History Car 1990s

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution I–III

Overview Specs Highlights Characteristics

Overview

The first Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution (I) reached the WRC at the start of 1993. Group A rules required a homologated production-based platform, so Mitsubishi built its turbocharged 4G63 and four-wheel-drive rally systems around a more compact four-door Lancer rather than continue with the larger Galant VR-4.

The Evolution II (1994) revised handling, gearing and stability; the Evolution III (1995) made another step in aerodynamics, cooling and throttle response. Together they span Mitsubishi's transition from podium challenger to a drivers' championship contender.

Technical Specs & Innovations

  • Category: FIA Group A; 1993 Evolution I, 1994 Evolution II, 1995–96 Evolution III.
  • Engine family: Mitsubishi 4G63, transverse turbocharged inline-four, DOHC and 16 valves.
  • Displacement: 1,997 cc (85 mm bore × 88 mm stroke).
  • Road-car ratings: Evolution I 250 PS, Evolution II 260 PS, Evolution III 270 PS in Mitsubishi's production model history; these are not the works WRC engine ratings.
  • Works-engine context: Mitsubishi's contemporary Group A WRC sheets show about 295 PS for the early Evolution in 1993–94 and a different listed value of 270 PS in its 1996 Evolution III representative table. These are source-specific factory figures, not a blanket statement of power for all chassis.
  • Turbo and intake: Competition turbocharging and intercooling; the FIA restrictor dropped from 38 mm to 34 mm for 1995.
  • Evolution III anti-lag: Mitsubishi documents a secondary-air anti-lag system on the Group A Evo III to improve turbo response under the smaller intake restrictor.
  • Drivetrain: Permanent AWD; centre and axle differential development continued across the variants.
  • Evolution II differential change: Production Evolution II adopted a mechanical plate-type rear limited-slip differential in place of an earlier arrangement; competition active-differential development continued separately.
  • Gearbox: Competition manual gearboxes with event-specific ratios; road-model close-ratio gearing and clutch revisions documented for Evo II should not be presented as every works gearbox.
  • Suspension: Rally-calibrated independent suspension, with changes to track, wheelbase and spring/damper geometry. Mitsubishi specifically records major handling revisions mid-1993.
  • Body and dimensions: Four-door steel shell, typically 4,310 × 1,695 mm in Mitsubishi's early WRC technical tables.
  • 1993 rules: The turbo Group A minimum mass rose to 1,200 kg and the maximum air restrictor and tyre dimensions were reduced under the 1993 regulations.

Evolution-by-evolution: I (1993) established the smaller rally platform; II (1994) improved gearing, chassis and differential behaviour; III (1995) added larger cooling apertures, improved brake/transfer cooling, developed aerodynamic surfaces and anti-lag. Do not merge production ratings with rally output.

Category distinction: These remained Group A cars. The later 1997 WRC regulations did not retroactively turn them into World Rally Cars.

🏆 Competitive Highlights

  • 1993: Kenneth Eriksson and Staffan Parmander finished second on the RAC Rally in the original Evolution, while Armin Schwarz recorded a third place in Greece.
  • 1994: The Evolution II appeared at the Acropolis Rally; Armin Schwarz and Klaus Wicha finished second. Kenneth Eriksson also won the season-ending APRC Thailand Rally using a newly developed active differential.
  • 1995 Swedish Rally: Kenneth Eriksson and Staffan Parmander led an Evolution II 1–2, Mitsubishi's first Lancer Evolution overall WRC win.
  • 1995 Rally Australia: Eriksson and Parmander won in the Evolution III, the model's first WRC win after its debut earlier in the season.
  • 1996: Tommi Mäkinen and Seppo Harjanne won Sweden, Safari, Argentina, Finland and Australia in the Evolution III, giving Mäkinen the drivers' world title.
  • Manufacturers' title: Mitsubishi did not win the WRC manufacturers' championship with Evo I–III; its first came in 1998 with later Evolutions.

Driving Characteristics

Moving from the Galant to the shorter Lancer reduced the packaging burden for fast direction changes. Differential tuning, suspension geometry and, eventually, anti-lag mattered as much as peak engine output to keeping traction and acceleration consistent through varied corners and surfaces.

Mitsubishi's official histories describe significant mid-1993 chassis improvements, an Evolution II mechanical rear differential change and the Evo III anti-lag response to a tighter air restrictor. Those documented mechanisms explain how the cars evolved without assuming identical steering feel in every variant.

Development & legacy

The original Group A Lancers established the engineering template for the next three generations. The 1996 Evo III drivers' championship marked the start of Tommi Mäkinen's four consecutive titles, while Mitsubishi remained committed to production-based Group A technology.

Sources and specification notes

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