When it comes to sports cars, you may automatically think of Japan. They are among the best producers of sports cars in the world and with the territory, they also produce some fast sports cars!
But with so many Japanese sports cars on the market to drive in Japan, you might get a little lost and think to yourself, what are some of the top fast Japanese sports cars to drive in Japan?
Luckily, we’ve written this list of some fast Japanese sports cars that you can drive in Japan (see also ‘7 Smallest Japanese Cars To Drive In Japan’). So, if you’re looking for a ride – read on and learn more!
1. Infiniti Q60 Red Sport 400
To kick off our list, we have a beautifully crafted sports car produced by Infiniti. Not only does it look the part, but it is powered by an extremely powerful engine – being a twin turbo V6 – allowing it to blast at over 400 horsepower.
Despite being rear wheel drive, it has plenty of capabilities. In fact, it also has an all wheel drive drivetrain, which gives it that extra edge among anyone that is a fan of sports cars.
However, even with its amazing features, everything must have its drawbacks and the Infiniti Q60 400 is no exception. Where it benefits from speed and interior space, it lacks control and trunk space.
Indeed, driving this sports car, you almost immediately notice the steering is a little… off. It’s almost impossible to calculate the turning angles, and even if you do get the hang of it, you will find it a little unpredictable due to its adapting features.
But, having said all this – it’s still one of the best sports cars you can drive in Japan and as we have seen, it’s certainly one of the fastest!
2. Honda Civic Type R
Over the years, the Honda Civic has received some significant criticism, and it makes sense to some extent. The front wheel drive drivetrain was a huge point of concern for many car enthusiasts.
However, we saw some huge improvements with the Type R. Not only does it control and handle like a dream, but it sends you from point A to point B in moments, utilizing its incredible two liter turbo powered engine.
The engine allows you to experience 306 horsepower with a six speed transmission. This car truly gives you serious power behind the wheel. And of course, it doesn’t compromise on the other things that matter either.
Inside, it’s incredibly and deceptively spacious. There’s plenty of room for you and your passengers, a lot of compartments for extra space and the trunk space is much larger than previous models.
The seat material is exceptionally comfortable, but many drivers opt to add seat coverings for a little more comfort.
With the Japanese heat, covering leather and having methods to cool down is a must – and this car ticks all of these boxes.
3. Lexus RC F
This car is not only a favored vehicle in Japan, but it’s also massively popular around the world. In fact, Lexus is the highest selling brand of Japanese cars globally.
And when it comes to the Lexus RC F, the reason for such huge demand is even more pronounced.
This model was designed to go toe to toe with some of the major sports cars in the world, such as the Audi RS 5 or the Mercedes-Benz AMG C63 Coupe.
But with all of its beauties – what about its speed?
Luckily, the Lexus RC F does not disappoint in that field either. With a huge five liter V8 engine accompanied by an 8 speed auto transmission, you experience a superior 472 horsepower.
That’s nothing to sneeze at either. With all of these superb features, it also continues to impress inside and outside the car.
Not only does it look professional for a sports car, but the interior is so comfortable and allows for both a fast and enjoyable driving experience.
4. Mazda MX 5
This Japanese sports car is iconic with quite the history in the country. Actually, its heritage makes a lot of sense when you consider that the brand is known for bringing out lightweight cars with excellent handling.
The MX 5 is no exception to this. You get a very smooth, comfortable driving experience out of this and of course, it packs a punch with some speed. It offers a 181 horsepower boost, powered by a two liter SkyActiv engine.
The only potential drawback with this car is its small aesthetic. The appearance of the car just seems a little wrong, but don’t let that put you off. As a convertible, you can experience all of the glories that Japan has to offer comfortably and safely.
5. Nissan GT-R
Debuting its appearance back in 2007, the Nissan GT-R, aptly named Godzilla, was originally created to be a rival for its predecessor of the Nissan Skyline.
It’s an incredibly fast Japanese sports car and when you recognize that it has a 3.8 liter V6 engine, it’s simple to understand why! This is helped out by a six speed auto transmission, giving it 565 horsepower and a massive 6,800 rpm.
As a result of this, you can travel from 0-60 in under three seconds, which is actually the same as the Bugatti Veyron!
Despite the fact that this vehicle is not exactly new when it comes to the Japanese sports car market, it still dominates the playing field.
Luckily too, this is paired with an amazing interior and a smart looking exterior, perfect for anyone who wants to drive the roads of Japan in style with some serious firepower.
6. Acura NSX
Moving into the luxury territory from Honda, Acura has produced this beautifully crafted NSX model which combines an elegant feeling drive with significant speed.
This model is part of the new generation and it has a massive twin turbo V6 engine with a carbon trimmed battery pack, which of course makes this sports car into a hybrid.
As an all wheel drive drivetrain, it doesn’t compromise on comfort either. You glide through the roads as if they are made of rubber.
Indeed, this is one of the best sports cars available to drive in Japan, and as a result – it has sold many units.
7. Subaru WRX STI
Over and over again, Subaru has proven their capabilities when it comes to producing an amazing sports car – and of course, these sports cars typically are pretty quick too.
It shows its speedy might with a 2.5 liter turbocharged engine and a six speed manual transmission. However, when you drive this car, you could describe the response as a little lagging.
However, this doesn’t detract away from the overall result. With over 300 horsepower, you can seriously enjoy driving this amazingly designed and responsive sports car, which many car enthusiasts would describe as the old school of Japanese cars.
8. Nissan 370Z
Besides the amazing 3.7 liter V6 engine which boasts allowing over 330 horsepower, there’s not a great deal to shout about with this sports car in terms of comfort or safety. Indeed, these are areas that are lacking, especially when considering today’s standards.
However, this rear wheel drive does still have a glorious design and Nissan seem quite taken by this model as they have not announced any replacements for it.
So, don’t expect this Japanese sports car to go very far on the market!
9. Toyota Supra
It could be debatable if you call the Supra truly Japanese as the engineering and the parts are largely by BMW. However, we’ll include it on the basis of being a Toyota.
It has a three liter turbo inline six engine with over 380 horsepower to shout about. The thing that makes this car so special though is that it is one of the best Japanese sports cars to buy on a budget.
Indeed, you will be hard pressed to find another sports car like this one that doesn’t smash the bank balance as much as other Japanese sports cars can.
10. Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ
As with the Supra, this sports car is one of the choices that you should turn your attention to if you are looking for a Japanese sports car on a budget. Despite its stature financially speaking though, this is not a car to take lightly.
This model is fitted with a 2 liter four cylinder boxer engine and comes with a standard six speed manual transmission which gives it 205 horsepower.
And let’s not forget the fact this is one of the smoothest rides for a Japanese sports car on the market too!
Final Thoughts
Japanese sports cars are designed beautifully and some of them are gorgeous to drive – we hope we’ve been able to inspire you with our list!