Lancer Evolution

The Evo I

The first Lancer Evolution went on sale in Japan in late 1992, built so Mitsubishi could homologate a smaller, lighter rally car than the Galant VR-4 for Group A, which asked for 2,500 road cars in a year. The CD9A is a four-door Lancer saloon carrying the Galant's drivetrain: the 2.0-litre 4G63 turbo at 250 PS and 309 Nm, a close-ratio five-speed manual, and full-time four-wheel drive through a viscous centre differential.

There were two grades. The GSR has a viscous limited-slip rear differential, which no later Evo used, and the RS is the stripped competition car, about 70 kg lighter, with steel wheels, wind-up windows and a mechanical rear LSD. The first 2,500 sold out almost at once, and more were built to meet demand.

What Evo I owners upgrade

Most Evo I spending is under the bonnet. Bee R rev limiters lead the electronics, and in the engine owners fit stroker kits, valvetrain parts, pulleys and fresh timing belts. Breathing comes next: pod filters and replacement elements on the intake, full exhaust systems, and blow-off valves for the turbo.

Bucket seats bring seat rails into the interior, and a 4G63 making more than its factory 250 PS soon needs a stronger clutch kit. HKS, Tomei, APEXi, OS Giken, Fujitsubo and Bride are among the names Evo I owners choose.

Genuine parts

Mitsubishi saved weight on the Evo I by leaving out the body's vibration-damping undercoat, so rust at the rear arches, pinch welds and floor seams is the first thing to check on a car this old. Under the bonnet, the 4G63's balance shaft belt is its own small belt beside the cambelt, and a failed one can take the cambelt with it on an engine whose valves meet its pistons, so both belts and the tensioner are best changed together.

Belts, seals and the GSR's own parts are in our genuine Mitsubishi parts catalogue.

Wheels

The Evo I has four studs on a 114.3 mm PCD, like the Evo II and III, with M12 x 1.5 nuts, and came on 15x6 +46 wheels. See wheels that fit the Evo I.