Have you ever been to a concert, and at the end, you and the rest of the crowd are left wanting for one more song? Then the band obliges, plays one more time and everyone loses their minds. You end up going home with a smile on your face, realizing what a great night it has been.

It's exactly how we feel about these Japanese performance cars. They might have been discontinued due to economic challenges, tighter emission standards, lack of sales and a host of other reasons, but these cars are so good during their production run, that we're left yearning for these to have their own worthy encore, just like the all-new Toyota GR Supra had.

10 Mazda RX7

via : autotrader

The third-generation Mazda RX7 is loved by gearheads, not just because of its engine but also because of its great handling characteristics, even in stock form. The rotary engine enabled it to have a low center of gravity, coupled by the front midship layout meant it had a perfect 50:50 weight distribution, making it a competent car to drive at its limits.

Rear 3/4 view of the FD RX7
favcars.com

However, bad sales outside Japan due to the fact that it's a maintenance heavy car, and tighter emission standards led to the model being discontinued at the end of 2002. Not all hope is lost though, as Mazda teased us with an RX-Vision Concept in 2015, the return of the RX7 has not been ruled out.

RELATED : These Owners Modified Their Mazda RX7s Into Stunning Head Turners

9 Honda S2000

via Motor1.com UK

The Honda S2000 is also on our list of cars that are long overdue to make a comeback. Car enthusiasts miss the sweet sound of the roadster's high-revving VTEC engine and its lightweight FR layout makes it a blast to drive on winding roads.

Honda-S2000
via youtube

With the automotive industry crisis in the late 2000s, the S2000's sales dwindled down, forcing Honda to cease production of the model. However, according to Forbes magazine, the decision makers of the Japanese brand is considering to bring the car back by 2024 with an all-new model. If they do, and if it's anything like the original one, the wait will be worth it.

RELATED: Light Sports Car Showdown: Honda S2000 Vs Toyota 86 / Subaru BRZ Vs Mazda Miata FD

8 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution

white mitsubishi lancer evolution parked outside
Via wikipedia.org

A car that needs no introduction at all, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution is one of Japan's iconic cars. The formula was simple throughout 10 generations of this exciting car: sedan layout, 2-liter turbocharged engine close to 300hp, manual transmission, and four-wheel drive.

Motor1.com

The final edition rolled out of the production line in 2016, due to the fact that Mitsubishi has shifted its focus on making crossovers and electric vehicles. Although a rumor goes around that a new model will be coming thanks to the Renault-Mitsubishi-Nissan alliance. We can only hope for the best.

RELATED: 15 Things You Forgot About The Mitsubishi Lancer Evo

7 Toyota MR2

Toyota MR2 Mk2
Via WSupercars

With the return of the Supra nameplate boosting the Toyota brand together with the new GR 86 and GR Yaris, car enthusiasts can only hope that the MR2 would also get the same treatment. After all, it looks set to be the missing piece to the GR lineup.

RELATED : 2022 Toyota 86 Sports Car Debuts, Joins GR Lineup Alongside The Yaris And Supra

2 Generations of MR2 on Road Red and White
Via Car Throttle

The GR Supra and GR 86 both have an FR layout, while the GR Yaris is a turbocharged AWD. With the MR2 designed as a mid-engined rear-wheel-drive performance car, it sits perfectly in Toyota's current brand direction in producing exciting cars again.

6 Nissan R390

via motor1

The Nissan R390 was built to compete with the likes of the Mercedes-Benz CLK-GTR and the Porsche 911 GT1 back in the late 1990s, and it didn't do so bad at all. It might have not won the Le Mans, but it certainly was not smoked by its competition.

GT Spirit

However, rule changes meant that the R390's life as a sports car was short lived, with the advent of the Le Mans Prototypes dominating the field at the start of the 2000s meant this car became obsolete. We would love to see Nissan build a new version of this though, with the creation of the Hypercar class in Le Mans making the R390 project relevant again.

5 Tommykaira ZZII

via : driveexperience.it

Tommykaira is a forgotten Japanese sports car manufacturer, and only fans of Gran Turismo probably remember this brand. They produced this ZZII prototype, a lightweight mid-engined supercar with the drivetrain of the legendary Skyline GT-R.

via autoweek.nl

Sadly though, we never got to see the potential of this car as the design was bought out by Autobacs, and it remained as a prototype version. Car enthusiasts that remember this can only wonder what a modern day ZZII could do. Imagine a Nissan GT-R, but lighter, and mid-engined. That would have been bonkers.

4 Honda Integra Type R

White Honda Integra-R speeding
via Autoclassics

Mid 90s sport compacts are fast becoming sought after historic classics, and prices of mint examples sell for unbelievably high amounts at auctions. Well, that's because car manufacturers have moved on from this design philosophy, and enthusiasts buy these because they miss what a blast these cars are to drive, like this Integra Type R.

via Pinterest

Sure, the Civic Type R is still there as Honda's performance car, but it's gotten bigger, heavier, and no longer screams to 9,000rpm. We just can't help but imagine the thrills of driving a modern day lightweight front-wheel drive sports car from Japan could feel like.

3 Mitsubishi 3000GT

Mitsubishi-3000GT
via classic

Quite simply, the 3000GT was a sports car that's way ahead of its time. In the 1990s this car had twin turbos, all-wheel-drive and Active Aero, something that sports cars of today have been just starting to adopt.

Rear 3/4 view of the 3000GT
pinterest.com

The model was discontinued in the year 2000 due to financial crisis. If this car had remained in production, it's safe to say it could have competed with the Nissan GT-R as being Japan's most technologically advanced sports car.

2 Nissan Pulsar GTI-R

Supercars.com

The Pulsar GTI-R was Nissan's contender in the hot hatch segment in the 1990s, with a 227hp turbocharged 2-liter engine and the same ATTESA E-TS AWD system found in the Skyline GT-R. This car was worthy of the name "Baby Godzilla".

Rear 3/4 view of a red Pulsar GTI-R
Via jm-imports.co.uk

If Nissan today decided to compete with Toyota with the positive reception of the all-new GR Yaris, this is probably the nameplate they should be taking, together with the NISMO badge. Pulsar GTI-R NISMO. Now that sounds menacing.

1 Toyota Celica GT-Four

A modified Celica GT-Four
wallpapercave.com

Toyota's rallying prowess came to be with the Celica GT-Four. One of the most successful rally cars in the 1990s, this took on the likes of the Ford Escort, Subaru Impreza and the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution in the golden age of the Group A era.

Toyota Celica GT-Four Bring A Trailer 2
via YouTube

As fast as it was in the rally stages, the road going version of the Celica GT-Four was every bit as usable as a daily driver. It was reliable, had a comfortable ride and the 3SGTE engine was economical if you don't have a heavy right foot. Though the future looks bleak with this car ever returning due to this car being very similar to the current GR Yaris, we'd still love to have the Celica nameplate return for one last ride.

NEXT: These Hated Cars Are Actually Quite Fun To Drive