Evo IV

The Lancer platform was completely changed in 1996, and along with it the Evo, which had become extremely popular throughout the world. The engine and transaxle was rotated 180° to better balance the weight and eliminate torque steer. There were 2 versions available, The RS and GSR. The RS version was produced as a competition car with a limited-slip front differential and a friction type LSD at the rear. It also came with GLX seats and 16" steel wheels as these were items that would be replaced by anyone entering the car into competition events. The RS also had wind up windows, no air conditioning-just heater, and a few extra brace bars to strengthen the chassis, one behind the front grill and the other across the boot floor. The RS also had factory thinner body panels and thinner glass! The GSR and the RS shared a new twin scroll turbocharger which helped to increase power to 280 PS (276 hp/206 kW) at 6500 rpm and 260 ft·lbf (352 Nm) of torque at 3000 rpm. Mitsubishi’s new Active YAW control appeared as a factory option on the GSR model, which used steering, throttle input sensors and G sensors to computer-hydraulically controlled torque split individually to the rear wheels and as a result the 10,000 Evo IVs produced all sold quickly. The Evo IV can be distinguished by its two large foglights on the front bumper, and the newly designed tail lights on the rear, which became a standard design to Evo VI, which would become yet another trademark of the Evolution series. This new generation was slightly heavier than previous Evos - the GSR in particular due to the added technology systems- but to counter this the car produced even more power - the Weight of the RS being 2750 lbs and the GSR being 2976 lbs. This was the only model year to use the CN9A as its frame.


Fourth generation
Production: August 1996 - January 1998
Engine: 4G63 Inline 4
Position: Front Transverse
Aspiration: Turbocharger
Valvetrain: DOHC 4-Valves / Cyl
Fuel feed: Electronic Fuel Injection
Displacement: 121.9 cu in
Bore: 3.35 in
Stroke: 3.46 in
Compression: 8.8:1
Power: 208.8 kw / 276.0 bhp @ 6500 rpm
Hp per litre: 140.21 bhp per litre
Bhp/weight: 207.41 bhp per weight
Torque: 261 ft lbs @ 3000 rpm
Drive wheels: 4WD
Front brakes: Vented Discs 4-Pot Calipers, ABS
Rear brakes: Vented Discs Twin-Pot Calipers, ABS
Front tire size: 205/55R16
Rear tire size: 205/55R16
Steering Rack & Pinion Power Assist
F suspension: MacPherson Struts Coil Springs
R suspension: Multi-Link Coil Springs
Weight: 2976 lbs
Wheelbase: 98.8 in
Front track: 57.9 in
Rear track: 57.9 in
Length: 170.5 in
Width: 66.5 in
Height: 55.7 in
Transmission: 5-Speed Manual
Gear ratios: 2.785:1, 1.950:1, 1.407:1, 1.031:1, 0.761:1
Final drive: 4.529:1
Top speed: 180.2 kph / 112.0 mph
0 - 60 mph: 5.5 seconds
Production: 12000