Buyer's guide
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Buyer's guide & specs
Quick answer
The Lancer Evolution is Mitsubishi's turbocharged four-wheel-drive rally homologation sedan, released in Japan in October 1992 and built through ten numbered Evolutions to the 2015 Final Edition. Six chassis codes cover them: CD9A (I), CE9A (II, III), CN9A (IV), CP9A (V, VI), CT9A (VII to IX) and CZ4A (X).
Background
The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution is a turbocharged, four-wheel-drive sedan that Mitsubishi released in Japan in October 1992 as a rally homologation model. The series spans ten numbered Evolutions, through the Final Edition of 2015, under six chassis codes: CD9A (Evolution I), CE9A (II and III), CN9A (IV), CP9A (V and VI), CT9A (VII to IX) and CZ4A (X). Each page keeps the Evolutions' dates, outputs and grades separate.
Quick read
Constants
Chassis history
Dates are Japanese release months from Mitsubishi's history page; where another Mitsubishi source differs, the generation page says so. Each generation page has its own specification tables, recalls and checklist.
Identification
Generation names are broad families. The factory chassis codes below identify the variants represented in JDMBUYSELL's current Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution guide data.
Confirm the complete code on the vehicle's frame or VIN plate; drivetrain, body, and market variants can use different prefixes within one generation family.
Market
These pages describe Japanese-market cars. PistonHeads says the Evolution VIII introduced the Evo to the US market and that UK FQ models also existed; US and UK cars are separate specifications and are not described here.
Specs
GSR 1,240 kg; RS 1,170 kg
GSR 1,250 kg; RS 1,180 kg, five-speed manual
GSR 1,260 kg; compression 9.0:1, up from 8.5:1
GSR 1,350 kg
GSR 1,360 kg; 4,350 × 1,770 × 1,415 mm
RS 1,260 to 1,310 kg by option; GSR 1,360 or 1,380 kg
1,360 kg (GSR); 4,350 × 1,770 × 1,405 mm
GSR 1,400 kg; RS 1,320 kg
1,480 kg catalogue weight
1,410 kg
1,410 kg
GT 1,390 kg; RS 1,320 kg
1,420 kg
1,320 kg
GSR-Premium 1,580 kg manual, 1,600 kg TC-SST; GSR 1,530 kg manual, 1,550 kg TC-SST
Mitsubishi calls it the most powerful Evolution
Lineup
| Generation | Trim | Engine | Key features |
|---|---|---|---|
| CD9A (Evolution I, Japan) | GSR | 4G63 turbo, 250 PS | Full-time 4WD; 1,240 kg; 4,310 × 1,695 × 1,395 mm. Mitsubishi lists the GSR and RS as the two grades. |
| CD9A (Evolution I, Japan) | RS | 4G63 turbo, 250 PS | 1,170 kg. One enthusiast account lists crank windows, no ABS, no rear wiper, steel wheels and a mechanical rear LSD against the GSR viscous unit. |
| CE9A (Evolution II, Japan) | Evolution II GSR | 4G63 turbo, 260 PS | Full-time 4WD; 1,250 kg; 4,310 × 1,695 × 1,420 mm. |
| CE9A (Evolution II, Japan) | Evolution II RS | 4G63 turbo, 260 PS | Five-speed manual, 1,180 kg, 1,997 cc, 4,310 × 1,695 × 1,420 mm in the January 1994 catalogue. |
| CE9A (Evolution III, Japan) | Evolution III GSR | 4G63 turbo, 270 PS | Full-time 4WD; 1,260 kg; 9.0:1 compression; redesigned bumper, air dams, spoiler and wicker bill. |
| CN9A (Evolution IV, Japan) | GSR | 4G63 turbo, 280 PS | Sport-driving grade; 1,350 kg; 4,330 × 1,690 × 1,415 mm. |
| CN9A (Evolution IV, Japan) | RS | 4G63 turbo, 280 PS | Rally-base grade; super close-ratio gearbox in high or low gearing as an option; front helical LSD. |
| CP9A (Evolution V, Japan) | Evolution V GSR | 4G63 turbo, 280 PS | 1,360 kg; 4,350 × 1,770 × 1,415 mm; 225/45ZR17 tyres and Brembo brakes. |
| CP9A (Evolution V, Japan) | Evolution V RS | 4G63 turbo, 280 PS | The manual lists an RS (SNDF) beside the GSR (SNGF) for the Evolution V base car. |
