Mitsubishi FTO

Did You Know?

• Japanese promotional footage of the early FTO was released in 1995, featuring a GR Sports in Steel Silver and a GPX in Passion Red.
• Since 2009, Richard Batty's highly modified, EVO-engined FTO has appeared in British drag race results, setting a European FWD record of 8.859 seconds at 174.59 mph in 2014.
• The FTO had four relatively minor defects requiring manufacturer recalls, three of which occurred in 2004, four years after production ended.

Backstory: The Galant FTO (January 1971-1975)

The Mitsubishi Galant Coupé FTO was a rear-wheel-drive coupe produced from November 1971 to March 1975. The acronym "FTO" stood for Fresco Turismo Omologato, or "Fresh Touring Homologated" in English. This compact model replaced the earlier Mitsubishi Colt 11-F Super Sports. Initially powered by a 1378 cc 4G41 "Neptune" engine producing 86 or 95 PS, it was redesigned in February 1973 with 1597 cc 4G32 "Saturn" engines offering 100 or 110 PS, plus a 1439 cc Saturn unit with 92 PS. A minor facelift in October 1973 reduced the lineup to four versions. Production ended in August 1975 after the introduction of the Lancer Celeste.

The New FTO Models

In 1994, an entirely new FTO coupé was introduced, available only as a 2-door coupé with front-wheel drive. Engine choices included an inline-four or a transversely mounted V6, paired with a five-speed manual or the INVECS-II automatic transmission; pre-facelift automatics had four speeds, while most facelift (1997–2000) automatics had five. The most noticeable exterior change in 1997 was the front bumper, which switched from two air intakes to a single deeper intake with restyled lip and lighting. The base GS model had 14-inch wheels and automatic climate control; the V6 GR added 15-inch wheels; and the V6 MIVEC-engined GPX came with 16-inch alloy wheels, a rear spoiler, and side air dams as standard. A Mivec GP model was introduced in 1996, along with a Nakaya-Tune dealer package. The "GP Special" (suffix '2') was promoted as a GP version R introduction but lacked later GPvR body details. By 2000, Mitsubishi described the FTO as "the little brother of the GTO" and defined the acronym as "Fresh Touring Origination."

Options

A range of factory options was available for the FTO, including cosmetic items such as stickers and chromed goods, as well as side skirts, spoilers, and practical additions like a passenger airbag or ski-racks. Special 15- and 16-inch PIAA alloy wheels were offered, and strut braces (standard on the GP Version R) could be obtained through Ralliart. Ralliart also modified many FTOs imported to the UK, fitting aftermarket rear fog-lights and switches, and sometimes an English fuse box cover or Ralliart oil cap. ABS and traction control (called TCL on FTOs) were factory options on earlier models like the GX; ABS became standard on facelift models. The base GS and GR models did not include a rear spoiler, which was an optional extra. As of the notes, Viamoto is the only company stocking numerous parts for these cars.

Annual production

Total FTO production by year is recorded, though vehicles built in a given year might not be registered until later. For example, an FTO first registered in Japan in 2001 would have been produced in 2000 at the latest. The month/year on seat belt tags can help determine production date, but the first three digits of the chassis number on the VIN plate (located on the engine bay bulkhead) provide the actual manufacturing year: 000 = 1994/1995, 010 = 1995/1996, 020 = 1997, 030 = 1998, and so on. The model code on the VIN plate (e.g., HNUE) encodes body style, transmission, model type, and engine. A DE2A prefix indicates the 1.8 L 4G93 engine; DE3A indicates the 2.0 L 6A12 engine.