Japan is not only Mount Fuji, great islands, manga magazines, and 200 different Kit Kat flavors.
The Japanese auto industry is a hot topic to talk about for speed lovers and whoever is interested in selling or trading cars.
- Nissan Skyline GT-R
The Nissan GT-R, Affectionately known as Godzilla, is the quintessential icon of star racing cars in video games.
The sixth-generation GT-R, the R35, shines a light on Nissan’s know-how in terms of performance and can compete with much more expensive cars without embarrassment.
The Nissan Skyline GT-R was first produced from 1969 to 1973 and then from 1989 to 2002. The latest generation of this car, the R35, has a front longitudinal engine with in-line 6 cylinders of 320 horsepower (at 6800 RPM). Its maximum torque is 384 Nm at 4,400 RPM.
It has an all-wheel drive with a six-speed gearbox, which makes it a formidable sports car sought after by drivers thirsty for adventures and pure performance. Today, the Nissan GT-R has taken over the market once they released their legendary vehicle, the Skyline.
- Lexus LFA
Equipped with a 4.8 liter 560 horsepower V10 engine, the Lexus LFA is a limited edition car with only 500 copies and can reach the speed of 325 km/h and go from 0 to 100 km in 3.5 seconds.
Yamaha was a part of designing its engine. Lexus presented the LFA as early as 2005. Lexus also presented a roadster model in 2008, but never produced it.
Lexus sells LFA at 381,350 euros, almost 300,000 euros more than a Nissan GT-R!
The prestigious brand of Toyota wanted it to be the most exclusive model ever produced in Japan, 100% handmade at the rate of 20 copies per month.
As it is difficult to pay that big of a number, there are only 500 copies of LFA. It looks so polished and delicate, that it should be reserved only for salon stands.
- Toyota Prius
Toyota broke new ground with this model in 1997 by producing one of the first cars with hybrid technology.
Praised for its innovative side, the Prius is an excellent car renowned for only consuming 5 liters per 100km in urban areas.
It needs very little power; the heat engine only operates at strong acceleration and the battery is recharged during braking. On highways, Toyota Prius has less fuel consumption than gasoline cars in its class.
In town, the operation is smooth, and the contribution of the battery and the electric motor is noticeable in terms of consumption savings.
The Toyota Prius is an icon; while there are other cool compact hybrids, the Prius is the first one that comes to mind when one thinks of a “hybrid car”.
- Honda Jazz
The Honda Jazz is a compact MPV. Its third generation is sold in Europe with a unique 130 horsepower I-VTEC gasoline engine. It’s a perfect family car for city trips. The car received a slight restyling in 2017 with a new grille and new fascias.
Honda Jazz is one of the most trusted and popular Japanese models on the European and Arab markets.
The advantage of hybridization is to allow for lower consumption than thermal. While this is not always true on the motorway and in the city, where the test averages were 7 l / 100 km and 6.6 l / 100 km respectively, it is verifiable on the secondary network where consumption did not exceed 4.4 l / 100 km.
Additionally, the affordable price of the Jazz compared to other vehicles in its category makes it an easily recommendable car for people who want a small car with room inside.
Keep in mind the car value when reselling, and be careful driving on the highway.
- Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
Launched in 1999 with a 2.0-liter 280-horsepower engine, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution had a successful career, notably with its titanium turbo compressor and competitive suspension.
Originally designed for the World Rally Championship, it went through ten generations until production ceased in 2014 after the Japanese manufacturer didn’t meet the predicted sales of the last generations.
The Mitsubishi Lancer bowed out with a Finale Edition, produced in 1600 units released in 2014. It stands out with its larger spoiler, its many numbered Final Edition badges, and its power gain of 303 horsepower.
It’s important to emphasize that the Japanese and Korean manufacturers have made significant efforts, both aesthetically and comfort-wise, to reach the standards and expectations of customers.
In a nutshell, Japanese cars have a bright future ahead, and European manufacturers have something to be afraid of.