Mitsubishi FTO

Mitsubishi FTO: which version to buy

The Mitsubishi FTO is a one-generation Coupe (October 1994–July 2000) with eight listed versions. All eight are FWD gasoline cars with a 60-litre tank and 150 mm ground clearance. The buying question is not body style or drivetrain — those do not change — it is engine size, output, gearbox, and kerb weight. Power in the data runs from 125 hp to 200 hp; kerb weight from 1100 kg to 1200 kg.

The Mitsubishi FTO is a one-generation Coupe (October 1994–July 2000) with eight listed versions. All eight are FWD gasoline cars with a 60-litre tank and 150 mm ground clearance. The buying question is not body style or drivetrain — those do not change — it is engine size, output, gearbox, and kerb weight. Power in the data runs from 125 hp to 200 hp; kerb weight from 1100 kg to 1200 kg. Acceleration to 100 km/h, top speed, fuel consumption, CO2, eco class, gross weight, and wheel sizes are not measured for every version, so they cannot decide the purchase.

Generations: what actually changed

There is only 1 generation (key 3712), Coupe, eight versions. Generation production in the data is October 1994–July 2000. Every listed version is dated February 1997–August 2001. There is no second generation and no restyling as a separate generation in this dataset, so you are not choosing between eras of the FTO — you are choosing among eight mechanical combinations of one Coupe.

What does not change between versions: body (Coupe), drive (FWD), fuel system type (Distributed injection (multi-point)), engine position (Front, transverse), boost (No), valves per cylinder (4), front suspension (Independent, spring), rear suspension (Independent, spring), front brakes (Ventilated disc), rear brakes (Disc), tank (60 litres), ground clearance (150 mm).

What does change: displacement (1834 vs 1998 cc), cylinders (4 Inline vs 6 V-shaped), output (125 / 170 / 180 / 200 hp), torque (161 / 186 / 191 / 200 Nm), compression (9.5 vs 10), bore × stroke (81 × 89 vs 78.4 × 69), fuel grade (92 vs 95), gearbox (Automatic 4, Automatic 5, or Manual 5), and kerb weight (1100–1200 kg).

Engines and specs

Three versions share the name 2.0 AT (170, 180, and 200 hp). Three share 2.0 MT (170, 180, and 200 hp). Distinguish them by power, not by the name string.

Specific output from the given numbers: 1.8 AT / 1.8 MT make 125 hp from 1834 cc → 68.2 hp per litre. 2.0 MT 170 hp and 2.0 AT 170 hp make 85.1 hp per litre. 2.0 AT 180 hp and 2.0 MT 180 hp make 90.1 hp per litre. 2.0 AT 200 hp and 2.0 MT 200 hp make 100.1 hp per litre. The 200 hp pair is 47% more specific output than the 1.8 pair (100.1 vs 68.2).

Peak power rpm also climbs: 6000 on the 1.8, 7000 on 170/180 hp 2.0, 7500 on 200 hp 2.0. Peak torque rpm is 4500 on the 1.8, 4000 on 170/180 hp 2.0, and 6000 on 200 hp 2.0. The 200 hp engines make their 200 Nm 2000 rpm later than the 170/180 hp engines make 186–191 Nm.

Performance and economy

0–100 km/h: not measured for 1.8 AT, 1.8 MT, 2.0 MT 170 hp, 2.0 AT 170 hp, 2.0 AT 180 hp, 2.0 MT 180 hp, 2.0 AT 200 hp, 2.0 MT 200 hp.

Top speed: not measured for all eight versions.

City / highway / combined consumption: not measured for all eight.

CO2 and eco class: not measured for all eight.

Economy cannot be the reason to pick a version from this catalogue. Fuel grade can: 1.8 AT and 1.8 MT specify 92; every 2.0 version specifies 95. Tank volume is 60 litres on every version, so range differences would come only from consumption that is not measured.

What you can compare is mass versus power (kg per hp, from kerb weight and horsepower):

• 1.8 MT: 1100 / 125 = 8.80 kg/hp
• 1.8 AT: 1120 / 125 = 8.96 kg/hp
• 2.0 AT 170 hp: 1170 / 170 = 6.88 kg/hp
• 2.0 MT 170 hp: 1150 / 170 = 6.76 kg/hp
• 2.0 AT 180 hp: 1200 / 180 = 6.67 kg/hp
• 2.0 MT 180 hp: 1150 / 180 = 6.39 kg/hp
• 2.0 AT 200 hp: 1190 / 200 = 5.95 kg/hp
• 2.0 MT 200 hp: 1170 / 200 = 5.85 kg/hp

The lightest car per horsepower is 2.0 MT 200 hp (5.85 kg/hp). The heaviest per horsepower is 1.8 AT (8.96 kg/hp). Moving from 1.8 MT to 2.0 MT 200 hp cuts kg/hp by 2.95 (8.80 − 5.85), a 33.5% drop, while adding 75 hp and 70 kg.

Dimensions and weight

Gross weight: not measured for all eight. Wheel sizes: not measured for all eight. Ground clearance is 150 mm on all eight. Tank is 60 litres on all eight.

