1996 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV RS (Japan)

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV RS is documented here as a Japanese factory grade, with its own equipment reference and a carefully scoped rarity record. The small RS record count is the reason for this grade-specific profile. It does not make all Evolution IVs equally scarce. This matters when comparing cars advertised simply as an Evo IV: the factory grade, equipment and provenance can change the subject being described. A conversion or replacement shell needs its own documented explanation.

Where this grade fits

Evolution IV introduced the CN9A generation and a different body from the earlier CD9A and CE9A cars. It is an important boundary in the Evolution family tree. The RS covered here is a separately documented Japanese grade within that generation. Its scarcity should be assessed at grade level, without describing the entire Evolution IV programme as a sub-7,500-car limited edition.

Mitsubishi original Japanese IV factory brochure (digitised original)

Engine, transmission and equipment

The Japanese catalogue lists a 280 PS 4G63 turbo engine and a five-speed manual. The RS equipment column needs particular attention because a generation-level description can easily import systems or comfort equipment associated with the GSR. Record the differential and option specification from the appropriate factory documentation. A claim that a car has every well-known Evolution IV feature is not a substitute for establishing what its particular grade originally included.

Mitsubishi original Japanese IV factory brochure (digitised original)

Design and identification

The front-end treatment and large rear wing make the CN9A visually distinct from the earlier cars, while the relatively narrow body separates it from Evolution V. Viewed side by side, the IV and V show why a generation name matters even when both use the same broad engine family. Aftermarket widebody conversions can blur that distinction, so compare wheelarch construction as well as detachable bumpers and spoilers.

How many are recorded?

989 Japanese-market RS records in the cited ASA/CAPS-derived dataset. This is a catalogue record count, not an independently audited completed-production total, a manufacturer-announced cap or a worldwide survivor census. The grade is kept separate from other specifications within the same generation. Do not add a market record count to a previously quoted generation total without reconciling their coverage. The original workbook figure is preserved in the evidence register, with any difference explained rather than silently substituted.

JDM Catalogues: independently compiled ASA/CAPS-derived Japanese record counts

Documentation for an individual car

Begin with the full chassis and model information, then match it to the relevant dated Japanese brochure. Retain original documents and a chronological account of major changes. A short chassis prefix can be shared by multiple grades or generations, so it should not stand alone as proof. For a competition-prepared car, add the preparation and event history as a separate layer of provenance. A competition logbook records a use history; it does not automatically authenticate every claim about the original road specification.

Understanding originality and modifications

For a useful comparison, separate three questions: what the factory offered, what this particular vehicle was originally built as, and what survives on it now. The brochure answers the first. Original model information and contemporary records help answer the second. Inspection and recent photographs answer the third. Disagreements between those sources can reveal modifications or repairs, but they need to be documented rather than resolved by choosing the most attractive specification.

Specification and identity reference

Rarity and production scope

989 Japanese-market RS records in the cited ASA/CAPS-derived dataset. This is a catalogue record count, not an independently audited completed-production total, a manufacturer-announced cap or a worldwide survivor census.

What the photograph represents

Evolution IV generation reference; the pictured vehicle is not authenticated as an RS.

Comparisons and related profiles

Continue through these connected Mitsubishi records, each with its own factory identity and production scope.

• Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution III RS (Japan)
• Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution V RS (Japan)

Frequently asked questions

Is the rarity figure a worldwide production total?

989 Japanese-market RS records in the cited ASA/CAPS-derived dataset. This is a catalogue record count, not an independently audited completed-production total, a manufacturer-announced cap or a worldwide survivor census.

How should an individual example be authenticated?

Match the complete original model information to the appropriate dated documentation, then record the present condition and modifications separately. A badge, colour scheme or stripped interior alone is insufficient evidence of a factory grade.

Sources and further reading

1. Mitsubishi original Japanese IV factory brochure (digitised original)
2. JDM Catalogues: independently compiled ASA/CAPS-derived Japanese record counts

Research checked 15 October 2026. Factory literature, independent EPC-derived records and photographic evidence are identified separately. Design readings and documentation guidance are editorial interpretation.