America is a nation of diversity, just as it is a nation of inclusivity. It’s also an originator and innovator in many transformational fields. With one of the highest per capita incomes in the world, the standards of living for most average Americans is something that citizens of other countries greatly admire. America’s real, imagined, and perceived supremacy comes from all the big milestones the country has achieved, and this includes its incredibly developed automotive industry.
Such a strong and diverse automotive market enables the average American buyer to not just have access to a ridiculously vast array of vehicles but also afford them. But while America is a significantly liberal nation, some cars built within and without its borders have been banned from American roads for a myriad of reasons.
Personal and public safety are the greatest priorities in helping determine cars to be allowed on the roads. Over there years, particular brands have been banned from American roads, mainly for safety concerns. Here are some of the coolest foreign exotics Americans will never be able to drive in the country.
10 2003 TVR Tuscan
British automaker TVR has some of the most exotic high-end sports cars. By fitting lightweight and powerful engines in their cars, they have managed to outwit several brands and book a spot in modern motoring as well as the future of sports cars.
One of their most popular cars is the TVR Tuscan produced between 1999 and 2006. The most popular version is the 2003 TVR Tuscan, which appeared in John Travolta’s movie Swordfish. Although it rose to fame and many Americans desired a piece, lack of antilock brakes, acceleration issues as well as airbag questions led to its illegalization on American roads.
9 1993 Lamborghini Strosek Diablo
There are several Lambo models you can import to the United States, but don’t waste your money on the 1993 Lamborghini Strosek Diablo. The issues with this car include its power and some design aspects. If you look at the side mirrors and the headlights, you quickly notice they contravene U.S. regulations. Regardless of the modifications you make, you still won’t drive this car on U.S. roads.
The engine on this Lambo is a 5.7-liter, 48-valve V12 with dual overhead cams generation 485 horsepower. It will only take you 4.5 seconds to accelerate from 0-60 mph in this supercar.
8 Lotus Elise Series 1
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Lotus makes some of the best compact sports cars and convertibles that are in reach of the average buyer. However, you cannot drive the Lotus Elise Series 1 in America.
This Lotus was banned because it’s a right-hand drive, yet American cars left-hand drives. Additionally, as opposed to a convertible, it comes with no roof and windows, posing a significant risk to its passengers.
7 Lotus Exige S
The Lotus Exige S fails to meet America’s airbag safety regulations and for that reason, it’s banned from American roads. The Lotus Exige S is nonetheless a very desirable car that any sports car enthusiast would love to pack in their garage for long.
It would be an expensive affair to make the Lotus Exige S fully conform with the US laws for the company and for any individual. If you so badly desire to have a Lotus, you could wait until it becomes a classic and possibly the ban will be lifted.
6 1989 Porsche 959 S
The Porsche 959 is among the most beautiful sports cars from the '80s, and it's built in exceedingly low numbers. Only 337 of them were built, which includes 37 prototypes and pre-production models. This automatically makes it a mouthwatering collectible for any gearhead.
The 959 S (Sport) is an indisputably powerful car and one of the best of its time. It could do a 0-60 mph launch in a mere 3.6 seconds and hit a top speed of 197 mph, putting it among fastest production cars in its heyday.
This Porsche remained illegal in the U.S. for a long time. However, in 2003, tuning company Canepa Design initiated a restoration program enabling them to pass emission regulations and effectively made a significant number of them street-legal in the United States.
5 TVR T350
We’ve talked of the TVR Tuscan, and here is yet another TVR car that’s illegal to drive in the United States. The TVR T350 failed lots of safety tests, including airbag requirements.
If the law was blind, you would be tempted to contravene and have this car anyway. It’s a beautifully crafted car, and the gullwing doors just make it breathtaking.
4 1993 Jaguar XJ220S
The company made six of these sports cars and fitted them with a 542-horsepower Tom Walkinshaw Racing (TWR) V6 engine that propels the Jaguar XJ220S to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds.
The top speed is capped at 228 mph. This kind of power and light weight became this Jaguar’s undoing in its quest to get a home in the United States of America.
3 1997-2000 Honda Civic Type R
You can own a new Honda Civic Type R in the U.S. today, but if you specifically want the 1997-2000 model, you won’t be able to drive one there. The specific reason given is that it fails emission standards. However, the model made its return to the U.S. market in 2017 and has stuck around since.
JDM cars have found favor in the U.S. market over the years, and we're eagerly awaiting the 2022 Honda Civic Type R to reach American shores.
2 1999 Nissan Skyline R34 G
The Nissan Skyline makes a very lovely car for a daily commute; however, it is considered non-compliant with NHTSA, DOT, and EPA regulations. A tuning company called Motor-EX attempted to make them compliant in the early 2000s, but it soon shut down when this expedition didn't prove forthcoming. That said, some R33 Skylines built between March 1996 and July 1998 were allowed into the United States.
There are about nine generations of the Skyline that remain banned in the States, but the 1999 version is reported to be the most desired. It was technologically very advanced and among the first cars to sport a screen on the dashboard.
1 Noble M600
Finding a Noble on this list should be of no surprise. The Noble M600 might ring a bell in the mind of car enthusiasts, but not the common uninterested motorist.
This British-made Ferrari challenger was launched in 2012 with an exorbitant price tag for the well-oiled. It features a 4.4-liter 659-horsepower V8 that would undoubtedly cause it a hit among U.S. buyers. However, it fails to meet several safety standards required to make it legal in the U.S.