sales in 1996 but continued to sell it in Japan until 2000.Īn all-wheel-drive, turbocharged coupe, the Skyline GT-R was never officially sold in the U.S., though many Japan-market GT-Rs have been imported and are easy to spot with their steering wheel on the right side. A “CR” (Club Racer) version was offered for one year (2008) with upgraded components and lighter weight.Ī successor to the original Datsun 240Z, this model is known as the Fairlady Z in Japan and the 1990-1996 versions featured a twin-turbo V6 engine and four-wheel steering technology dubbed Super HICAS (High Capacity Actively Controlled Steering). Introduced for the 2000 model year, the S2000 was a rear-drive, two-seat convertible with a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine offering a 9,000-rpm redline and one of the highest horsepower-per-liter metrics at the time. The Honda Civic Type R, a longstanding performance version of the model offered in Japan and Europe finally came to the U.S.
Originally a compact car with an emphasis on fuel economy, the Honda Civic is one of the most popular cars to modify using JDM performance upgrades and styling themes. It’s not overstating things to say the NSX established a new supercar performance benchmark that other supercar brands had to scramble to keep up with. in 1991 and featured the first mass-produced lightweight aluminum body. Known as the Honda NSX in Japan, this mid-engine, V6-powered supercar debuted in the U.S. It is considered among the best Japanese performance hatchbacks of the era. The Integra Type R featured a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine with variable valve timing (VTEC) and upgraded suspension and brake components.
90S JDM CARS IMPORTED TO USA MOVIE
The Honda S2000, a new rear-wheel-drive sports car with a 6-speed manual transmission and 9,000 rpm redline, added to the momentum, as did a little movie called The Fast and The Furious.Ĭalled the Honda Integra Type R in Japan, it was sold in the U.S. showrooms, including the all-wheel-drive Subaru Impreza WRX STI and Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution (or Evo).
The 1990s also saw substantial horsepower and chassis upgrades to existing U.S-market Japanese sports cars like the RX-7, Supra, and 300ZX, many of them now featuring twin-turbo engines and successfully competing in high-profile motorsports activities.īy the early 2000s additional JDM models had made the leap to U.S. The growing popularity of those American market magazines was conveniently timed with a wave of Japanese supercars coming to U.S showrooms, such as the all-new Honda NSX (badged as an Acura in the U.S.) and Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4. The Acura Integra, Honda Civic, Mitsubishi Eclipse, and Nissan 240SX were among the most common models featured in these magazines.
But the real pivot toward JDM vehicles came in the 1990s, when magazines like Sport Compact Car and Super Street focused on the growing enthusiasm for Japanese “tuner cars” and the enthusiast culture forming around them. That started to change in the 1980s, as sporty two-door coupes like the Honda Prelude, Mazda RX-7, Nissan 240SX, and Toyota Supra and Celica joined the Nissan 300ZX in U.S.
The term JDM originally represented cars sold primarily in Japan, but it has come to mean any high-performance Japanese model, where a new or used car sold exclusively in Japan or in multiple global markets, including the U.S. That’s not to say Japan’s performance car industry didn’t exist before 1990, but the average American’s awareness of Japanese domestic market models (or JDM cars) was minimal, at best. All you have to do is sign on the dotted line before you take ownership of your new right hand drive JDM sports car or daily driver.įrom the initial search to the financing process, JDM Sport Classics has got you covered.( iSeeCars) - From the perspective of USA-based car enthusiasts, performance-oriented Japanese cars have gone from obscure to mainstream over the past 30 years. We make sure we know every last detail of each JDM vehicle we import, and we handle all the necessary paperwork. At JDM Sport Classics, we understand the difficulties involved with purchasing and importing a vehicle from outside the US, which is why we’ve dedicated ourselves to making it easier.
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