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This article was first published in May 2000. To this day the Cyborg R's engine remains one of the most impressive four cylinders we've ever driven.
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Background
The MIVEC-powered Mirage Cyborg R has never been officially imported into Australia by Mitsubishi - which is a terrible shame. The local CC model Mitsus got by with an econo-derived wheezer, but the Cyborg R is the ultimate gun. It really hauls with a full 129kW on tap. Interestingly, the Japanese Mirage line-up also extends to include a 1.3 litre (58kW) pov-pack and even a 1.6 litre (107kW) 4WD version. They've a model range that sure is far greater than our's...
Next to the Mitsubishi FTO MIVEC (again, only privately imported from Japan), the Cyborg R puts up real competition to the more widely recognised VTEC-powered Hondas. And one big advantage for the Mitsubishi is its price. Side-by-side, the MMC product is always cheaper - an advantage that's usually carried over to Australian shores when you buy an import.
Chassis
The Cyborg R - being the most high performance Mirage - rides on the same basic MacPherson strut suspension design as the others but, more than likely (it's a bit hard to find out all the details!) with uprated springs and dampers. The ride is firm and it can be upset by potholes and poor road surfaces, but it enjoys the same amount of ground clearance as other Mirages. And, of course, it's front wheel drive. So it handles like a traditional hot hatch with a tendency to understeer - but it's certainly not major. Careful throttle trimming will always bring the Mitsui back onto line.
There's no great shock in learning that this car scores vented disc brakes up front and solid discs under the back. It needs it: drum rear brakes are only for the pussy-engined Mirages. The car we tested didn't have an ABS system fitted (although this may be an option) and it was still shod in the Japanese mud and snow tyres - but it did pull up in a straight line.
To make this thing a real go-kart, the steering needs to be sharpened up just a bit with a quicker ratio. It isn't bad; it's just that the rest of the car is so damn inspirational! From factory, the Cyborg spins a set of 14-inch alloys with 195/60 rubber. Being only 14s, though, they don't do the car justice and a set of 15s (or larger) would be more in keeping with the character of the car.
Park it next to a garden variety Mirage and you'll appreciate how much hornier the import version looks. From its low front spoiler (with integrated fog lamps) to its side skirts and rear spoiler it's a pumped-up Mr Universe version of the Aussie Mirages - VRXs included. And being a sports model, the exterior is fully colour coded.
On the other side of those lengthy doors is a very practical yet sporty cabin that seats five. Being a Mirage it possesses good space utilisation and everything is well laid out - but it's the factory front and rear Recaro seats that impressed us. Although they're a little firm and flat across the back, they hold you in tight and let you focus on driving hard. The dash layout is very similar to the Lancer GSR's and the instrument cluster is home to something you don't see on your everyday streetcar - a tacho numbered all the way to 10,000 rpm! A climate control system is fitted too, but it took us a while to work it out (maybe we're a bit slow).
Screw every bit of the Cyborg R together and it comes up weighing 1040kg - only around 50kg more than the basic everyday model, but with 87 per cent more power than a local Mirage!
Engine
Mirages aren't noted for their potent engines. The Cyborg R changes all that in one swift charge up through the gears. We're not exaggerating, the Mirage's MIVEC engine is the best small atmo engine we've ever sat behind. It's got instant throttle response, a generous amount of low-down torque, a strong mid-range - and from about 5500 rpm up, it simply rockets. It puts out so much torque up high, you can just hold-it-hold-it-hold-it in one gear.
RaaaaaAAAAAAAA!!
So how good is it? The MIVEC engine is far more flexible than a 2.2 Honda V-TEC, for example. You never find yourself wishing it had a little more torque here or there - it's always ready and willing to pull. And willing the Cyborg R certainly is - especially in acceleration. Our timed 0-100 km/h test revealed that the little terrier could rival many "fast" cars. The needle swung past the triple digits in around 7.8 seconds - not bad at all...and with that instant throttle response it feels even faster!
The heart of this giant killer is the MIVEC (Mitsubishi Innovative Valve and Lift Electronic Control System) 4G92, using a bore and stroke of 81.0mm and 77.5mm respectively. This amounts to 1597cc and with a 11.0:1 CR, DOHC, 16 valves and EFI, it generates 129kW at 7500 revs and 167Nm at a skyward 7000. That way-high rpm at which peak torque is developed never feels like that on the road - there is always instant, strong response. How strong? Well, with the fairly slippery tyres of the test car, you could drive along at low rpm in first gear with the clutch out. Stomp on the loud pedal and the front tyres would then actually chirp on dry pavement as the torque hit!
This is one highly efficient engine - its 81kW per litre puts it way ahead of the Honda Integra VTi-R with 69 kW/litre. But, of course, you always need to feed it premium unleaded to keep it running happily. (Remember, Japanese fuel still has higher octane than even our Shell Optimax)
It's amazing how many wonderful qualities the Cyborg R has. It's a versatile sized car with ball-tearing performance - yet it still delivers around 8.5 - 9 litres per 100km fuel economy (with some enthusiastic driving too, we might add!). This is helped by the fact that all Cyborgs have a 5-speed (though non-LSD) manual transaxle.
Mods
Mitsubishi must be doing something right to be able to squeeze such incredible, supremely tractable power from their un-blown 1.6 litre four. We suspect that the MIVEC engine might fall into the same category as Honda's V-TEC when it comes to high performance tuning - they're already so highly developed, you're not likely to increase power much without going ballistic in the mods.
However, you're always gonna need a good exhaust. A factory extractor-back 2½ -inch system with an aftermarket cat and straight-through mufflers will surely reduce backpressure and so have an effect on power. The factory airbox can easily be equipped with bigger intake ducting - and it's always worthwhile using a simple manometer to test the intake system for pressure drops. With normal intake and exhaust mods, we wouldn't think you'd manage to generate any more than 10 per cent more peak horsepower, though.
But decompressed with a custom turbo or supercharged installation, perhaps? Hold onto your hat - that would be simply unbelievable!
Buyers' Guide
Released in the early 90s, the Mirage Cyborg R retailed in the Tokyo area with a RRP of 1,880,000 yen. That sounds like a lot - and it is when you consider it's around double the price of a Japanese base-model Mirage.
Now's here's the important bit...
The vehicle we had was on loan from Adelaide Japanese Imports. It had been imported for race/rally use only, and their asking price is $7500. That's a lot of fun for the money - even though it isn't complied and ready to hit the streets. As far as both AJI and we know, there isn't anyone else in Australia bringing them in - let alone complying them. But Bob Dunn (of AJI) says that the MIVEC engine (and that's what really wakes this baby up) goes into the front of a CC Lancer without problems. His price for a half-cut with everything (not including conversion labour!) is $3000.
So if you can pick up a CC Lancer cheaply, a half-cut for three grand (take away what you'll get for the stock CC engine) and add a couple of grand for suspension, brake and wheel upgrades, you'd have a bloody top car for a reasonably low price. Of course, if you can afford to buy a complete Cyborg R to strip it of its engine, Recaros, body kit and factory good-bits, that'd make it even better!
Summary
The little R is the best-engined atmo hot hatch in Australia. Check around to see if anyone's complying them, and - if not - think about constructing your own Aussie Cyborg from a local CC Lancer. Lancers can be bought cheaply and a half-cut is only $3000 complete. Add some usual hot-hatch touches and it'll be a car you'll never want to sell. Guaranteed. We were just blown away.
Contact:
Adelaide Japanese Imports
+61 8 8369 1156
http://www.adelaidejap.com.au/
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