Normal’s Mitsubishi plant says goodbye to 3 models

NORMAL — The Mitsubishi plant in central Illinois will produce its last Eclipse coupes, Spyder convertibles and Endeavor SUVs this week.

The (Bloomington) Pantagraph reports that the assembly line in Normal is scheduled to be retooled to begin producing the Outlander Sport crossover SUV by mid-2012.

A spokesman for Mitsubishi Motors North America says the plant’s 1,300 workers are a bit sentimental about saying goodbye to three of the models they’ve been making. But spokesman Dan Irvin says they’re looking forward to the future.

Consumers will be able to buy the Eclipse, Spyder and Endeavor through at least the end of 2011. Irvin says Mitsubishi will continue to make parts for those models for six to seven years.