2002 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII GT-A (Japan)

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII GT-A is documented here as a Japanese factory grade, with its own equipment reference and a carefully scoped rarity record. The GT-A’s collector interest comes from its distinct automatic drivetrain within an otherwise strongly manual-associated family. It is not necessary to describe it as a numbered special edition to explain that interest. The Japanese factory documentation establishes a separate grade, and the domestic records provide a scoped indication of its production scale.

Where this grade fits

The Evolution VII GT-A is a distinct factory interpretation of the CT9A sedan. Mitsubishi announced it on 29 January 2002, with sales beginning in February. Its defining feature is the automatic transmission, making the grade a different technical proposition from a manual VII. This profile is limited to the Japanese GT-A and does not extend the name to unrelated Lancer grades or the later Evolution wagon.

Mitsubishi original Japanese VII factory brochure (digitised original)

Engine, transmission and equipment

The factory GT-A announcement and catalogue specify a 272 PS 4G63 turbo engine and an INVECS-II Sport Mode five-speed automatic. This transmission should not be confused with the later twin-clutch SST system. A conventional automatic and a dual-clutch transmission use different hardware and belong to different periods of the Evolution story. Identify the actual transmission and model code before interpreting a modified car’s controls or advertised performance.

Mitsubishi original Japanese VII factory brochure (digitised original)

Design and identification

The GT-A demonstrates why a vehicle’s importance need not depend on the most aggressive exterior treatment. Compare period GT-A illustrations with the manual VII catalogue, paying attention to the documented equipment and cabin controls. Exterior parts can be replaced or exchanged. A large rear wing, different wheels or a later steering wheel does not by itself prove or disprove the original automatic-grade identity.

How many are recorded?

3,683 Japanese-market GT-A 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

3,683 Japanese-market GT-A 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 VII family reference; transmission grade is unconfirmed. This photograph does not establish GT-A equipment or illustrate automatic controls.

Comparisons and related profiles

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

• Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII RS (Japan)
• Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII GSR (Japan)

Frequently asked questions

Is the rarity figure a worldwide production total?

3,683 Japanese-market GT-A 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 VII factory brochure (digitised original)
2. JDM Catalogues: independently compiled ASA/CAPS-derived Japanese record counts
3. Mitsubishi original GT-A launch announcement, 29 January 2002

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.