In our opinion, the S2K is hugely underrated in many ways, and this high-revving two-seater provides epic rear-wheel-drive fun in a compact package. The NSX wasn’t Honda’s only impressive break away from their typical FWD roots, either. With the input of the likes of Ayrton Senna, it’s no surprise that this game-changing all-aluminum supercar is often regarded as one of the most impressive cars of all time. Marketed as the “everyday supercar,” the NSX was the JDM answer to an affordable Ferrari.Ī far cry from your typical FWD Honda, the NSX is a two-seater, mid-engine sports car which competed with its Italian rivals at a fraction of the price tag.Ī 3-liter, 24V V6 VTEC engine pushed out 290 hp alongside Hondas notorious 8,000 rpm redline, catapulting it from 0-60 in 5.7 seconds, with a top speed of 168 mph. When Best Motoring put the two head-to-head on a twisty track… Actually, we’ll let you see who wins with this old-school JDM footage, courtesy of the Drift King Keiichi Tsuchiya.Ĭan we have a moment to appreciate the looks of the NSX? I mean, it’s an absolute beauty. We’ll let the Honda boys battle it out for the winning chassis, but with the DC5 Type R providing 220 hp, it has a clear advantage in the power department. When the DC2 Integra Type R hit the market in 1995, it provided a car that could head straight to the track and cause some severe upsets, even in stock form, thanks to its incredible handling.ĭespite having a 1.8L with 187hp, the screaming 8,000 rpm redline propels it to 0-60 in just 6.5 seconds, and it’ll undoubtedly put many rear-wheel-drive cars to shame in the twisties. (Plus, we don’t want to upset the Honda fanboys.) We’re not specifically speaking about the DC2 or DC5 here, as they’re both incredible cars in their own right. If anyone has an immaculate 240Z for $3,500 these days, feel free to hit us up!Īre you interested to know more about the 240Z? We’ve put both the 240Z and 280Z head-to-head in this guide. However, it trumped its rivals with a price tag of just $3,500, brand-new from the showroom, and outperformed on performance, design, reliability, and drivability. The respectable powerplant helped the 240 go from 0-60 mph in under 8 seconds.Īs you may have guessed, in 1969, this was kind of a big deal.Īimed at competing against its main rival, the Toyota 2000GT, it also had competition in Europe, such as the British MGB-GT. When Datsun introduced the first-ever Fairlady to the market in 1969, it provided an impressive 2.4L inline-six engine, an impressive 151hp from the rear-wheel-drive layout, and four-wheel independent suspension. While the likes of some of the modern-day classics, such as the Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R, are not yet legal to import to the US, the 25-year rule will soon provide the opportunity to get your hands on these future classics.Īs we dive into our list, you’ll take an incredible trip down memory lane, remembering how Japanese sports cars have birthed so many unique car cultures and inspired many tuning enthusiasts over several decades. Whether you’re looking for a missile to throw down at the track, a track weapon with near-limitless tuning potential, or a sleek street cruiser, there’s something for everyone on the JDM market. With almost all Japanese sports cars offering impressive performance in stock form, it’s the tuning potential, even the modern-day vehicles, that makes them so desirable for drifting.įrom bolt-on parts such as exhausts and intakes right the way through to off-the-shelf turbo kits and superchargers, there’s just about everything you could need to unleash the full potential of almost any Japanese sports car - old or new. With the brand-new Nissan Z-car soon to hit the market, the recent rebirths of the Supra (well, it’s kinda JDM, anyway) and NSX, alongside the ever-evolving Toyobaru 86 family – Japan isn’t showing signs of becoming boring anytime soon.Īs well as the new cars rolling off the production line, the tuning potential and desirability of the older Japanese sports cars continue to make them increasingly sought-after, with many now reaching legendary status as prices continue to soar. While the 90s were indisputably the golden era for Japanese sports cars, providing true JDM legends such as the Skyline, Silvia, Supra, RX-7, and the NSX, the past and present undoubtedly deserve recognition.Īs many manufacturers steer away from sports cars in favor of EV’s and SUVs, Japan remains at the forefront of the fun-haver sector. When many think of the insane sports cars to come from the Land of the Rising Sun, the 90s will most likely be the first thing that comes to mind. Take a trip down memory lane as we check out the finest Japanese sports cars that have earned cult following, from JDM classics to modern-day masterpieces.
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