Mitsubishi FTO

GPX Limited Edition. In commemoration of its win at the Car of the Year Japan awards in 1994, Mitsubishi produced a Limited Edition of their GPX model. This model was finished in a unique dandelion yellow paint scheme with "'94–95 Japan Car of the Year" emblems on the car's c-pillar. It was also installed with a rear screen wash/wiper and limited slip differential as standard. 207 GPX Limited Edition models were produced during April 1995, 20 manuals and 187 autos. The Nakaya-Tune FTO was a limited edition pre-facelift model and was the only model that was capable of producing 147kW at then flywheel, translating to 130kW at the front wheels. This model was introduced in early 1997, and only 300 cars were sold and ever made. The car was tuned by Akihiko Nakaya, driver of an FTO in the All-Japan Grand Touring Car Championship in 1998–1999. The main differences over the standard model are a sports silencer, upgraded brake pads, carbon fibre lip spoiler, and upgraded suspension with Öhlins shock absorbers.

October 1994–August 1997[edit]

GPX Limited Edition. In commemoration of its win at the Car of the Year Japan awards in 1994, Mitsubishi produced a Limited Edition of their GPX model. This model was finished in a unique dandelion yellow paint scheme with "'94–95 Japan Car of the Year" emblems on the car's c-pillar. It was also installed with a rear screen wash/wiper and limited slip differential as standard. 207 GPX Limited Edition models were produced during April 1995, 20 manuals and 187 autos.^[5][6]

The Nakaya-Tune FTO was a limited edition pre-facelift model and was the only model that was capable of producing 147kW at then flywheel, translating to 130kW at the front wheels. This model was introduced in early 1997, and only 300 cars were sold and ever made. The car was tuned by Akihiko Nakaya, driver of an FTO in the All-Japan Grand Touring Car Championship in 1998–1999. The main differences over the standard model are a sports silencer, upgraded brake pads, carbon fibre lip spoiler, and upgraded suspension with Öhlins shock absorbers.^[5]

August 1997–July 2001 (Facelift Models)

GP Version R interior with distinctive blue seats. This interior also shows the 3-spoke MoMo airbag wheel & manual climate control.

Cars built after August 1997 are regarded as facelift models, although the only exterior change was to the front bumper, which gained a larger air intake, deeper front splitter and restyled housings for the supplementary lights. The headlamps were also changed to incorporate the vehicles side lights.^[7]

The facelift also brought the GP Version R. This model was produced in Scotia White, Passion Red or Pyrenees Black only. It featured HID headlamps; color-coded front seats - blue (with white body color), black (with red body color) or red (with black body color); uprated suspension - 20mm front anti roll bar instead of 17mm and 20mm rear anti roll bar instead of 18mm; limited slip differential and a redesigned rear 'Aero' spoiler, in addition to the GPX specification. As this model was light weight, items such as side skirts, front fog lights, climate control, electric folding mirrors and sound insulation were left out.

An experimental electric version of the FTO was produced (called the FTOEV), utilizing high-performance lithium-ion batteries, and set a record when it covered 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) in 24 hours in December 1999.^[8][9]

Pre-facelift vs Facelift. In respect of FTO ownership, there is some division in preference for the styling of the front bumper - either Pre-facelift, or Facelift. Interchanging these units is a relatively simple matter and, as the latter version models have become write-offs over the years, there are many pre-facelift models now on the road that are sporting newer facelift bumpers. Future purchasers of an FTO should be aware of this. A simple check of the VIN Plate details, or the period of manufacture to be found on the seat-belt tags, should resolve any uncertainty as to the origin of the model-build.