Japan has produced a lot of amazing cars. But we reckon these are the 10 best and most significant performance Japanese cars. And with good reason too… 
1. Subaru Impreza 22b Instantly recognizable thanks to wide arches and two-doors, the 22B celebrated 40 years of Subaru and three consecutive WRC manufacturers’ titles. Each 22B was built on a handpicked WRX STi Type-R chassis and featured 17in BBS wheels, Bilstein suspension, shot-peened gears and lots more. Under the bonnet is a 2212cc EJ22 engine, which used STi V4 cylinder heads and a VF23 turbo to produce in the region of 350bhp and 267 lb/ft torque. 
2. Mazda FD RX-7 Love them or hate them, Mazda’s rotary engine rocket brought stunning looks and serious performance to the masses that are still class-leading to this very day. It also won countless awards due to its fantastic looks, and tuned RX-7s still have huge success in drag racing, drifting, and Time Attack events across the world. And all that from a 1.3ltr lump! 
3. Mk1 Mazda MX-5 It’s a clich?, but the MX-5 really is Japan’s version of a classic British sports car. A lightweight soft-top with a willing four cylinder N/A engine, the MX-5 offers unbeatable smiles per mile, and has huge tuning potential. Ignore the hairdresser stereotype, tune it for more performance, and you’ll never look back. 
4. Toyota Celica Gt-4 The Celica GT-4 was designed to give Toyota a competitive rally car, and as such won them consecutive WRC championships in the ’90s. They were arguably better built than other Japanese rivals, and both the engine and drivetrain proved to be tough which makes it a great basis for tuning. Its 2ltr turbocharged 3S-GTE engine is capable of big power, and is somewhat of an unsung hero. 
5. Honda Civic EK9 Type-R The car that re-invented the hot hatch. A humble shopping car turned into a roadgoing racer thanks to great handling and a high-revving VTEC engine. With well over 100bhp-per-litre naturally aspirated, it was a revelation in hot hatches. The original EK model was only available in Japan, but people soon woke up to the raw power, nimble handling and spine tingling sound to import one themselves. 
6. Mk4 Toyota Supra Twin Turbo When the Mk4 Supra was launched back in 1993, the swooping lines and mighty 280bhp 2JZ straight six made the twin turbo Toyota stand out from the crowd. Designed as more of a grand tourer, than full-on sportscar, many were available as autos, but they were all very rapid. What makes this car so significant is the ease with which they can be tuned, with anything up to 1400bhp achievable! 
7. Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI Makinen Edition 250 TME versions of the awesome Evo VI were sold in the UK to celebrate Tommi Makinen’s four consecutive WRC championship wins. Available in five colours, the TME bridges the gap between the Evo 6 and 7 and benefits from a TD05 turbo with titanium compressor wheel, 17in Enkei wheels, revised suspension and a new front bumper. Rightly hailed as one of the best Evos. 
8. Nissan R35 GT-R It may have lost the legendary Skyline name, but the R35 continues the GT-R ethos, pushing the boundaries of physics using cutting edge materials and electronics. The new GT-R has a 480bhp+ 3.8ltr V6 twin turbo engine capable of producing mega power with only simple bolt-on parts, and a trick rear mounted 4WD gearbox. Godzilla has new teeth. 
9. Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R The original Godzilla. A hugely successful race car, the first of the modern Skyline GT-Rs was a phenomenon across the world. Much of the R32 GT-R’s success came from the partnership of a powerful 2.6ltr straight-6 twin turbo engine to a cutting-edge ATTESA 4WD system. Many of the GT-R’s rivals had similar power, but the clever computer-controlled 4WD system was the secret weapon that gave the GT-R superior grip and cornering ability. A true legend. 
10. Nissan Pulsar/Sunny GTi-R A little bit mental this one. Nissan wanted to join the World Rally Championship and butchered a load of Sunny hatchbacks to do so. The road going versions were initially mocked for their huge bonnet vent, woefully inadequate standard brakes, and little success in rallying, but the GTI-R quickly gained a reputation as one of the fastest point-to-point cars on the road. Very tuneable, too.
Top 10 Japanese Cars
