The name is committed. If you as a manufacturer called a car Eclipse, so solar eclipse, then you have to think of the real solar eclipse, something special. Mitsubishi did just that.
A field somewhere in nowhere, well 60 miles south of Portland, Oregon. For Mitsubishi this field is likely to be the most important place in the company's history. A hotspot. This is where the new SUV model Eclipse Cross is positioned. For the photo shoot.
This is usually nothing unusual. For advertising and marketing, the automakers often go to great lengths. However, this photo session is something special, he takes the photographer's light. Because in just a few hours, just in time for 10: 13 clock will move for almost two minutes, the moon in full size between the earth and the sun, make the day briefly almost night.
He does not do that often, at least not to that extent and certainly not in America. The previous total solar eclipse, which crossed the American continent from the Pacific in the west to the Atlantic in the east, is almost 100 years back. And for the next eclipse in this form, the Americans have to wait until 2081. If there will be another model called Eclipse or Eclipse Cross, who knows?
[=” ” ]Eclipse: In the US, the name Eclipse not only stands for the solar eclipse, but also has a long tradition in the automotive industry: From 1988 to 2011 four generations of the sports coupe ran off the bands in the Mitsubishi plant Normal (Illinois) near Chicago, a total of 1,4 million vehicles. From the first two generations 15.000 vehicles found their way across the Atlantic to Germany. Now the name is revived with the Eclipse Cross. The SUV should come to Europe at the end of the year.Therefore, the Mitsubishi board in Japan has also given the green light for this probably unique Eclipse action. About 100 People have been planning and working since last November. Naturally, many things can be prepared perfectly logistically, organizing transports, booking film crews, flights and hotels. Only one thing is not calculable: the weather. A cloudy sky or, worse, rain is the biggest enemy of all "Sofi" fans. The Stuttgarters can sing a song of it, as at the 11. August 1999 at 12: 32 o'clock drew the so-called shadow of the solar eclipse over the state capital. There was nothing to see, it was raining and it was getting dark.
Oregon, on the other hand, is considered quite stable in terms of weather in August. A blue sky would be the optimum. Of course, the Mitsubishi team has envisioned several locations along the core shadow for a Plan B. Even over to South Carolina. But as beautiful as Charleston would be, there is a danger of summer thunderstorms here. Not a good combination. In addition, fall out of places that have too little hotel capacity, which was the case in Wyoming or not technically well connected.
Cities began to prepare for the 100 kilometer wide Eclipse strip years ago. Gastronomy, hotels, gas stations, they all expect record sales. Even private accommodations via AirBnB are fully booked. NASA speaks of a "century event," the US media write of the "Great American Dark." Never before have so many film cameras, photographic equipment, telescopes and smartphones been ready to capture the short spectacle of nature because of an Eclipse. Three million people were on their own in Oregon alone. Many have taken the day off.
The only difference to the Mitsubishi photographers and film people? Their motto is: Eclipse meets Eclipse. And suddenly everything happens very fast. You can feel the temperature drop of about 5 degrees Celsius, although the sun is still visibly full. But do not do it. Only the look through the special glasses literally opens your eyes. The moon has already moved to three quarters of the sun. When only a thin sickle is visible, it gets dark in the morning at 10: 13 o'clock. A few seconds later, "The total Eclipse" prepares scientists and hobby astronomers on their telescopes probably the biggest moments of fortune of their lives.
The entire Mitsubishi team should also be extremely satisfied. Everything worked perfectly, weather, timing, photos, film. Then the sun blinks out from behind the moon, giving light and warmth. People applaud. What a wonderful feeling! Life can go on ...
