Japanese sports cars are typically held in high regard. Efficiency and affordability are among those reasons, performance is another, but overall coolness tends to envelop the performance machines Japan produces. From the Supra to the RX-7, most gearheads today have at least one Japanese sports car they idolize and drool over.
This decade was considered the golden age of Japanese sports cars, with incredible amounts of advanced technology and performance being poured into them, resulting in machines that eclipsed almost everything else on the market. While even in their standard form these sports cars were some of the coolest, the special editions that tweaked and improved them were even better. So, read on, to see 10 of the coolest special edition sports cars that came out of 1990s Japan.
10 Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R Nismo
One of the coolest late '80s, early '90s Japanese sports cars in its own right, the R32 generation Skyline GT-R was nicknamed Godzilla for a reason. With ultra-advanced tech all around, and performance that could match supercars in its normal form, Nismo managed to make it even more of a beast with race-bred tuning and parts.
While from the outside the changes made are rather subtle, when it comes to performance, Nismo's touches are anything but. Made in 1990 with just 500 examples, the GT-R Nismo was made to homologate the GT-R into FIA's Group A, the GT-R Nismo received touches such as new air ducts, bigger turbos, weight savings thanks to special aluminum body panels and a lack of ABS, and notably only was available with grey paint. A JDM legend you can now import (if you can find one), the GT-R Nismo is among the coolest Nissans of all time.
9 Nissan Skyline R33 GT-R Nismo 400R
Another Nismo race-tuned monster based on Nissan's ultimate performance car, the Nismo 400R took the R33 generation GT-R to the extreme with Le Mans based upgrades.
While not as beloved as the R32 and R34 generations, the R33 GT-R was still an absolute beast, and proved itself as such in many ways, including being raced at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Paying tribute to the Le Mans R33 racecar, the Nismo 400R was released in 1997 with just 44 units produced. Custom built and tuned, the improved RB26DETT engine threw down a whopping 400 hp, and handling was taken to racecar levels with new suspension, and an AWD system tweaked by Nismo.
8 Honda NSX Type R
The most awesome version of Honda's most awesome '90s sports car, the Japanese market exclusive Type R took the groundbreaking NSX to new levels with incredible handling.
Designed to prove that exotic, mid-engine sports cars could be sensibly and ergonomically designed, reliable, all while still thrilling to drive, the NSX was released in 1990 as a Honda in Japan, and an Acura in North America. Taking it to the extreme, the NSX Type R was released in 1992 as a track-focused special edition sold only in Japan. Stripping away most comfort features, shedding a significant 265 lbs from the car's weight, and adding stiffer handling upgrades that made it stunningly agile, all while leaving the engine stock the NSX Type R was a true track weapon. Limited to just 483 units, the original NSX Type R is one of the most awesome special editions in Honda's history.
7 Honda/Acura Integra Type R
Another legendary sports car wearing Honda's Type R badge, the Integra was a popular lightweight and fun machine that similarly became a track focused monster as a Type R.
While FWD, the Integra was still an awesome and affordable sports car, with a negligible weight and high revving engine that made it a blast to wring out on twisty roads. Sold as both an Acura in North America, and Honda in Japan, unlike the NSX Type R, North America also received the Integra Type R (ITR). Released in 1995, then 1997 for North America, the ITR used an even more spirited B18C inline-4 that screamed to a 8,400 rpm redline, and had a myriad of upgrades like upgraded suspension, reinforced subframes and suspension, a stiffened and seam welded chassis, and plenty of weight savings like a thinner windshield and lack of air conditioning.
6 Subaru WRX STI 22B
The ultimate rally-bred Subaru, the 22B was the coolest, most brutal, and most awesome form the WRX STI took, and today is a dream car for just about every Subaru enthusiast.
