Performance Review: Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IV RS - [1996]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Mitsubishi Lancer Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IV RS is the 5 speed / Manual version and was first brought out in 1996. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 1997 TVR Speed 12 7.7L V12 and the 1996 Ferrari F50 GT1 4.7l V12.This particular Mitsubishi Lancer has a 1997cc Turbo Petrol powerplant with 4 cylinders in a St formation.

Alternative Petrol St4's includes the 2019 Ariel Atom 4 2.0 Turbo

The Lancer shares its Petrol St4 engine configuration with the likes of the 2019 Ariel Atom 4 2.0 Turbo and the 2013 Caterham 7 620 R 2.0 L Supercharged. If you're looking for other fast cars which share the Lancer's All Wheel Drive, Saloon combination then how about the or the .

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 1260 kgs (2777 lbs) this makes the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IV RS in the same weight category as the 2023 McLaren 750S 4.0 V8 Twin Turbo or the give or take 50kg.

The Mitsubishi Lancer shares the same bhp with the 2023 Toyota Corolla GR Morizo Edition 1.6 Turbo (300 bhp)

In terms of power the 1997cc 16V St4 engine produces 276 bhp (205 kW) @ 6500 rpm similar to the 2023 Toyota Corolla GR Morizo Edition 1.6 Turbo (300 bhp) or the 2023 Porsche Cayenne Coupe E-Hybrid 3.0 V6 Turbo (300 bhp).

The Turbo St4 throws out 260 lb-ft (352.5 Nm) @ 3000 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2023 Toyota Corolla GR Circuit Edition 1.6 Turbo (273 lb-ft) or the 2022 Toyota Corolla GR 1.6 Turbo (273 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If one combines the weight with power or torque performance for the Mitsubishi Lancer you can get a better idea of it's real world performance.

The 2019 Audi A4 RS4 Avant 2.9 V6 Turbo (243.9 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Mitsubishi Lancer.

The Mitsubishi Lancer has a Power to weight ratio of 219.0 bhp per ton and 206.3 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 1996 Lancer competing with the 2019 Audi A4 RS4 Avant 2.9 V6 Turbo (243.9 bhp per ton) or the 2014 Porsche Cayman GTS PDK 3.4L (243.6 bhp per ton).

Power to Weight(cont.):

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance, Torque. Use weight as well and you end up with - Torque per ton, with the Mitsubishi Lancer generating around 206.3 lb-ft per ton. If you're curious as to what other cars have as much torque to weight then look no further than the 2001 Pontiac Firebird Formula W96 Ram Air (231.0 lb-ft per ton) or the 2010 Ford Focus RS500 (230.9 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 4.30 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 4.4 secs, this made the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IV RS as fast as the 2023 Lotus Eletre 603 bhp (4.30 secs) the 2023 Lotus Emira First Edition i4 2.0 Turbo (4.30 secs) the 2022 Lotus Eletre S 603 bhp (4.30 secs) the or the 2022 Porsche 911 Carrera T 3.0 Turbo 992 (4.30 secs). This Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IV RS is also faster than the 2023 Porsche Cayenne S 4.0 V8 Turbo (4.40 secs) the 2023 Porsche Cayenne Coupe S 4.0 V8 Turbo (4.40 secs) the 2020 Bentley Bentayga 4.0 V8 Turbo (4.40 secs) the and the 2020 Maserati Quattroporte Trofeo 3.8 V8 Twin Turbo (4.40 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the Lancer and the 1966 Ferrari 330 GTC

When talking about the performance of the Mitsubishi Lancer on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 13.1 secs @ 104.4 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 1966 Ferrari 330 GTC (13.04 secs), the 1993 Toyota Supra 3.0 Twin Turbo (13.05 secs), and the 1970 Ford Torino 2nd Gen GT 429 4V Cobra Jet V-8 4-speed (13.05 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 1996 version of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IV RS has a maximum speed of 147mph.

Top Speed of the 1996 Lancer equals the 2023 Porsche Cayenne Coupe E-Hybrid 3.0 V6 Turbo (158 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 1996 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IV RS then how about the 2023 Porsche Cayenne Coupe E-Hybrid 3.0 V6 Turbo (158 mph), the 2023 Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid 3.0 V6 Turbo (158 mph), or the 2020 Maserati Ghibli GranSport Petrol Hybrid (158 mph).

Related Links:

1996 Lancer Rivals List.

A Brief History of Mitsubishi

Car Comparison