Mitsubishi FTO
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| Mitsubishi FTO | |
| Manufacturer: | Mitsubishi Motors<tr><th>Production:<td>1994–2000</tr><tr><th>Class:<td>Sports car</tr><tr><th>Body style:<td>2-door coupé</tr><tr><th>Engine:<td>4G93 1.8 L SOHC 16v I4 6A12 2.0 L DOHC 24v V6 6A12 2.0 L DOHC 24v MIVEC V6</tr><tr><th>Transmission:<td>5-speed manual 4-speed INVECS-II semi-auto 5-speed INVECS-II semi-auto</tr><tr><th>Wheelbase:<td>2500 mm</tr><tr><th>Length:<td>4365 mm</tr><tr><th>Width:<td>1735 mm</tr><tr><th>Height:<td>1300 mm</tr><tr><th>Curb weight:<td>1100–1210 kg</tr><tr><th>Fuel capacity:<td>60 L</tr><tr><th>Similar:<td>Mitsubishi Eclipse </tr> |
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The Mitsubishi FTO, short for Fresh Touring Origination, was a car produced by Mitsubishi Motors for the Japanese domestic market from 1994 to 2000. Announced in October 1994, the car was only made at the Mizushima plant and sold in Japan, though the tide of grey-market imports to the UK and Australia led to some limited distribution through Mitsubishi dealers in those countries.
In the Mitsubishi context, the name FTO harkens back to the Galant Coupe FTO model of the early 1970s, a smaller companion car to the larger Galant GTO.
Production of both the FTO and GTO/3000GT ended in the summer of 2000, when Mitsubishi decided not to modify either car to improve their performance on side-crash tests.
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[edit] Models
All FTOs were front wheel drive, with either a straight-4 or a transversely mounted V6 engine. The only body style was a 2-door coupe. The front bumper was changed in 1997, but the rest of the body remained the same.
An electric version, the FTO-EV, was produced by Mitsubishi Motors in 1998 as an experimental vehicle. The car utilised high-performance lithium-ion battery power and set a multiple-charge 24-hour distance world record.
[edit] October 1994 - August 1997
GS - 1800 cc 4 cylinder SOHC 16 valves producing 125 bhp at 6,000 rpm
GR - 2000 cc V6 DOHC 24 Valve Multi Point Injection producing 170 bhp at 7000 rpm
GR Sports Package - 2000 cc V6 DOHC 24 Valve Multi Point Injection producing 170 bhp at 7000 rpm
GP (1996-7) - 2000 cc V6 DOHC 24 Valve MIVEC producing 200 bhp at 7500 rpm
GPX - 2000 cc V6 DOHC 24 Valve MIVEC producing 200 bhp at 7500 rpm
GPX Limited Edition (1995-6) - 2000 cc V6 DOHC 24 Valve MIVEC producing 200 bhp at 7500 rpm
[edit] August 1997 - July 2001
GS - 1800 cc 4 cylinder SOHC 16 valves producing 125 bhp at 6,000 rpm
GX Sports Package - 2000 cc V6 DOHC 24 Valve Multi Point Injection producing 180 bhp at 7000 rpm
GX Sports Package Aero Series - 2000 cc V6 DOHC 24 Valve Multi Point Injection producing 180 bhp at 7000 rpm
GPX - 2000 cc V6 DOHC 24 Valve MIVEC producing 200 bhp at 7500 rpm
GP Version R - 2000 cc V6 DOHC 24 Valve MIVEC producing 200 bhp at 7500 rpm
GP Version R Aero Series - 2000 cc V6 DOHC 24 Valve MIVEC producing 200 bhp at 7500 rpm
[edit] GPX Limited Edition
On 2nd December 1994, the Japanese Car of the Year Executive Committee announced the selection of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation's sports car FTO as the "1994-1995 Japan Car of the Year". The reasons cited for this selection were that apart from its superior performance as a sports car, the FTO had a good chassis function and used an advanced INVECS-II Sports model automatic transmission.[citation needed] In recent years award winners have all been sedans. The FTO is the first sports car to win this award since Toyota’s MR2 in 1984. To celebrate this award, Mitsubishi produced a Limited Edition version. This is easily indentified as it is painted Dandelion Yellow and sports a '94-95 Japan Car of the Year' emblems on the outer surface of the car's C-pillar. It also has a rear washer wiper and LSD as standard. Indications are that less than 500 of these were produced.[citation needed]
[edit] Nakaya Tune FTO
The Nakaya-Tune FTO was a limited car in early 1997, only 300 cars were sold. The car is tuned by Akihiko Nakaya, Driver of the Taeivon FTO in the Japanese GT300 series in 1998-1999 The main differences are Nakaya-Tune sports muffler (made by Prof), Nakaya-Tune brake pads (made by AP), Nakaya-Tune carbon fibre lip spoiler, Nakaya-Tune suspension, Nakaya-Tune shock absorbers (made by Ohlins)
[edit] Gearbox
The choice of gearboxes available to the FTO were a 5-speed manual or INVECS-II, Mitsubishi's licensed version of Porsche's Tiptronic semi-automatic transmission. Earlier models had a four-speed transmission, whilst the later model FTOs had a five-speed transmission which was also slightly stronger than its predecessor.
[edit] INVECS II
In simple terms INVECS II is a computer-controlled automatic transmission which has the ability to "learn" your driving style, using its Adaptive Shift Control software. As soon as you start driving the computer begins to monitor your driving style, and after a short while sets the up and downchange points to suit, thus smoothing out progress on the road.
[edit] Production Figures
The FTO was made from 1994 through to 2000, with a revision made, commonly known as the facelift versions, in mid 1997.
- 1994 - 9333
- 1995 - 19515
- 1996 - 3805
- 1997 - 1917
- 1998 - 1111
- 1999 - 682
- 2000 - 283
[edit] Miscellaneous
An FTO appeared in the movies Rumble in the Bronx and Thunderbolt with Jackie Chan.
So far the FTO has only appeared in a few computer racing games: Metropolis Street Racer, Juiced, Forza Motorsport,Gran Turismo, Gran Turismo 2, Gran Turismo 3, Tokyo Xtreme Racer 3 , Enthusia Professional Racing and Gran Turismo 4, the last of which features the GR, GPX, GP Version R and Nakaya Tune.
In CLAMP's manga and anime series Magic Knight Rayearth, Eagle Vision's mecha is named after the FTO.
[edit] External links
- International FTO Club
- The UK FTO Owners Club
- mitsubishi-fto.net
- mitsubishi-fto.org
- www.redfto.co.uk
- www.fto-ireland.com
- FTO Australia
- Mitsubishi FTO Specs
- www.freshtouringorigination.com - FTO Gallery
