Chassis Code Explained
| Segment | Meaning | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| C | Body platform | C-segment compact (Lancer) |
| E | AWD code | Updated AWC center diff + LSD package |
| 9 | Body generation | 9th-generation Lancer (CB platform) |
| A | Variant | High-performance homologation spec |
CE9A covers both Evolution II (December 1993 to February 1995) and Evolution III (February 1995 to August 1996) — Mitsubishi did not change the chassis designation between the two model years. The shared chassis code is one reason Evo II/III pricing tracks closely on JDM auction sheets.
Key Takeaways
- Two cars share this chassis code: the Evolution II of January 1994 and the Evolution III of February 1995
- Engine output rose "by 10 PS to 260 PS", then "a further 10 PS to 270 PS"
- The rear LSD became a mechanical plate type "to improve turn-in when entering corners"
- The 1995 car's aero — bumper, airdams, rear spoiler and wickerbill — was a cooling and lift change, not styling
- Dandelion Yellow arrived here and "would become the Lancer Evolution trademark color"
- Never federalised for North America — a US car is a 25-year import, and rotted fuel systems and hidden underbody rust come first on the inspection list
Technical Specifications
Engine Options
| Chassis | Engine | Displacement | Power — JDM | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CE9A (Evo II) | 4G63T | 2.0L | 256 PS @ 6000rpm (estimated) | JDM quoted 256PS; torque rpm varies |
| CE9A (Evo III) | 4G63T | 2.0L | 270 PS @ 6250rpm (estimated) | JDM quoted 270PS; torque rpm varies |
Transmission Options
| Type | Ratios | Availability | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5-speed Manual | N/A (varies by gen/market) | Evo I-X (most trims) | Multiple gearsets across generations |
| 6-speed Manual | N/A (varies by gen/market) | Evo VIII/IX MR, some UK | MR-focused close ratio sets |
| INVECS-II 5-speed Automatic | N/A | Evo VII GT-A | Torque-converter automatic |
| TC-SST 6-speed Dual-clutch | N/A (varies by year) | Evo X MR (and some markets) | Twin-clutch with S-Sport modes |
This chassis became eligible for US import under the 25-year rule in 2018. Calculate import costs →
Variants & Trims
| Generation | Trim | Engine | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lancer Evolution II (CE9A, 1994-1995) | GSR | 4G63T 2.0L I4 Turbo | AWD, 5MT, improved cooling, Recaro, Momo |
| Lancer Evolution II (CE9A, 1994-1995) | RS | 4G63T 2.0L I4 Turbo | AWD, 5MT, lighter spec, steel wheels, limited options |
| Lancer Evolution III (CE9A, 1995-1996) | GSR | 4G63T 2.0L I4 Turbo | AWD, 5MT, larger turbo, Recaro, Momo, aero |
| Lancer Evolution III (CE9A, 1995-1996) | RS | 4G63T 2.0L I4 Turbo | AWD, 5MT, lighter spec, steel wheels, minimal trim |
Should You Buy a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution CE9A?
Why You'll Love It
- The chassis changes that made the Evo turn The January 1994 car replaced the rear LSD with "a mechanical plate type to improve turn-in when entering corners", and "a longer wheelbase and wider track realized better stability".
- Two clear power steps in one chassis code "A reduction in silencer back pressure, a higher turbo boost pressure and changes to valve lift raised the maximum output of the 2.0 L intercooled turbo engine by 10 PS to 260 PS"; the 1995 car then went "a further 10 PS to 270 PS" through exhaust and compression changes.
- Aero that does a job The February 1995 car's "redesigned front bumper, front side and rear airdams, as well as rear spoiler and wickerbill" exist for cooling and lift: "The front bumper expanded openings to deliver a significant improvement in cooling engine", and "the airdams gave ducts at either ends for improved brake and transfer case cooling."
- Factory anti-lag hardware Japanese Nostalgic Car records that the 1995 car introduced "Post Combustion Control System (PCCS), an anti-lag system via a secondary air supply that fed oxygen directly into the exhaust to keep the turbo spinning" — fitted to the road cars but disabled from the factory.
Why You Might Not
- No North American market car Mitsubishi "only federalized the later Evo VIII for North America", so this generation reaches the US only as an import.
