Rare Car Archive

Makes › Mitsubishi Japan › Lancer Evolution › Lancer Evolution (I) (CD9A) · Factory competition · 1992–1994 Limited Production

Mitsubishi
Lancer Evolution (I) (CD9A)

First Lancer Evolution, the Group A/N homologation saloon; planned as a 2,500-car run, it ended at 7,528 sold.

IDENTIFICATION CARD · MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION (I) (CD9A) 1992–1994
No licensed photograph yet. Photographs are published only when their licence permits it.
7,528BuiltIndependently researched
0Chassis documentedin this archive
?SurvivingNot yet verified
Contents
  1. 01Overview
  2. 02Production & history
  3. 03Specifications
  4. 04Colours & options
  5. 05Individual cars
  6. 06Reference

01Overview

At a glance

Built
7,528 Built
Years
1992–1994
Engine
Inline-4 · 1,997 cc / 2.0 LFactory: 1,997 cc
Power
184 kW / 250 PSFactory: 250 PS
Top speed
Not yet verified
Body
Not yet verified
Designer
Not yet verified
In this archive
Not yet verified
Surviving
Not yet verified

Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.

Why it matters

The first Lancer Evolution put the Galant VR-4 turbo four-wheel-drive drivetrain into the compact Lancer to homologate a new Group A rally car, starting a ten-generation line. Its initial 2,500-car homologation batch sold out within days, and total sales reached 7,528.

How rare is it?

Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.

Model rarityLimited Production 7,528 · Built1
Specification rarityNot yet assessed
Colour rarityNot yet assessed
Individual rarityNot yet assessed
Historical rarityNot yet assessed
Survival rarityNot yet assessed

Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.

02Production & history

Production

Every figure says what it counts.

What is countedFigureBasisStatus
Total model productionEvolution I cars sold (Japan) 7,5281 Factory production Independently researched

Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.

History

Mitsubishi launched the Lancer Evolution in Japan in 1992 with a 250 PS turbocharged 2.0-litre engine, offered as the GSR and a stripped RS competition base. Demand exceeded the 2,500 cars needed for homologation, and Best Car records 7,528 sold before the Evolution II replaced it.

The rally version debuted at the 1993 Monte Carlo Rally, where Kenneth Eriksson finished fourth, and Eriksson went on to finish second on the RAC Rally that year.

Variants

How each version differs from the standard Lancer Evolution (I) (CD9A).

No variants documented yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

03Specifications

Technical specifications

Engine

Engine familyNot yet verified
Engine code4G632
LayoutInline-43 Independently researched
Cylinders43 Independently researched
Displacement 1,997 cc / 2.0 LFactory: 1,997 cc4 Independently researched
Bore 85.1 mmFactory: 3.35 in · converted4 Independently researched
Stroke 87.9 mmFactory: 3.46 in · converted4 Independently researched
Compression ratioNot yet verified
ValvetrainDOHC4 Independently researched
Fuel systemNot yet verified
Inductionturbocharged5
Power 184 kW / 250 PSFactory: 250 PS5,6
Power atNot yet verified
Torque 309 Nm / 31.5 kgmFactory: 31.5 kgm6 Independently researched

Transmission & drivetrain

GearboxManual3 Independently researched
Gears53 Independently researched
Driven wheelsfour-wheel drive (from Galant VR-4)5

Chassis, body & dimensions

ChassisNot yet verified
Front suspensionNot yet verified
Rear suspensionNot yet verified
BrakesNot yet verified
SteeringNot yet verified
Body constructionNot yet verified
Wheelbase 2,500 mmFactory: 98.4 in · converted4 Independently researched
Length 4,310 mmFactory: 169.7 in · converted4 Independently researched
Width 1,690 mmFactory: 66.7 in · converted4 Independently researched
Height 1,390 mmFactory: 54.9 in · converted4 Independently researched
Front track 1,450 mmFactory: 57.1 in · converted4 Independently researched
Rear track 1,450 mmFactory: 57.1 in · converted4 Independently researched
Kerb weight 1,240 kgFactory: 2,734 lb · converted4 Independently researchedSingle secondary source; GSR weight text gives 2730 lb (1238 kg).
Dry weightNot yet verified

Performance

Maximum speedNot yet verified
0–100 km/hNot yet verified
Fuel tankNot yet verified

“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.

04Colours & options

Factory colours & interiors

Original paint and trim, with the number of cars in each where a source gives it.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Factory options & codes

Codes are shown exactly as written by the manufacturer.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

05Individual cars

Chassis register

Every documented car, with its colours, history and where it is now. Open a row for the full record. Known chassis are not automatically authenticated originals.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Competition history

Every race result of the individual cars, in date order. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Auction & sale history

Documented public sales of the individual cars. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

See one in person

Museums where an example of this car can be seen.

No example is documented on public display yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

06Reference

Identification guide

How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.

Evolution I cars carry the CD9A chassis code and the 4G63 turbocharged 2.0-litre engine; the later Evolution II and III use the CE9A code. The RS was the stripped competition base and the GSR the road-equipped version.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

  1. 1
    Best Car archives 2014 (bestcarweb.jp) Level C
    • 7528 Evolution I cars sold (Japan)
    Accessed 2026-11-12
  2. 2
    World Rally Championship – 1993 Level A Mitsubishi Motors Corporation
    • 4G63 4-cylinder DOHC turbo
    Accessed 2026-11-12
  3. 3
    You Can Finally Buy a First-Gen Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution in the US Level C Road & Track · 2018-02-09
    • 2.0-liter 4G63T turbocharged four-cylinder
    • turbocharged four-cylinder
    • five-speed manual transmission
    Accessed 2026-11-13
  4. 4
    Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution history Level D TopSpeed
    • Displacement 1997 cc / 121.9 cu in
    • Bore 3.35 in
    • Stroke 3.46 in
    • 2.0 L turbocharged DOHC engine
    • Wheelbase 98.4 in
    • Length 169.7 in
    • Width 66.7 in
    • Height 54.9 in
    • Front track 57.1 in
    • Rear track 57.1 in
    • Weight 2734 lbs
    Accessed 2026-11-13
  5. 5
    Car History Level A Mitsubishi Motors Corporation
    • 2000ccTurbo
    • produce 250 PS
    • Galant VR-4 named as source of the drivetrain
    Accessed 2026-11-12
  6. 6

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