GT5 Transcripts/Mitsubishi FTO

More than two decades after Mitsubishi introduced its popular Galant FTO in 1971, the Japanese industrial giant revived the illustrious FTO nameplate with an all new car in late 1994.

While the Galant FTO of the Seventies featured an FR configuration (Front engine, Rear drive), the new FTO, built on the Lancer and Mirage platform, sent all of its engine power exclusively to its front wheels. This new FTO featured a short overall length, but wide body, so much that it was classified as a Japanese Class 3, quite rare for an FF sports coupe at the time.

Three distinctive engines were available for the FTO, the 4G93, a 1.8-liter SOHC inline-4 that produced 123 HP and 119.3 ft-lb of torque; 6A12, a 2.0-liter DOHC V-6 that made 168 HP and 137.4 ft-lb of torque (later massaged to produce 178 HP and 141.0 ft-lb of torque), and a more potent version of the 6A12 engine that boasted Mitsubishi's MIVEC variable valve-timing system that pumped out a full 197 HP and 147.5 ft-lb of torque.

In addition to a traditional 5-speed manual gearbox, the car was also available with an innovative 4-speed automatic transmission with an INVECS-II driving mode. The FTO's unique and swoopy styling, along with superior driving dynamics and excellent automatic transmission, won over many sports-car fans and was named Japan's Car of the Year in 1994.

Production for the FTO ended in 2000 as sports cars lost their allure in the Japan market.