- Low-mileage imports have been sitting Buyers "are always looking for low mile cars", and "that brings a whole other level of issues from the cars sitting. So many of the JDM imports have completely rotted fuel systems."
- Underbody coatings hide the rust "Lots of cars get a black coating over the entire undercarriage. You have no idea what will be under it. It could be preventative or be hiding everything."
- Scarce "These early Evos are extremely hard to come by today" — the supply problem is real, and it pushes buyers toward the first car they find.
Who Should NOT Buy This
- Buyers who cannot inspect on a lift first — "any rust visible in pictures or video will almost always be worse once the car is in your hands and up on an inspection lift"
- Buyers unwilling to budget a fuel-system refresh: "anyone that buys one should plan on installing a fresh fuel pump and filter", and "you need to drop the fuel tank to get to any of this"
- Buyers expecting a factory anti-lag car out of the box — the 1995 car's PCCS system "came disabled by the computer from the factory"
- Buyers who need a US-market car with dealer support: Mitsubishi "only federalized the later Evo VIII for North America"
Common Issues & Solutions
| Issue | Cause | Solution | Est. Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rotted fuel system on a low-mileage import | "So many of the JDM imports have completely rotted fuel systems" — the low-mileage cars that get exported are the ones that sat. | "Anyone that buys one should plan on installing a fresh fuel pump and filter." | Get a written estimate for pump, filter and a tank drop before you commit. |
| Fuel tanks and pump hangars are hard to source | "And gas tanks and fuel pump hangars are difficult to source." | Price parts availability before purchase rather than after the tank comes down. | Parts sourcing, not labour, is the constraint. |
| Underbody rust concealed by coating | "Lots of cars get a black coating over the entire undercarriage. You have no idea what will be under it." | Inspect on a lift and probe the coating rather than trusting photographs. | Budget an independent pre-purchase inspection on a lift. |
| PCCS assumed to be working | The 1995 car's anti-lag system "came disabled by the computer from the factory", so an owner claiming it is active is describing a modification. | Ask what was changed to enable it, and treat a Ralliart ECU and related work as a modification with its own history. | Ask for the paperwork behind any enablement work. |
Differences between JDM & USDM
CE9A is a Japanese-market homologation chassis with no US-market twin — Mitsubishi "only federalized the later Evo VIII for North America". The Evolution II was "introduced in January 1994" with the 2.0-litre intercooled turbo up "by 10 PS to 260 PS", a rear LSD "replaced by a mechanical plate type to improve turn-in when entering corners", and "OZ alloy road wheels shod with 205/60R15 tires". The Evolution III followed in February 1995, "tweaked to lift output a further 10 PS to 270 PS" and wearing the aero that made the shape famous, along with "a new eye-catching Dandelion Yellow body color" that "would become the Lancer Evolution trademark color". For a US buyer that means importing, and the two things Evo importers flag first are fuel and rust: "so many of the JDM imports have completely rotted fuel systems", and under a black undercarriage coating "you have no idea what will be under it". Eligibility runs on 49 CFR 591.5's condition that "the vehicle is 25 or more years old".
Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Critical Priority
High Priority
Medium Priority
Generation History
Evo II (CE9A) (1994-1995)
- Chassis/track widened; better cooling
- More power; sharper front end
- Still scarce; values tied to originality
Evo III (CE9A) (1995-1996)
- Big aero update; iconic front bumper
- Stronger midrange; improved turbo setup
- Top early-gen pick for drivers
Market Data
Production Numbers & Rarity
| Generation | Years | Total Built | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lancer Evolution II (CE9A) | 1994-1995 | 5,000 (estimated) | Commonly cited 5,000 |
| Lancer Evolution III (CE9A) | 1995-1996 | 7,000 (estimated) | Commonly cited 7,000 |
Comparable Alternatives
Subaru WRX STI GR/GV
Roomier hatch/sedan; DCCD; daily-friendly
Nissan 370Z
Modern RWD performance; simpler ownership; cheaper
The Buyer's Read
One chassis code, two cars. Mitsubishi "introduced" the Evolution II "in January 1994" and launched the Evolution III in February 1995, and both carry CE9A — so the first job when you view one is matching the car to the paperwork.
