If you explore the auto market, you'll find plenty of models that have been around for longer than you've been alive. Take the legendary Toyota Land Cruiser, for example. The Land Cruiser has been in production since the '50s and is still considered to be among the best SUVs you can buy today.
Every Japanese automaker would love all its models to be as successful as the Land Cruiser has been, but that rarely ends up being the case. The sad truth is that most models end up being discontinued for one reason or another, even when gearheads love them. This article explores ten discontinued JDM models we wish manufacturers will revive in the future.
10 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
Let's kick off with one of the best Japanese project cars ever built - the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. The Lancer Evo debuted in the '90s and was supposed to bring advanced rallying technologies to road-going cars.
Although the Lancer Evo had a plain and unassuming design, it was a joy to drive thanks to its turbocharged four-cylinder engines and all-wheel-drive systems. It's also highly tunable, which means you can turn it into an absolute beast with the right modifications.
9 Toyota MR2
In the '80s, Toyota noticed a sharp rise in the demand for affordable sports cars from gearheads who couldn't afford European options. Toyota quickly got to work and built the MR2 in 1984.
The MR2 was a huge hit. For one, it was the first Japanese rear-mid-engine sports car ever made, which gave it superior handling capabilities compared to its competitors. Toyota produced three generations of the MR2 before calling it quits in 2007, but most gearheads wish they never stopped.
8 Mitsubishi 3000GT
In the '90s, every top Japanese automaker had an affordable sports car on offer. Mazda had the RX-7, Nissan had the Skyline GT-R, Toyota had the Supra, and Honda had the NSX. Not wanting to be left behind, Mitsubishi developed the 3000GT.
The 3000GT had a superb design and the power to match, particularly in VR4 guise. Powered by a twin-turbocharged V6 making 329 hp, the 3000GT VR4 had superb performance. Mitsubishi hasn't built a proper sports car in years, and we think a 3000GT revive would change that.
7 Toyota Celica
The Celica is one of those sports cars that get a lot of hate for no reason. Sure, the final Celica generation wasn't great, but it still can't overshadow how important the Celica was. After all, without the Celica, we wouldn't have the iconic Supra.
The Celica was in production for 35 years, spawning many generations and versions. Of all the Celica trims ever built, the GT-Four is our favorite as it's considered to be among the most iconic rally cars of its day.
6 Mazda RX-7
The Mazda MX-5 Miata is one of the most popular Japanese sports cars ever. However, when asked to choose just one Mazda sports car to buy, most gearheads would opt for the RX-7, particularly the FD generation.
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The RX-7 had an awe-inspiring design featuring pop-up headlights, a Wankel rotary engine under the hood, and superb driving dynamics. Every gearhead would want Mazda to produce a new RX-7 with a modern version of the rotary engine.
5 Honda S2000
The '90s decade was incredibly important for Honda as an automaker. Honda went from being known as a manufacturer of boring economy cars like the Civic to a manufacturer of world-class supercars like the NSX. Another awesome sports car Honda built back then is the S2000.
The S2000 is a stylish roadster Honda built to celebrate its 50th anniversary. The S2000's best feature was its high-revving engine - a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder unit dishing out 247 ponies.
4 Subaru SVX
When Subaru introduced the XT in the '80s to compete in the affordable sports car market, not many gearheads were impressed with the XT's looks, power, or build quality. Instead of giving up, Subaru rolled up its sleeves and built a much-improved successor - the SVX.
The SVX had many improvements over its predecessor, especially in the looks department as it had been redesigned by the renowned Giorgetto Giugiaro. It was also a much more exciting car to drive, as it was powered by a 3.3-liter six-cylinder engine belting out 230 hp.
3 Toyota AE86
The Corolla is among Toyota's greatest models, as it has sold millions of units over the years. The Corolla has spawned multiple variants over the years, and the AE86 is among the best.
The AE86 is one of those cars with a cult following. The AE86's reputation as one of the best drifting cars, its rich motorsports history, and its inclusion in popular Japanese comic books have turned it into an absolute icon that we'd love to see revived.
2 Nissan Silvia
In the '90s, the Nissan 240SX was one of the most popular Japanese cars in the US. However, the Japanese equivalent of the 240SX - the Silvia - was much better in every way.
We particularly love the final two iterations of the Silvia - the S14 and S15. Their sleek designs and exciting naturally aspirated or turbocharged four-cylinder engines gave them incredible value for money, which is why gearheads still love them today. We can't wait until 2024 when the S15 is eligible for import into the US.
1 Honda CR-X
The CR-X is a sport compact car that Honda built from 1983 to 1991. The CR-X was based on the Civic, but one couldn't tell as it looked and felt like an entirely different car.
For one, it had a unique design and interior layout. It was also faster, as it had a 1.6-liter VTEC four-cylinder engine making 148 hp.