10 Japanese Sports Cars That Took The World By Storm

Japanese automakers lag behind sports car game. By the time they launched their first sports cars, Europeans and Americans had unleashed iconic vehicles such as the Jaguar E-Type, Chevrolet Corvette and Mercedes-Benz 300SL. But things changed in 1965 when Japan introduced its first sports car, the Toyota Sports 800. Equipped with a 0.8 liter engine, this car ushered in a new era in the Japanese automobile industry. RELATED: 10 Cheap JDM Cars That Will Bank You for Maintenance and Repair Other Japanese automakers Nissan, Mazda and Toyota followed suit with cars such as the Toyota 2000GT, Mazda Cosmo and Datsun 240Z.Then the 60's and 70's produced something more iconic JDM Celica, Skyline, RX series, etc. At this stage, the Japanese car makers were doing great. Then came his 80s and his 90s, when Japan produced some of its most legendary cars. These cars were more affordable, reliable, and somewhat better than what Europe could offer. Here are 10 classic JDM sports cars that have taken the world by storm over the years.

10/10 Mazda MX-5 Miata

Introduced in 1989, the MX-5 revived public interest in roadsters following the demise of cars like the Triumph Spitfire and the MG B. Many called him the spiritual successor to his 1950s and his 60s European roadsters, but the MX-5 set the bar too high. Even the Lotus Elan couldn't come close to the thrill he oozed from driving a Japanese roadster.

With no direct competitor, the MX-5 became the best-selling roadster of all time. Even Jeremy Clarkson at the top of his gear couldn't hide his admiration, calling this open-top two-seater convertible the perfect sports car. Today the Mazda MX-5 is his one of the best JDM cars. It's light, agile, reliable, affordable, and offers endless smiles behind the wheel.

9/10 Acura NSX

In the early 1980s, Honda was working on a car that could match the performance of a V8-powered Ferrari. Years later, in 1989, when it premiered, the Acura NSX exceeded everyone's expectations. Equipped with a 3.0-litre VTEC V6 engine, the machine was as good as the Stuttgart and Maranello engines.

The NSX's sheer pace was only half the story. Compared to the Ferrari 348, the NSX was cheaper and more reliable. It also has excellent handling thanks to advanced aerodynamics and advice from Formula One legend Ayrton Senna. Honda has made an effort to revive his NSX nameplate with a stronger version for 2016, but the second generation of his Acura NSX is still overshadowed by its predecessor.

8/10 Toyota 2000GT

Introduced in the mid-1960s, the Toyota 2000GT proved that Japanese automakers could produce beautiful sports cars that could rival their European counterparts. Dubbed "his Japanese E-type", his 2000GT is considered more beautiful than the British Jag. Toyota realized that for the 2000GT to be considered a proper sports car, looks weren't enough, it needed a powerful engine. RELATED: The 10 fastest Japanese sports sedans ever made

The automaker put a 2.0-liter six-cylinder engine in the 2000GT, producing 150 horsepower, enough to propel the beautiful coupe to a top speed of 135 mph. Listed at around $7,150 (he's worth $55,715 today), it was more expensive than its competitors and played a big part in this car's short production run. Nevertheless, the 2000GT helped put the Japanese automaker on the world map.

7/10 Honda S2000

The S2000 still ranks among the best when it comes to compact, lightweight JDM track cars. His 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine under the hood produced 247 horsepower, more than any other naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine at the time. Many car enthusiasts behind the Honda S2000 were mesmerized by the car's enchanting roar when its engine revs to his 9000 rpm.

Equipped with race-derived technology, this two-seater roadster delivers pure thrills on twisty roads thanks to its ideal 50:50 weight distribution and light weight. Affordability and solid reliability are also reasons for its popularity.

6/10 Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4

Mitsubishi's top model, the 3000GT VR-4, was too advanced for its time. It included state-of-the-art components such as active aero, four-wheel steering, electronically controlled dampers and an all-wheel drive drivetrain. Performance was impressive thanks to a twin-turbocharged V6 engine producing 300 hp and 315 lb-ft, later increased to 320 hp.

It wasn't as popular as the Nissan Skyline, Mazda RX-7, Toyota Supra or Acura NSX, but it was a masterpiece in the eyes of discerning enthusiasts. It's no surprise that its owners have developed a cult devotion.

5/10 Datsun 240Z

Introduced in 1966, the Datsun 240Z was an instant hit. It swept the world with its impressive design and driving performance. Intending to take on other European sports cars, Nissan priced it within the MGB-GT range and continued to outsell other European sports cars in the United States. RELATED: The 10 most eye-catching cars at StanceNation Japan 2022

The 240Z was able to keep up with other muscle cars, but at a time when the energy crisis was just beginning, it delivered excellent fuel economy. His diminutive 2.4-liter six-cylinder engine was able to propel the car to a top speed of 135 miles per hour. The car's relatively affordable price and decent performance struck a chord with the public, and garnered positive reactions from the automotive press and buyers.

4/10 Mazda RX-7

Throughout the 20th century, several automakers tried and tested the Wankel rotary engine in their vehicles, but none came close to matching the Mazda RX-7 from 1978 to 2002. Thanks to its curvaceous looks and rotary engine that revs to the moon, it has won the hearts of gearheads and has a cult following today.

The third generation Mazda RX-7 FD put out 276hp and hit 60mph in 5.0 seconds before reaching a top speed of 155mph. While not the fastest, the RX-7's 50:50 front/rear weight distribution makes it one of the best-handling sports cars ever produced.

3/10 Toyota Supra A80

The 1978 Toyota Supra was just a boring grand tourer with decent performance. More than a decade later, Toyota raised the bar with the release of his fourth-generation Supra in 1993, which boasted performance levels that rivaled supercars. Toyota has got the right sports car to challenge the best of Italy and Germany.

In its most powerful application, the A80 produced 326 horsepower and could accelerate the car to 60 miles per hour in 4.6 seconds and reach a top speed of 180 miles per hour when unrestricted. The new Supra boasts higher numbers, but I doubt it will live up to the Mk IV hype. And unlike other European sports cars, the A80 proved that high-performance sports cars can also be trusted thanks to his bulletproof 2JZ engine.

2/10 Nissan Skyline GT-R R32 "Godzilla"

Introduced in 1989, the GT-R R32 was Nissan's most advanced road car. It completely revolutionized its segment and set its rivals back at the drawing board. With its ATTESA E-TS AWD system and powerful his 2.6-liter twin-turbocharged RB26DETT 6-cylinder engine, the R32 was unbeatable. RELATED: 10 Most Legendary Tuning Shops in the Japanese Auto Tuning Scene

It earned the nickname 'Godzilla' because it set the production car record at the 1989 Nürburgring, winning every race it entered between 1989 and 1992. The Porsche 959 became the benchmark for his R32 development, so it's no wonder this car has annihilated nearly every sports car in the world. The R32 was a legitimate precursor to the modern GT-R R35.

1/10 Lexus LFA

In the 2000s, Toyota's luxury car division focused on developing supercars. Development dates back to 2000, and although it took a long time for LFA to come out, he believes it was worth the wait. Boasting a top speed of 202 mph, his LFA was as fast as the 2006-2012 Ferrari 599 as he went from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.6 seconds.

But the pinnacle of the LFA was the 4.8-liter naturally aspirated V10 engine. The high-revving engine, co-developed with Yamaha, redlines at his 9,000 rpm, sounds like a Formula 1 engine and makes him one of the best V10 engines of all time. Source: Topgear, Roadandtrack, retromotor, TopSpeed, Supercars.net