The Japanese sportscar market is exploding which tells me we’re entering into JDM 2.0. Let’s take an inventory.
Toyota:
86
2.4L N/A boxer 4, fixed the torque dip, most practical affordable sports car
Supra
This one has a star next to it cuz…well yanno…still a great car though
Gr Yaris
The rally-bred homologation special with a turbo 3 banger. The problem is you can’t really get this. It’s limited run, not destined for NA and for those reasons they’ll be $$$
Gr Corolla
This is kinda like the more practical, less aggressive, and more affordable brother of the GR yaris – should have a turbo 4 banger
Lexus
IS 500
The spiritual successor to the ISF from yesteryear – same 5.0 and 8 speed gearbox as the RCF, same TVD LSD rear diff, but most importantly same sound
ISF (4.0 ttv8)
See above, but with fixing the biggest issue the 5.0 v8 has – no torque…also lets get the 10 speed in there…
RCF
See IS500, but minus 2 doors…that’s pretty much it
LC500
Quite possibly my favorite car i’ve reviewed in the past 3 years. Same 5.0 v8 but with the better 10 speed gearbox. This car is a future collectible, but you wont get it until you drive it
Rumored Lexus GR 86
Idk if this is going to happen and tbh i dont think it really has a place in the lineup without a new powertrain and interior revamp and at that point, it’s not really the same car
Honda
Civic Type R
This won’t be a reinvention of the wheel. I’ve talked with honda people and i’ve made several videos on this car already so if you know you know. FWD perfected.
Civic Si
This will be same vein. An update to the existing car which is perfectly fine. The Si is solid, fun, and a good car
Acura
TLX Type S
3.0 ttv6, makes good power, great ride, good comfort, and luxury, but too heavy
Integra Type S
We know very little about this car so far, but it’ll either be a mini TLX type s which would solve the TLX problem OR it’ll be a CTR cousin in which case im still into it
NSX type S
The world’s most overlooked supercar. Its in its last year of production here and Acura dials it up with a more powerful, more exclusive type S. this will be a future collectible
Subaru
BRZ
The BRZ/86 twins are fantastic and a great bang for your buck but some of you aren’t ready for that talk
WRX
The WRX and STI twins are getting a new gen in the next year or two and I’ve made a video going into what we know so far, but there’s alot we still dnot know yet
STI
Nissan
Z
The hype around this car has been SIGNIFICANT with it’s retro styling, ttv6, 400 hp and manual trans – despite riding on a chassis that’s over a decade old. But that’s also the reason it can be under 40k and can undercut the Supra so hard
GTR
This and the Supra…and to an extend the NSX are JDM royalty above all others. At least they were in the past. The latest NSX stays true to its roots, midengine techno rocketship, the R35, while over a decade old is still true JDM, and then there’s the Supra….we don’t have any news or stirrings on an r36, but it’s gotta be on its way
Infiniti
Q50/60 redsport
These cars are what i would call solid. Decent powertrains, but they ultimately feel unfinisihed or neglected. These will die with the transition to EV. Since the G35/g37 the community for these has really died off and there’s very little demand which is a shame because i really liked my g37
Mazda
Miata
No explanation necessary. The ND2 is a great car, and the NE probably will be too, but it will be heavier and probably not N/A
Straight 6 RWD
The Mazda 6 has been axed…at least for now, but can you image a turbo straight 6 RWD architecture mazda3 hatch? Now THAT’s something.
Missing:
S2000
MR2
RX7 (RX vision concept)
R36