1992 Evolution I

Flush with success from its Galant VR-4 and hungry for WRC victory, Mitsubishi determined in 1990 that further success would require a new platform. To that end, Mitsubishi engineers started with VR-4’s proven drivetrain and shoehorned it into the lighter, smaller Lancer chassis and the Evolution I was born.
However, competition in WRC’s Group A required the homologation of 2,500 production models. No problem. Offered in GSR and RS flavors, 5,000 EVO Is were snapped up between September 1992 and December 1993. Mitsubishi’s intent behind the lightweight RS model was to provide a good starting point for building a club-level rally car.

The Evolution I was introduced in 1992 to compete in the World Rally Championship. It used the 2.0 L turbocharged DOHC engine and 4WD drivetrain from the original Galant VR-4 in a Lancer chassis, and was sold in GSR and RS models. The latter was a stripped-down club racing version that lacked power windows and seats, anti-lock brakes, a rear wiper, and had steel wheels to save approximately 155 lb (70 kg) less than the 2730 lb (1238 kg) GSR, while the former came with all of the conveniences of a typical street car. It came with Mitsubishi’s 4G63 engine producing 247 PS (244 hp/182 kW) at 6000 rpm and 228 ft•lbf (309 N•m) at 3000 rpm, along with all wheel drive which would become a trademark on all Evo models. 5,000 Evo Is were sold between 1992 and 1993. Evo I was using the CD9A frame.

Engine All Aluminum, 4G63 Inline-4
Position Front Transverse
Valvetrain DOHC, 4 Valves per Cyl
Displacement 1997 cc / 121.9 cu in
Bore 3.35 in
Stroke 3.46 in
Compression 8.8:1
Power 186.4 kw / 250 bhp
Hp per litre 125.19 bhp per litre
Bhp/weight 201.61 bhp per weight
Torque 228 ft lbs @ 3000 rpm
Drive wheels Front Engine / 4WD
Front tire size 195/55R15
Rear tire size 195/55R15
Weight 2734 lbs
Wheelbase 98.4 in
Front track 57.1 in
Rear track 57.1 in
Length 169.7 in
Width 66.7 in
Height 54.9 in
Production 5000