Good Japanese cars to modify

The passion for speed and performance cars is universal, but the passion holds a particular prominence in Japan. Over the years, legendary track-burning cars have come from shops bearing the names of Toyota, Nissan, Mitsubishi, and Honda. Even Subaru, a brand that goes out of its way to emphasize its family-first vehicles, has delivered a road scorcher or two only worthy of the fast lane.

Things came full circle in September 2013 when a Nismo notched the record time for volume production cars at Nurburgring. It didn’t surprise many that the automobile was a product of the Land of the Rising Sun. In fact, many of the fastest affordable cars in the world are Japanese. Where they lack muscular stances, they compensate for with sleekness and spectacular aerodynamics.

In this list, rounded up the cars that have been record-setting or in the running for most powerful car produced in Japan. For the sake of encouraging variety, we did not include former generations of the same vehicle — for example, the earlier Nissan R34 GT-R, since it evolved into the GT-R we know today. This way, the list is not dominated by one or two brands but instead showcases some of the fastest vehicles from all of the Japanese manufacturers; further, modified cars were left out, so each of the following was available from the factory. Here are ten Japanese cars that have been in the race for fastest ever.

10. Mazda RX-7 FD (252 hp)

The third generation of the Mazda RX-7 “FD” took the U.S. by storm in 1993. It was Motor Trend’s Import Car of the Year, and Playboy also named it the year’s best, declaring it better than the new Viper. Critics and fans were so impressed by the charge out of the twin turbo engine that could produce 252 hp on in its initial showing. By the time the RX-7 FD ended its production run, Mazda was delivering a model capable of 276 hp for American audiences. Its most powerful model could burn at top speeds over 155 mph and go from 0-60 in 5.3 seconds.

9. Honda/Acura NSX (270 hp)

Between 1990 and 2005, Honda served up the thrills with the NSX, a car that has recently been spotted at auto shows as a new Acura concept car. For the original, Honda engineers included so much aluminum that it kept the weight down about 500 pounds for the V6 capable of 270 hp (290 hp in its 3179 cc variant). Those specs allowed drivers to jump from 0-60 mph in about 5 seconds. When it arrived, a Motor Trend editor gushed the NSX was “far better than any Ferrari or Lamborghini ever built; it makes the Corvette ZR1 look like something contrived under a shade tree.” It was a monumental debut for a Japanese speed demon.

8. Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X (291)

One of the favorite cars for aftermarket upgrades, the 2014 Lancer Evolution X is no slouch in its factory configuration. Sporting a 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine, the tenth-generation Evo can serve up 291 hp at 6500 rpm and 300 lb-ft of torque at 4000 rpm. Its power and weight distribution allow it to go from 0-60 in under 5 seconds. This is a legacy in the making, however; the original Lancer Evo (1992) could produce 244 hp.

7. Subaru WRX STI (305 hp)

Subaru’s 2015 WRX STI packs a turbocharged Boxer engine capable of 305 hp and 291 lb-ft of torque. Motor Trend took a less capable STI model to the track in 2008 and hit 0-60 in 4.8 seconds. Based on that mark, the tester of the 2015 model considered Subaru’s estimate of 5.1 seconds a standard on which drivers could improve. In any event, there are thrills aplenty in this very fast yet humble car.

6. Toyota Supra Mark IV (320 hp)

Merely mentioning the Toyota Supra is enough to get vintage auto enthusiasts excited. In the new FT-1 supercar, Toyota fed directly off the influences of the Supra and Celica to craft its new scorcher worthy of “shock and awe.” The Supra that has earned so much fame over the years is typified in the 1993 Mark IV model packing a turbo engine capable of 320 at 5600 rpm horsepower and 315 lb-ft of torque at 4000 rpm. This fourth-gen Supra was capable of flashing from 0-60 in 4.3 seconds, and in the 1990s, it was a beast on American roads.