Kerb weight, lightest to heaviest:

1. 1.8 MT — 1100 kg 2. 1.8 AT — 1120 kg (+20 kg vs 1.8 MT) 3. 2.0 MT 170 hp — 1150 kg (+50 kg vs 1.8 MT) 4. 2.0 MT 180 hp — 1150 kg (same as 2.0 MT 170 hp) 5. 2.0 AT 170 hp — 1170 kg 6. 2.0 MT 200 hp — 1170 kg 7. 2.0 AT 200 hp — 1190 kg 8. 2.0 AT 180 hp — 1200 kg

The heaviest FTO in the data is not the most powerful automatic. 2.0 AT 180 hp at 1200 kg is 10 kg heavier than 2.0 AT 200 hp (1190 kg) and 30 kg heavier than 2.0 AT 170 hp (1170 kg). That 180 hp automatic is also the only Automatic 5-speed; the other automatics are Automatic 4.

Manual vs automatic on the same output:

• 1.8 AT is 20 kg heavier than 1.8 MT (1120 vs 1100).
• 2.0 AT 170 hp is 20 kg heavier than 2.0 MT 170 hp (1170 vs 1150).
• 2.0 AT 180 hp is 50 kg heavier than 2.0 MT 180 hp (1200 vs 1150).
• 2.0 AT 200 hp is 20 kg heavier than 2.0 MT 200 hp (1190 vs 1170).

The 180 hp pair is the outlier: the automatic penalty is 50 kg, not 20 kg.

Displacement step: 1998 − 1834 = 164 cc more on every 2.0 versus every 1.8. Cylinder count steps from 4 Inline to 6 V-shaped at that same line. Compression steps from 9.5 (1.8) to 10 (all 2.0). Bore × stroke changes from 81 × 89 (long-stroke 1.8) to 78.4 × 69 (shorter stroke 2.0).

Which version to choose

Prices are not in the data. “What the extra output buys” here means extra horsepower, torque, and a better kg/hp figure, paid for in kerb weight, a higher fuel grade, and a more peaky power rpm.

If you want the lightest FTO and 92 fuel: 1.8 MT. At 1100 kg it is the lightest of eight. It matches 1.8 AT at 125 hp and 161 Nm, with Manual 5 instead of Automatic 4. You give up 45 hp versus the weakest 2.0 (170 − 125) and 75 hp versus the strongest 2.0. Specific output is the lowest (68.2 hp/L). Choose 1.8 AT only if you need Automatic 4 on this engine: it costs 20 kg and 0.16 kg/hp versus 1.8 MT.

If you want a 2.0 without paying the last 10–30 hp: 2.0 MT 170 hp. Versus 1.8 MT you gain 45 hp (+36%) and 25 Nm (186 − 161), lose 50 kg of lightness (1150 vs 1100), and switch from 92 to 95. kg/hp improves from 8.80 to 6.76. 2.0 AT 170 hp is the same engine numbers with Automatic 4 and +20 kg (1170 kg, 6.88 kg/hp).

If you want the only 5-speed automatic: 2.0 AT 180 hp. It is unique in the table: Automatic 5, 180 hp, 191 Nm, 1200 kg — the heaviest FTO. Versus 2.0 AT 170 hp you gain 10 hp and 5 Nm (191 − 186) and 30 kg. Versus 2.0 AT 200 hp you lose 20 hp and 9 Nm and still weigh 10 kg more. The extra gear does not make this the strongest automatic; 2.0 AT 200 hp has more power and less mass. 2.0 MT 180 hp keeps 180 hp / 191 Nm at 1150 kg — 50 kg less than its automatic twin, same weight as 2.0 MT 170 hp, so the 10 hp step from 170 to 180 on the manuals costs 0 kg.

If you want the best mass-to-power in the catalogue: 2.0 MT 200 hp. 200 hp, 200 Nm, 1170 kg, 5.85 kg/hp, Manual 5. Versus 2.0 MT 180 hp: +20 hp, +9 Nm, +20 kg (1170 vs 1150). Versus 2.0 MT 170 hp: +30 hp, +14 Nm, +20 kg. Versus 1.8 MT: +75 hp, +39 Nm, +70 kg. Power peaks at 7500 rpm and torque at 6000 rpm — later than the 170/180 hp 2.0 engines (7000 / 4000). 2.0 AT 200 hp is the automatic equivalent: same 200 hp / 200 Nm, Automatic 4, 1190 kg, 5.95 kg/hp — 20 kg more than the manual, still 10 kg lighter than 2.0 AT 180 hp.

Arithmetic ranking by kg/hp (lower is stronger on paper): 2.0 MT 200 hp (5.85) → 2.0 AT 200 hp (5.95) → 2.0 MT 180 hp (6.39) → 2.0 AT 180 hp (6.67) → 2.0 MT 170 hp (6.76) → 2.0 AT 170 hp (6.88) → 1.8 MT (8.80) → 1.8 AT (8.96).

Practical split without inventing 0–100 times: pick 1.8 MT or 1.8 AT for 92 fuel, 4 Inline, and the 1100–1120 kg pair. Pick any 2.0 MT / 2.0 AT for 6 V-shaped, 95 fuel, and 170–200 hp. Inside the 2.0 group, the 200 hp pair is the only one at 100.1 hp/L and 200 Nm; the 180 hp automatic is the only Automatic 5 and the heaviest car; the 170 hp pair is the lightest way into the 2.0 engine if you stay on Manual 5 at 1150 kg.

Reliability, common problems, and mpg in use are not in the data, so they are not measured here. The version names to match listing pages exactly are 1.8 AT, 1.8 MT, 2.0 MT (170 hp), 2.0 AT (170 hp), 2.0 AT (180 hp), 2.0 MT (180 hp), 2.0 AT (200 hp), and 2.0 MT (200 hp).