| CP9A (Evolution VI, Japan) | Evolution VI GSR | 4G63 turbo, 280 PS | AYC, front helical LSD, 17-inch wheels and Brembo brakes standard; 1,360 or 1,380 kg. |
| CP9A (Evolution VI, Japan) | Evolution VI RS | 4G63 turbo, 280 PS | Mechanical rear LSD and titanium-aluminium turbine wheel standard; AYC, 17-inch wheels, Brembo brakes and a twin-plate clutch optional; 1,260 to 1,310 kg. |
| CP9A (Evolution VI Tommi Mäkinen Edition, Japan) | Tommi Mäkinen Edition | 4G63 turbo, 280 PS | Works-car colours and interior, tarmac tuning, ride height 10 mm lower, front strut brace and quicker steering; special colouring package optional; 1,360 kg (GSR). |
| CT9A (Evolution VII GSR, Japan) | Evolution VII GSR | 4G63 turbo, 280 PS | Five-speed manual; ACD and AYC standard; 1,400 kg; 4,455 × 1,770 × 1,450 mm. |
| CT9A (Evolution VII RS, Japan) | Evolution VII RS | 4G63 turbo, 280 PS | Five-speed manual; ACD and AYC are maker options; 1,320 kg. |
| CT9A (Evolution VII GT-A, Japan) | Evolution VII GT-A | 4G63 turbo, 272 PS | INVECS-II Sport Mode five-speed automatic with a steering shift switch; ACD and AYC; 1,480 kg. |
| CT9A (Evolution VIII GSR, Japan) | Evolution VIII GSR | 4G63 turbo, 280 PS | Six-speed manual only; Super AYC; 1,410 kg. |
| CT9A (Evolution VIII RS, Japan) | Evolution VIII RS | 4G63 turbo | Offered with a five-speed or a six-speed manual. |
| CT9A (Evolution VIII MR, Japan) | Evolution VIII MR | 4G63 turbo | From February 2004: aluminium roof panel. Six-speed versions have 400 Nm (40.8 kgf·m); the five-speed RS has 392 Nm (40.0 kgf·m). Check damper equipment by grade. |
| CT9A (Evolution IX GSR, Japan) | Evolution IX GSR | 4G63 MIVEC turbo, 280 PS | Six-speed manual; Super AYC standard; 1,410 kg. |
| CT9A (Evolution IX GT, Japan) | Evolution IX GT | 4G63 MIVEC turbo, 280 PS | GSR comforts with the RS driveline; five-speed manual; titanium-aluminium and magnesium turbo standard; 1,390 kg. |
| CT9A (Evolution IX RS, Japan) | Evolution IX RS | 4G63 MIVEC turbo, 280 PS | Five-speed manual; Super AYC is a maker option; 1,320 kg. |
| CT9A (Evolution IX MR, Japan) | Evolution IX MR GSR | 4G63 MIVEC turbo, 280 PS | Six-speed manual; Eibach springs and Bilstein dampers; 1,420 kg. |
| CT9A (Evolution IX MR, Japan) | Evolution IX MR RS | 4G63 MIVEC turbo, 280 PS | Five-speed manual; 1,320 kg. |
| CZ4A (Evolution X, Japan) | GSR-Premium (from Oct 2008) | 4B11 turbo, 300 PS | BBS wheels, Bilstein dampers, Eibach springs and Brembo two-piece front discs; S-AWC; 1,580 kg manual, 1,600 kg TC-SST. |
| CZ4A (Evolution X, Japan) | GSR | 4B11 turbo, 300 PS (Oct 2008) | S-AWC; five-speed manual (1,530 kg) or TC-SST (1,550 kg). |
| CZ4A (Evolution X, Japan) | RS | 4B11 turbo, 300 PS (Oct 2008) | Five-speed manual only; fitted with ACD only. A rear-spoiler-delete option is listed. |
| CZ4A (Evolution X Final Edition, Japan) | Final Edition (2015) | 4B11 turbo, 313 PS | Limited to 1,000 cars; based on the GSR five-speed manual. |
Gallery
Drivetrain
Editorial
Decide which Evolution you are looking at before anything else. The six codes cover ten Evolutions with different outputs, gearboxes and equipment, and the grade (GSR, RS, GT, GSR-Premium or an MR version) matters as much as the code. Use the generation page for the code you are considering, such as CT9A for the Evolution VII to IX.
Treat production figures with caution. Mitsubishi's press history lists sales targets, not build totals, and several sources disagree. Check any recall that applies to the frame number, such as Japan's airbag recall for GH-CT9A cars or the manual-clutch recall for CZ4A cars.
For import, work from each car's manufacture date and check EPA's engine rule for the US. State registration is a separate step.
FAQ
Citations
Sources last verified: