The Mitsubishi FTO is a front-engined, front-wheel drive sport compact car produced by Mitsubishi Motors between 1994 and 2000. Originally planned exclusively for the Japanese domestic market, its popularity as a grey market import to the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand led to eventual limited distribution through Mitsubishi's official dealers in those regions at the tail-end of production. Upon its debut it won the Car of the Year Japan award for 1994–1995, commemorated by a Limited Edition of the FTO GPX model.
FTO stands for "Fresh Touring Origination".Fact & Figures 2000 , Mitsubishi Motors website The name recalls the Galant FTO coupé of 1971, one of the company's first sports cars.
Backstory: The Galant FTO (January 1971-1975)
Prior to the arrival of the 1994 front-wheel drive FTO, which inherited the "FTO" tag, was the Mitsubishi Galant Coupé FTO. A rear-wheel-drive coupe produced by Japanese automaker Mitsubishi Motors from November 1971 to March 1975. "FTO" was meant to stand for Fresco Turismo Omologato, in a fine example of Japanese Italian (or "Fresh Touring Homologated" in English). This compact Coupé FTO can effectively be seen as a replacement for the earlier Mitsubishi Colt 11-F Super Sports.
The Galant FTO was first introduced with an 86 or 95 PS (63 or 70 kW) 1378 cc 4G41 "Neptune" engine, until it was replaced via a redesign in February 1973 by a brace of 1597 cc 4G32 "Saturn" power plants - offering either 100 PS (74 kW), or 110 PS (81 kW), depending on the state of tune. There was also a 1439 cc Saturn engine, offering 92 PS (68 kW). In October 1973 there was a minor facelift and the lineup was restricted to four versions, with the EL, the GS and the four-speed SL versions cancelled. Production gradually came to an end in August 1975, after the introduction in March that year of the more staid Lancer Celeste.
The New FTO Models In 1994, a whole new FTO coupé concept was created. The only body style was a 2-door coupé, and all FTOs were front wheel drive. Either an inline-four or a transversely mounted V6 engine was available, mated to either a five-speed manual or the INVECS-II automatic transmission. Earlier (pre-facelift) auto models had a four-speed version, whilst most facelift [1997-2000] auto versions had a five-speed. The most recognizable exterior styling change during 1997 was, in simple terms, to the front bumper - which went from two air intakes to a single deeper intake, restyled front lip and indicator/fog lighting arrangement. On the pre-facelift models there exists a minor difference in the lower intake - on some earlier models there are two blanking plates on either side, thus reducing the size of the aperture. (These can be seen, either side of the number plate, in the image of the yellow GPX Limited Edition below).
By 2000, in the MMC Company Report, the now phased out FTO was simply described as "the little brother of the GTO, this sports coupe gives full expression to MMC's fun-to-drive philosophy with well-balanced proportions wrapped in dynamic and aggressive styling..." Regarding the FTO acronym, the "Series Name Derivations" section of the Report describes the model as "FTO - Fresh Touring Origination: a touring model overflowing with freshness, youthfulness and originality".
October 1994–February 1997 (Pre-Facelift) The inline-engined GS was the base model in the FTO range, with 14-inch wheels and automatic climate control. The rear spoiler was only an Option to the Original Equipment on both the GS and the GR. The larger-engined V6 GR also had auto-air conditioning and 15-inch wheels. Completing the range was the V6 MIVEC-engined GPX with 16-inch alloy wheels, sporting a rear spoiler and side air dams as standard. All three of these models gained various refinements prior to the introduction of the facelift versions and many models were purchased fitted with a number of original options that were available, such as ABS, traction control and a passenger air bag.
Prior to the introduction of the facelift models a Mivec GP model was introduced in 1996, together with a later "semi-race spec" Nakaya-Tune dealer package. The "GP Special" (Denoted by the suffix '2' to the initial GP Model Code), with 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic, was also promoted by dealership as a GP versionR introduction, although yet to gain the later GPvR body styling details, such as Facelift front and Aero Spoiler.
The first appearance of the Mitsubishi-designed INVECS-II automatic "tiptronic-style" transmission, based upon similar Porsche technology,INVECS#INVECS-II was at the launch of this FTO model range. The auto models are, therefore, sometimes referred to as "Tip" or "Tiptronic" FTOs. Driven manually, the box "learns" the driver's style for when motoring in auto mode. The four-speed and five-speed automatic gearboxes use different gear ratios and top speeds differ accordingly.
Model name Model code Engine Peak power GS DE2A HNUE (5-sp. M/T)DE2A HRUE (4-sp. A/T) 1834 cc SOHC 16 valve I4 at 6000 rpm GR DE3A HNHM (5-sp. M/T)DE3A HRHM (4-sp. A/T) 1998 cc DOHC 24 valve V6 at 7000 rpm GR Limited Edition (1995) DE3A HNHM3 (5-sp. M/T)DE3A HRHM3 (4-sp. A/T) GR Sports Package DE3A HNHM4 (5-sp. M/T)DE3A HRHM4 (4-sp. A/T) GPX DE3A HNGH (5-sp. M/T)DE3A HRGH (4-sp. A/T) 1998 cc DOHC MIVEC 24 valve V6 at 7500 rpm GPX Limited Edition "COTY" (1995) DE3A HNGH2 (5-sp. M/T)DE3A HRGH2 (4-sp. A/T) GP (Feb 1996) DE3A HNFH (5-sp. M/T)DE3A HRFH (4-sp. A/T) GP Special (1996–97) DE3A HNFH2 (5-sp. M/T)DE3A HRFH2 (4-sp. A/T) The power plant of each model can be quickly identified in the engine bay, with the oil cap on the right of the engine cover for the 2.0 DOHC V6 and on the left for the 1.8 SOHC and 2.0 DOHC MIVEC V6. On MIVEC-engined models the front brake calipers are larger, with twin-piston operation, compared to the single-piston units of the other models. The rear single-piston calipers are common across the range. (Some owners may have updated the rear units with those of the larger piston, used on the Evo I/II/III and/or the front units with the larger calipers as used on the GTO + another popular brake mod is using EVO4 front caliper brackets on a GPX with the standard caliper coupled with 294mm EVO4 Discs)
GPX Limited Edition & GR 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. The LSD units are manual, code: F5M42-2-V7A2 & auto, code: F4A42-1-W7A5. Only 207 GPX Limited Edition models were produced during April 1995, 20 manuals and 187 autos.Production Figures , completefto.com.au It is usually referred to, via Car Of The Year acronym, as the FTO "COTY".
