Originally published at: https://www.pakwheels.com/blog/top-jdm-cars-90s/
Car enthusiasts consider the 1990s a golden era for cars if particularly JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) cars are being discussed. At that time the electric cars were still very far and distant and the performance vehicles running on the production line in Japan’s motor industry were entirely mechanical at that time. In Japan, due to strict vehicle inspections, the drivers considered innovation more important than the durability of the car and updated their cars frequently. The common string that binds JDMs is the economy and compact body. In no particular order, below are listed ten best JDM cars that ever came into existence. Only the 90s models of cars are discussed here.
Toyota Supra
Toyota Supra was manufactured by Toyota Motor Corporation in 1978. The initial four generations were produced from 1978 to 2002, and the fifth-generation went on sale in May 2019. Supra was more popular due to its sporty design rather than its performance. When its A80 generation came, it became a favorite car for tuners. The car was powered by a 3.0L engine having 320 hp equipped with a 6-speed manual transmission. It has a top speed of 249 kph and more importantly, it had the honor of becoming Paul Walker’s first car in the "Fast and Furious" first movie.
Honda Civic Type-R
The Honda Civic Type R is the highest performance version of the Honda Civic manufactured in 1997. Civic Type-R looks like a budget car for a salaried class person, but it is not a budget car. This car earned its name in the World of drag racing by simply throwing every competitor out of the race. It is equipped with 1.6L engine having 182 hp and 5-speed manual transmission gearbox. It has a top speed of 235 kph.
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution is also known as Evo. It is a sports sedan manufactured by the Japanese manufacturer Mitsubishi Motors from 1992 to 2016. The Evo still holds several racing records and remains a force to be reckoned with every time it appears on the track. It is powered by a 2.0L engine which churns out 291 hp. It has a dual-clutch unit for twin-clutch sports shift transmission offering six gear ratios with a top speed of 235 kph. Evo’s all models were originally inhibited to Japan.
Acura Integra RS
Acura is the luxury vehicle marque of Japanese automaker Honda. It was manufactured from 1986 to 2006. Integra RS is designed so that it could lead the drag racing and a classic at the same time, showcasing the perfect balance between on-road performances and looks. It was equipped with a 1.8L engine having 142 hp with a 5-speed manual transmission. It has a top speed of 225 kph.
Nissan Silvia S15
The Nissan Silvia name was given to sports coupes based on Nissan S platform. It was considered best looking and performing vehicle at drifting events all around the world. It was one of the finest cars with street drifting capabilities. It came from 1999 to 2002 equipped with a 2.0L turbocharged engine having 247 hp and mated to 6-speed manual transmission with a top speed of 244 kph.
Honda Del Sol
The Del Sol was an attempt by the Honda engineers to make a rival for the Mazda MX-5. It is considered the most insane sports car ever made because the engineers took out everything from the car they thought a car does not need and tried to make it as light as possible. A limited-slip differential was also available with some models. It came from 1992 to 1998 with 1.5L and 1.6L engines having a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmissions. It produces 160 hp and has a top speed of 212 kph.
Toyota Altezza
The first generation Altezza was launched in Japan in 1998. It was designed to look and perform like a street racer and even shatter world records, according to its designers. It never touched the race track a single time due to its extreme design which violated many racing restrictions. The Lexus IS was originally sold under the Toyota Altezza nameplate in Japan from 1986. The IS was introduced as an entry-level sport model positioned below the ES in Lexus lineup. It is equipped with a 2.0 L engine with a 6-speed manual or 5-speed optional automatic transmission delivering 153 hp. Its top speed is 220 kph.
Subaru Impreza WRX STI
The Subaru Impreza is a compact car that has been manufactured by Subaru since 1992. The performance-orientated Subaru Impreza WRX STI was designed to compete in the World Rally Championship, WRX stands for “World Rally eXperimental”. It is a major rival to Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, Impreza WRX STI became equally popular at the rally and street races. Its most impressive feature is the 4-wheel drive capability. It has been equipped with a 2.0L engine having 276 hp which comes with a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission. It has a top speed of 230 kph. It even found fame on the big screen after featuring in Edgar Wright’s cult heist film "Baby Driver".
Mazda RX7
The Mazda RX-7 is a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive rotary engine powered sports car that was manufactured by Mazda from 1978 to 2002. Having a compact and lightweight Wankel rotary engine which sounded like nothing you ever heard of. The Mazda RX-7 became a key JDM car because the engine gave a financial benefit to its Japanese owners as the engine size was below 1.5L, this made the annual road tax affordable whilst still offering more power than traditional inline engines. It is equipped with a 1.3L engine producing 236 hp with a 5-speed manual transmission. It has a top speed of 250 kph. It is also extremely popular in Pakistan even today.
Nissan Skyline GTR
The Nissan Skyline GT-R is a sports car based on the Nissan Skyline range. Three generations of the vehicle were produced by the company. Nissan Skyline GT-R was initially produced between 1969 and 1973 as a touring car, with the later models known as the legendary “Kenmeri”. The model was revived in 1989 due to the brand’s desire to dominate motorsport. It is equipped with a 2.6L turbocharged engine with four-wheel drive option delivering 276 hp and having a 5-speed manual transmission. It has a top speed of 180 kph. It is truly one JDM car to behold.
Nissan Pulsar GTI-R
The fourth-generation Pulsar shares many features with the Nissan Skyline GTR like its all-wheel-drive feature and turbocharged engine. It made an enthusiastic following in Japan. It was produced from 1990 to 1994. This hatchback was produced specifically to enter the World Rally Championship. It is equipped with 2.0L engine having 5-speed manual transmission delivering 186 hp with a top speed of 232 kph.
Two decades have been passed; still, tuners and racers use these 90 model JDMs in street, drag and rally racing. These classic JDM cars are now being upgraded and modified by the next generation of petrol heads who get to enjoy it all over again. Which one is your favorite JDM car? Let us know in the comments section below. Stay tuned to PakWheels for more interesting car blogs because if it’s on wheels, we’ve got it covered.
