(September 15, 2011) CYPRESS, Calif. — Mitsubishi Motors North America will be selling a one-of-a-kind 2012 Eclipse Coupe SE — the last production Eclipse that rolled off the assembly line earlier this month at the company's manufacturing plant in Normal, Ill. — to the highest bidder at the Mecum Auctions annual St. Charles Auction at the Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles, Ill., on Sept. 17.

Customized by Mitsubishi, the last Eclipse Coupe SE features a unique Kalapana Black paint scheme (chosen by Mitsubishi followers on Facebook), leather interior trim, eye-catching 18-inch Dark Argent alloy wheels, a 650-watt Rockford-Fosgate premium audio system with 9 speakers and SIRIUS satellite radio, hands-free Bluetooth phone interface, High-Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps and attractive "SE" exterior side graphics.

It is also the only 2012 Eclipse SE model powered by the 265-horsepower 3.8-liter V-6 engine that is used exclusively by the 2012 Eclipse GT.

All proceeds raised from the sale of this vehicle will be donated to the Japan Red Cross earthquake and tsunami relief fund.

The Eclipse — available in either coupe or Spyder soft-top convertible — has been the best-selling Japanese sports car of the last 20 years. Mitsubishi has sold just under 1 million units since its debut in 1989. The Eclipse has been built at the Normal, Ill., plant since 1990. It was completely phased out last week. The plant will be retooled to build the new Outlander Sport, and will continue making the Gallant mid-sized sedan.

The final Mitsubishi Eclipse is set to go on the Mecum Auctions block in Lot S110 at 1:55 p.m. on Saturday. Its sale can be viewed live on Mecum's national television program "Mecum Auction Live: Muscle Cars & More" on Discovery Communications' HD Theater channel.