Between April and September 1995 a GR Limited Edition was also produced, following up on the kudos of the COTY award win and to satisfy this lower tier sector of the FTO v6 market. The GR LE was only available in Pyrenees Black, Passion Red or Steel Silver.
Nakaya-Tune FTO Package The Nakaya-Tune was a limited edition pre-facelift FTO dealership package, introduced prior to the "facelift" FTO launch. This branded tuning package related to Akihiko Nakaya, one of the MCC's racing personalities and driver of a Taeivon Trampio FTO in the All-Japan Grand Touring Car Championship in 1998–1999.
Advertising material of the time (a single-sided full-color leaflet) shows it to be available for the V6-engined GPX, GP and GR models and limited to 300 units. This option package provided: a Purofu brand stainless steel sports silencer, upgraded brake pads, a carbon fibre lip spoiler and upgraded suspension with Öhlins shock absorbers. The suspension ride height is lowered by . As an after-market dealer option item, no chassis reference can be given for the three specific models for which it was available. Thus, how many were actually fitted "at point-of-sale" is therefore unclear and may only be evidenced within the dealership sale document of the time.
February 1997–July 2000 (Facelift Models)
In February 1997, the FTO model range was given a facelift with a new front bumper arrangement, usually referred to by FTO enthusiasts as "facelift" models. The original two air intakes became one large single intake, blended into a full-width forward-facing front splitter. The two supplementary fog and indicator paired units became four separate circular lights, each recessed into the new bumper. The headlamp internals were also changed to incorporate the vehicle's sidelights, but their external design remained. An HID Option was also made available (which was fitted into a deeper headlamp housing than the halogen).
The rear spoiler also underwent a redesign to an aero wing [aka 'B-wing'], which was phased in during 1997 as standard equipment on some models, such as the GP Version R. After its late introduction in the pre-facelift era, the now facelifted GP was given a full styling make-over with a "Version R" tag - heralding a further external styling feature with this new large spoiler (also fitted as standard on both the later Aero Series GPvR and GX models, or as an OE option for other extant models).
The GP Version R model was produced in Scotia White, Passion Red or Pyrenées Black only. It featured HID headlamps; Black rear seats, with color-coded "FTO" monogrammed front seats - Blue/with Scotia White body color, Black/with Passion Red body color or Red/with Pyrenées Black body color; uprated suspension - 20 mm front anti roll bar instead of 17 mm and a 20 mm rear anti roll bar rather than 18 mm; limited-slip differential and the redesigned rear aero spoiler. A "Version R" decal also features on the two spoiler side wings and on the nearside of the front lip. As this model was lightweight, items such as side skirts, front fog lights, climate control, electric folding mirrors and sound insulation were left out. The later VersionR Aero and GX Sports Package Aero models feature an "Aero Series" decal on the offside rear of the boot lid.
A further refinement to the facelift range was via the two GX models, with a 3 mm wider bore in the throttle body (increased from 60 mm to 63 mm and mated to the plenum bore), helping to provide the additional 10 PS over the earlier GR model engine. Whilst the GR model continued to offer only 4-speed auto and 5-speed manual into the "facelift" era, the GX Sport and GX Sport Aero upgrade came either as 5-speed manual or 5-speed automatic. On the GS and GR models aircon operation became manual from Feb 1997.
The LSD option, found standard on the pre-facelift GPX Limited Edition, was a viscous type. However, by 1997 this option for the facelift models, found standard on the GP Version R, was similar to that of a Torsen type.
Model name Model code (VIN) Engine Peak power GS (Feb 1997) GF-DE2A HNUE (5-sp. M/T)GF-DE2A HRUE (4-sp. A/T) 1834 cc SOHC 16 valve inline-four at 6000 rpm GR (Feb 1997) GF-DE3A HNHM (5-sp. M/T)GF-DE3A HRHM (4-sp. A/T) 1998 cc DOHC 24 valve V6 at 7000 rpm GPX (Feb 1997) DE3A HNGH (5-sp. M/T)DE3A HYGH (5-sp. A/T) 1998 cc DOHC MIVEC 24 valve V6 at 7500 rpm GX Sports Package (Feb 1997) DE3A HNXM (5-sp. M/T)DE3A HYXM (5-sp. A/T) 1998 cc DOHC 24 valve V6 at 7000 rpm GX Sports Package Aero Series (Nov 1997) DE3A HNXM4 (5-sp. M/T)DE3A HYXM4 (5-sp. A/T) GP Version R (Feb 1997) DE3A HNFH3 (5-sp. M/T)DE3A HYFH3 (5-sp. A/T) 1998 cc DOHC MIVEC 24 valve V6 at 7500 rpm GP Version R Aero Series (Nov 1997) DE3A HNFH4 (5-sp. M/T)DE3A HYFH4 (5-sp. A/T)
End of production