The Japanese car industry has a long history and has produced iconic models for decades. Local quirks like kei-cars aside, the Land of the Rising Sun has always been an exporter of sports cars that, in many cases, have also been affordable. Today we will review 5 legendary Japanese sports cars
Datsun 240Z
The history of Z’ Nissan goes back a long way, specifically to the 60s of the previous year, when the seed of the dynasty was born. After trying in vain with Yamaha, finally in 1969 the Datsun 240Z saw the light, which could be considered the first born.
Undoubtedly a design that is still very popular today and equipped with a 140 hp 2.4 engine (although in Japan it used a smaller block), it was a sales success, paving the way for years to come, and for decades following successors followed one. the other.
Its main lines remained more or less recognizable until the end of the eighties, at the beginning of the 90s the transition began and in 2002 everything changed with the 350Z. This is the modern incarnation of what served as the cornerstone for the current model, the Nissan Z which is unfortunately not available in Europe.
Honda NSX
Senna drive the NSX-R at Suzuka (high quality)
Since the famous “Japanese Ferrari” is dead fake you can do it right, so it’s safe to say that Honda, in the 1990s, created a sporty sports car by designing the Honda NSX.
Endorsed by none other than Ayrton Senna, it was the first road car with an aluminum monocoque body, a chassis derived from Formula 1, and mounting a central engine 3.0 V6 with 274 hp thanks to which it exceeded the top 270 km/h. speed
Its most recent reinterpretation, born in 2016, did not reach its iconic levels, but it was also for a supercar: 3.5 V6 with 580 hp, nine-speed double-clutch automatic transmission, all-wheel drive, acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h, in 3.9 seconds and a top speed of 300 km/h.
Renault or Eclipse
I don’t want anyone to be fooled: every time I get stuck, I see this name on an SUV. I’m older, I grew up watching affordable Japanese sports cars in the 90s and the Mitsubishi with its hump on the hood was one of my favorites. In addition, the issue that opened the “A Todo Gas” saga, green and turned to the top, also confirmed my idyll with the Japanese.
Through four generations of sales, from 1990 to 2012, they always approach more or less affordable sports. Engines were made up to 265 CV, but, as in many other models of the same string, its success gradually declined during the 90s.
Toyota Supra
Behind the wheel of the new Toyota Supra
The Toyota Supra is one of the most beloved models of all Japanese sports cars in history. Although it began in 1978 and began to earn a good reputation from the beginning, the fourth generation (appeared in 1993) consolidated it in the JDM Olympus.
Its production ceased in 2003, but after a hiatus of more than a decade it was resurrected in a joint project with BMW. It remains to be seen whether it will become as popular as its predecessor, but it does work, with variants of 258 and 340 CV, manual or manual transmission options, etc.
Nissan GT-R
Gallery Nissan GT-R R34 V Spec II Nür
The Nissan Skyline / GT-R, affectionately nicknamed Godzilla in its latest iterations, is another iconic car from the Land of the Rising Sun. Born at the end of the 50s, its evolution was radical and it is because, when it was carried on its journey in luxury, little by little the sports winds turned into a real beast.
Now, the Japanese firm has decided to stop selling it in Europe, but continues to renew it in other markets, even though it had been sold in running form since 2009. Although it is no longer a supercar at the cheapest price for what is offered, it is a 570 CV “little animal” with all-wheel drive that does 0-100 in 3.5 seconds.