The 1994 car is the handling fix. "The rear LSD was replaced by a mechanical plate type to improve turn-in when entering corners. A longer wheelbase and wider track realized better stability." Wheels went up to "OZ alloy road wheels shod with 205/60R15 tires, uprated from the 195/55R15 used on its predecessor", the close-ratio gearbox got "lower first and second gear ratios", and exhaust, boost and valve-lift changes "raised the maximum output of the 2.0 L intercooled turbo engine by 10 PS to 260 PS".
The 1995 car is the one people picture. Its "redesigned front bumper, front side and rear airdams, as well as rear spoiler and wickerbill" were cooling and lift work rather than decoration, output went "a further 10 PS to 270 PS", and Dandelion Yellow arrived and "would become the Lancer Evolution trademark color". It also carried Mitsubishi's "Post Combustion Control System (PCCS), an anti-lag system via a secondary air supply that fed oxygen directly into the exhaust to keep the turbo spinning" — fitted to road cars, but it "came disabled by the computer from the factory", so treat a live system as a modification with a history you should ask about.
Buying one outside Japan means importing one: Mitsubishi "only federalized the later Evo VIII for North America". Inspect on a lift, because "any rust visible in pictures or video will almost always be worse once the car is in your hands and up on an inspection lift" and a black undercarriage coating means "you have no idea what will be under it". Budget the fuel system: "so many of the JDM imports have completely rotted fuel systems", "anyone that buys one should plan on installing a fresh fuel pump and filter", and "you need to drop the fuel tank to get to any of this". Eligibility itself is simple — 49 CFR 591.5 asks that "the vehicle is 25 or more years old" — and supply is not: "these early Evos are extremely hard to come by today".
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why do two different Evolutions share the CE9A code?
- Mitsubishi "introduced" the Evolution II "in January 1994" and "Launched in February 1995, the Lancer Evolution III" — successive homologation updates of the same car rather than a new platform, so both carry CE9A.
- How much power do they make?
- The 1994 car raised the 2.0-litre intercooled turbo "by 10 PS to 260 PS". The 1995 car was "tweaked to lift output a further 10 PS to 270 PS by reducing exhaust pressure, increasing the diameter of the exhaust front pipe and increasing the compression ratio from 8.5 to 9.0".
- What actually changed in the chassis for 1994?
- "The rear LSD was replaced by a mechanical plate type to improve turn-in when entering corners. A longer wheelbase and wider track realized better stability." Wheels went to "OZ alloy road wheels shod with 205/60R15 tires, uprated from the 195/55R15 used on its predecessor".
- Is the big 1995 wing just styling?
- No. The aero package was a cooling and lift change: "The front bumper expanded openings to deliver a significant improvement in cooling engine. The airdams gave ducts at either ends for improved brake and transfer case cooling."
- Did these cars really have factory anti-lag?
- The 1995 car introduced "Post Combustion Control System (PCCS), an anti-lag system via a secondary air supply that fed oxygen directly into the exhaust to keep the turbo spinning". It was fitted to road cars but "came disabled by the computer from the factory".
- Can I import one into the US?
- Both are now old enough for the 49 CFR 591.5 route, whose condition is that "the vehicle is 25 or more years old" — confirm the specific car's manufacture date and current requirements.
Sources & References
Sources (14)
- Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution — encyclopedic overview — Wikipedia Verified
- Mitsubishi Sirius / 4G6 engine family reference — Wikipedia Verified
- World Rally Championship — historical record — Wikipedia Verified
- Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI used car buying guide — Autocar Verified
- Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X owner reviews and common problems — Carbuyer Verified
- Lancer Evolution — dream-car ownership perspective — CarThrottle Verified
- Left-hand-drive Evo discussion thread — EvolutionM forum Verified
- Pros and cons of Evo ownership — community thread — EvoX Forums Moved View archived ↗
- Lancer Evolution common problems reference — Breakeryard Access blocked
- Evo X reliability discussion — r/mitsubishi subreddit Access blocked
- Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution — Hagerty valuation tool — Hagerty Access blocked
- Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution — auction results archive — Bring a Trailer Access blocked
- Mitsubishi Lancer Evo — model history and road tests — Evo Magazine Access blocked
- WRC — championship history and Mitsubishi Ralliart record — FIA World Rally Championship Access blocked
Sources last verified: