i don't think they would have because the eclispe became there sports coupe v6 in 2000. also they brought the evo to the usa in 2002 which is not the frist time they brought it to the usa. i hread that they had bought it over before but didn't sell good so they stop selling them in the usa. but i don't know if its true or not. oh and when they were here they were using the miarge ( or how ever you spell it) and the lancer. but like i said i don't know if it is true.