Mirage Fourth generation (1991-1996)

Fourth generation

Production	1991–1996
Assembly	Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan Normal, Illinois
Body style(s)	3-door hatchback 4-door sedan 2-door coupe
Layout	Front engine, front-/four-wheel drive
Engine(s)	1.5 L 92 hp I4 1.8 L 113 hp I4
Transmission(s)	3-speed automatic 4-speed automatic 5-speed manual
Wheelbase	2,500 mm (98.4 in) Coupe: 2,440 mm (96.1 in)
Length	4,375 mm (172.2 in) Coupe: 4,345 mm (171.1 in)
Width	1,690 mm (66.5 in) Coupe: 1,680 mm (66.1 in)
Height	1,325 mm (52.2 in) Coupe: 1,310 mm (51.6 in)
Curb weight	946 kg (2,090 lb)

In 1991 the 4th Generation or 'CC' chassis platform changed to a modern more stylish rounder shape to its predecessors. A two-door coupe was introduced based on the Mirage (the Asti in Japan) and sold outside Japan to a number of countries around the world as the 'CC' chassis Mirage (in New Zealand and United States), and the Lancer coupe in Australia. These deliveries mainly saw a Front wheel drive 1500cc 8 valve SOHC caburettor engine in the base GL model, or a 1800cc SOHC 8 valve EFI engine in the higher GLXi variant in Australia, and the same engines were offered in New Zealand and overseas but in a choice of either Front Wheel Drive or All wheel drive variant, and either a 2-door, 3-door (Cyborg) or 4-door shape. This is where the first MIVEC 1600cc engines started to roll out in Mitsubishi platforms. The 2 door CC coupe was sold with the CA5A chassis description. Mitsubishi's engine choices were vast with this new platform. Their most popular were the 4G15 1.5 Carburetor, 4G93 1.8 EFI, 4G93 1.8 DOHC EFI, 4G92 1.6 MIVEC EFI, a 4G91 1.8 DOHC caburetor, and even a 6A10 (V6)and 4D68 Turbo Diesel all in either a front wheel drive or All Wheel Drive format. The 2.0L 4G63 turbo was an option only in the United States, but was quickly dropped in favor of using this power option in the soon to be released Lancer Evolution I.

Proton took over the license to this design for its range from 1997 onwards and it is still offered in some countries as the Proton Satria (three-door, ex Cyborg) and Proton Wira (four and five-door), Proton M21/Putra coupe (2-door), or 200 and 400 series. Not only is the car still being built by Proton, but they also developed a pickup/ute variant of the chassis and named it the Proton Jumbuck.

Mitsubishi started manufacturing the fourth generation/CC platform in 1992, it was taken over by Proton in 1996/97 and is still being utilised in 2006.

With the split between the name Asti/Mirage/Lancer namesake spanning over several countries it created somewhat of a confusion but something that all models share is the 'CC' chassis platform. The rounder shape of the Asti/Mirage/Lancer coupe, hatch and 4 door sedan gave them a modern sportier appearance different from the squarer 'CC' chassis of the Mirage/Lancer sold alongside it in the showroom floor. These squarer 4th Generation versions of the Lancer/Mirage sedan and wagon (as pictured to the right) had the similar appearance as the popular Evolution Lancer 1-3 models which were used in rally. These models were available in sedan or wagon and either FWD or AWD. A 1800cc DOHC Turbo 145kw version of the Lancer Sedan was sold as the "GSR Turbo" variant in Australia and New Zealand, and the AWD turbo wagon was only available in New Zealand under the "Libero" name. These versions were based on the EVO 1-3 models, but only offered with a 1800cc 4G93T turbo engine, not the 2000cc 4G63T turbo engine as in the EVO models.

Posted in: Mirage