combining your driving life with your insurance. It provides measurements that help you drive more safely, and in turn can find you discounts for responsible driving as well as lower insurance quotes. When more dynamic insurance options are built right into everyday driving practices, drivers can give it less thought while knowing they’re playing a more active, informed role in getting better deals and for being safer on the road. And if anything does go wrong, Mitsubishi’s roadside response is built to make the process less of a headache. The app not only locates the nearest service technician to help out, on a 24/7 basis—Mitsubishi’s concierge will help contact business associates, family members, or anyone else who should be notified that you’re held up.
Google Assistant is a trademark of Google LLC.
This story was produced by WIRED Brand Lab for Mitsubishi Motors.