Celebrating both Subaru's 40th anniversary, as well as their 3rd WRC championship in a row, the 22B was a special edition of just 400 cars made for 1998 only. Fitted with a race-engineered version of the EJ22 boxer motor, as well as new suspension and many other proper rally performance parts, the 22B is as close as you can get to a factory-built road going version of Colin McCrae's iconic GC8 rally car - and prices reflect that, as a 22B goes for over $100,000 when one does come up for sale.
5 Toyota Celica GT-Four ST205
While not as well remembered or revered as the Subaru 22B, the Celica GT-Four was a similar rally car for the road, homologated from a true WRC rally car in epic fashion, but with a legacy cut short due to Toyota breaking the WRC's rules.
Earning wins in the WRC with previous generations of the Celica, the 6th gen debuted in 1994, and quickly took over rally car duty for Toyota. However, in 1995 it was found that Toyota had been using a device on their turbochargers to cheat through new WRC restrictions, and were banned from competing for a year. Regardless, the GT-Four ST205 was a proper road going rally car, with AWD and up to 252 hp, as well as lighter weight, and advanced "Super Strut" suspension.
4 Toyota Supra TRD3000GT
A legend that needs little introduction in its normal form, the Mk4 Supra is among the coolest, most iconic Japanese sports cars of the '90s. As the ultra-rare TRD3000GT though, the Supra became about as cool as it could get.
Entering the Japanese Grand Touring Car Championship (JGTC) in 1994 with performance engineering and tuning by TRD, the widebody Supra racecar (pictured top left of entry) was among the coolest Japanese racecars, and attracted massive attention at the Tokyo Auto Salon. Offering the racecar parts individually as special order, a limited edition of 35 completely converted TRD3000GTs were also made and sold by TRD. Mostly focusing on the awesome aerodynamically optimized body kit, the TRD3000GT also had a new performance exhaust and engine air intake.
3 Mitsubishi GTO MR
Mitsubishi's underrated '90s monster, the GTO - given the less cool "3000GT" name in North America, was a high-tech sports car with great power, and some sleek looks.
Introduced in 1990, the Mitsubishi GTO was a solid performer and thrilling sports car packed with an incredible amount of advanced tech, and an optional twin-turbo V6. But, all of these features made it rather heavy, diluting the performance potential it truly had. In 1994, the GTO MR ("Mitsubishi Racing") removed most of them while keeping that beast of a twin-turbo engine, and as a result could beat the R32 GT-R in a drag race. A relatively obscure beast the GTO MR is downright awesome.
2 Mazda RX-7 SP
One of the rarest RX-7 special editions ever made, the RX-7 SP was a proper race-bred homologation special. Known by few outside Australia, the SP is also one of the coolest and most potent forms the FD generation RX-7 took - excluding the later 2000s final editions like the Spirit R.
Failing to win at Bathurst - the most prestigious Aussie race, during the '80s, the '90s would see the RX-7 become a proper threat. Returning with vengeance to Bathurst in 1992, the new FD generation RX-7 took immediate victory. Making an even more brutal RX-7 racecar to hold on to that victory, the head of Mazda Motorsport Australia created a wicked stripped-down, advanced version of the RX-7 called the SP, and it won at Bathurst another 4 times in a row. Homologating the RX-7 SP into a road car with around 60 unique modifications to it, including plenty of carbon fiber, a bigger fuel tank, massive brakes, lowered weight, and around 40 more horsepower, just 35 of them were produced for the Aussie market.
1 Mazda MX-5 Miata R-Package
To be clear, the Miata is not exactly a cool car if you consider brutal acceleration and aggressive looks to be cool. But, when it comes to supreme handling, the R-Package Miata was about as good as an affordable sports car could be.
Based on the first generation Miata, the R-Package was available from 1994 until 1997, and focused on turning the already nimble Miata into an unstoppable machine on twisty roads and autocross tracks. Bestowing the Miata with Bilstein performance suspension, stiffer sway bars, new front splitter and rear spoiler, sportier alloy wheels, a limited-slip differential, and a lack of power steering, less than 2,000 R-Package Miatas were sold, making it as rare is it is agile.