1.5L 16v - 4G15

Information

Manufacturers

1.5L 16v - 4G15

New Reduced price! View larger

Forged connecting rods Mitsubishi 1.5L 16v Turbo 4G15 (Colt CZT / Ralliart) for forged pistons

New product

Set of 4 forged connecting rods in 4340 steel for the Mitsubishi 4G15 1.5L 16v Turbo (Colt CZT / Ralliart).

  • Brand: ZRP
  • Compatibility: Colt CZT / Ralliart, Colt CZC, Smart Forfour Brabus
  • Engine code: 4G15
  • Bolts included: ARP 2000 or L19

More details

492,84 € tax incl.

-26%

666,00 € tax incl.

  • The Mitsubishi 1.5L 16v Turbo 4G15 engine

    The 4G15 is the 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol unit from Mitsubishi’s 4G1 family, here in turbocharged 16-valve form powering the Colt CZT and Colt Ralliart (Z30). Rated at 150 hp from the factory for 1,468 cc (75.5 mm bore, 82 mm stroke), it was also chosen by Smart for the Forfour Brabus.

    Compact and lively, this turbo engine responds well to tuning: a remap, a larger turbo and a switch to forged pistons quickly raise cylinder pressure, soon pushing the standard rod beyond its safety margin.

    Forged connecting rods

    Machined from high-strength 4340 steel, these reinforced forged connecting rods secure the bottom end as soon as power rises. They become essential when fitting forged pistons, raising the rev limit, increasing boost pressure or gaining displacement, all cases where the original 4G15 rod reaches its limits.

    Designed to absorb the heavy loads of tuned engines, turbo as well as supercharged, they cover every discipline, from rally to drift, drag, circuit and track days, hill climb and time attack, and support Stage 2, Stage 3 and Stage 4+ builds, right up to competition engines.

    Technical specifications of the 4G15 1.5L 16v Turbo forged connecting rods

    ReferenceBrandProfileBoltsPin diameter
    OEM 18 mm
    Small-end widthBig-end diameter
    OEM 45 mm
    Big-end widthCenter-to-center
    OEM 131 mm
    Weight
    per rod
    R-MIT-008-IZRPIARP 2000-5/16"-38mm18 mm45 mm19.89 mm131 mm460 g
    R-MIT-008-I-L19ZRPIARP L19-5/16"-38mm18 mm45 mm19.89 mm131 mm460 g

    Torque and bolt stretch

    RodBoltsTorqueRecommended stretch
    ZRP (R-MIT-008-I)ARP 2000-5/16"-38mm40.7 N·m0.140 – 0.152 mm
    ZRP (R-MIT-008-I-L19)ARP L19-5/16"-38mm54.2 N·m0.127 – 0.140 mm

    Manufacturers recommend the stretch-gauge method as the reference for tightening: more accurate than torque alone, it ensures uniform preload on tuned engines.

    Technical guide

    4340 forged steel: what is it?

    4340 is a nickel-chromium-molybdenum alloy steel used in aerospace as well as motorsport. Forged and then heat-treated (quench and temper), it combines excellent tensile strength, high fatigue endurance and genuine ductility. Compared with an original rod, usually made of sintered metal optimised for series cost, a forged 4340 rod gains roughly 19% in yield strength, 8% in tensile strength and, above all, 19 to 37% in fatigue strength, giving a service life under cyclic load several times longer. That is exactly what makes forged 4340 the reference material as soon as boost and rpm climb.

    Connecting rod profiles

    I profile. Its slimmer central section makes the rod lighter: less inertia and freer revving. It is the profile of choice on modern turbo engines such as the 4G15, where it offers the best compromise between lightness and strength, securing the bottom end while preserving responsiveness.

    How to choose your rod bolts?Logo ARP

    The rod bolt is one of the most heavily stressed parts in the engine. The key is to match the ARP grade to the real use of the build, then to strictly follow the assembly torque and stretch.

    Vis de bielle forgée ARP2000ARP 2000 (tensile strength around 220,000 psi, i.e. about 1,517 MPa) is the high-performance standard. Suitable for builds up to 150 hp per cylinder in 5/16" or 200 hp per cylinder in 3/8", and up to 8,500 rpm, it is the most common grade in circuit, track day, drift, rally, drag and hill climb, valued for its robustness, reliability and versatility, with no particular storage constraint.
    Vis de bielle forgée ARP L19ARP L19 (tensile strength around 260,000 psi, i.e. about 1,793 MPa) is designed for engines pushed to the extreme, up to 200 hp per cylinder in 5/16" or 250 hp per cylinder in 3/8", and up to 10,000 rpm: very high boost pressure, sustained high rpm and elevated cylinder pressure. It is the choice for big-power builds in drag, drift, rally and circuit. Note: sensitive to corrosion and hydrogen embrittlement, it must be stored and fitted oiled, away from moisture.

    Measuring bolt stretch

    Mesure de l'allongement d'une vis de bielle forgée à la jauge ARP

    In addition to torque tightening, measuring connecting-rod bolt stretch is the most reliable way to achieve optimal preload. The check is carried out with the bolt fitted: a dial gauge is placed on both ends of the bolt and its actual stretch is read, which must match the recommended value (see the torque and stretch table above). This method eliminates the friction variations inherent to torque tightening and secures the assembly on heavily stressed engines.

    Buy the ARP stretch gauge →

    The brands offered

    ZRP is a Greek brand of high-performance forged connecting rods, designed by Alex Drakos in Athens. Each rod is forged from 4340 steel, precision-machined and balanced to ±1 g to stay reliable at high rpm. Offered here in the I profile with ARP 2000 or L19 bolts, they are designed and inspected in Greece, and proven in rally, on circuit and in drift.

    Glossary

    1) Small end
    2) Small-end diameter
    3) Rod beam
    4) Rod bolt
    5) Big end
    6) Rod nut / bolt
    7) Rod cap
    8) Big-end diameter
    9) Center-to-center

    Vehicle compatibility for the 4G15 1.5L 16v Turbo engine

    These forged connecting rods are compatible with all vehicles fitted with the 4G15 1.5L 16v Turbo engine (131 mm centre-to-centre, 18 mm pin):

    BrandModel (chassis)Engine codePowerYears
    MitsubishiColt CZT / Ralliart (Z30)4G15150 hp2004–2012
    MitsubishiColt CZC (Z30)4G15150 hp2006–2009
    SmartForfour Brabus (W454)4G15177 hp2005–2006

    OEM reference: (set of 4 rods).

    Why it’s the most cost-effective solution?

    When an original bottom end fails (broken rod, scored crank, block to rebuild), the bill climbs fast, yet without guaranteeing better durability than standard.

    For an equivalent, or even lower, budget, fitting forged 4340 connecting rods together with forged pistons brings far greater reliability and safety margin, plus genuine room for power growth. It is the solution chosen by European tuners.

    At the same budget: more reliability, more potential and more resale value.