Once upon a time, Japanese cars were the laughingstock of the global automobile industry. However, just like Cinderella, things started looking better as time went on. Today, JDMs are among the best-selling vehicles in the world. On top of selling like hotcakes, these Japanese cars often included some ground-breaking technology. Naturally, tensions emerged between Japanese car companies.
In the early 1990s, a rivalry between two Japanese carmakers caught the attention of piston heads throughout the world. The Mitsubishi Lancer Evo and the Subaru Impreza WRX were going toe-to-toe on and off the track. As both these Japanese performance cars are virtually indestructible, it became increasingly challenging for both Mitsubishi and Subaru to continue improving their flagship vehicles.
10 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII: Arguably The Best Evo Ever Made
First released in 1992, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo was destined to excel. Originally fitted with a turbocharged 2.0L inline-four, the Lancer Evo was initially based on the highly-underrated Galant VR-4. As time went on, the Lancer Evo ended up replacing the Galant, only to become one of the greatest sports cars to come out of Japan. Though recently discontinued, the Lancer Evo remains a legend among piston heads.
The Lancer Evolution VIII is among the best Mitsubishi sports cars ever made. Produced between 2003 and 2005, 12,846 units were sold in the United States according to evolutionm.net. With an MSRP starting at a little over $30,000, the Lancer Evo VIII is valued at $24,100 in good condition according to Hagerty. It is fair to say that it is one of the few modern Japanese sports cars that maintained its value.
9 Subaru Impreza WRX STi 22b: Common Mistake
Released the same year as the first Mitsubishi Lancer Evo, the Subaru Impreza made its debut as a sedan and a station wagon. The Impreza was originally a lukewarm vehicle that still needed some serious work to become attractive. The very first two-door WRX STi, released in 1995, is often regarded as the ultimate Impreza WRX STi.
The Impreza WRX STi Coupe was produced in limited numbers and was never made available in the United States. 10,000 units sold in Japan as it was a made-to-order Impreza. While the GC8D Coupe was a tremendous car, it is not the 22b. The GC8D paved the way for another model of Impreza, the GC8E, which is what the Impreza WRX STi 22b is based on.
8 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII: Tuner's Special
The Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8 was featured in several video games, including the iconic Need For Speed: Underground 2. The video game was released after the first two The Fast And The Furious movies came out. Given the state of the modified car scene during that era, the Evo VIII logically became a go-to car among car fans looking for a serious adrenaline rush.
There are several reasons why petrol heads love the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII. First, the Evo VIII can be turned into an aggressive beast simply by changing the wheels. The humongous spoiler fits the rest of the sports sedan perfectly. Although the Evo VIII looks mean as is, the only element that really needs to be swapped is the exhaust system. These simple modifications can already transform the Evo VIII into a head-turner.
7 Subaru Impreza WRX STi 22b: Japanese Gem
The number of outstanding Japanese cars that fell under the radar is quite remarkable. Whether it is because these cars were reserved for Japanese motorists or the fact that they were eclipsed by other monsters such as the BMW M3 or the Porsche Boxster, these unknown cars are still worth their weight in gold. They are often worth far more than the cars that overshadowed them.
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There are several things everyone forgot about the Subaru Impreza 22b STi, such as the fact that only 400 units were officially made. Meant exclusively for the Japanese market, the 22b would eventually be exported to the United Kingdom. With 25 units made for the export market, it is quite normal that a 22b sold for $317,555 back in 2021.
6 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII: World Rally Championship Fluke
Several hardcore muscle heads would be quick to dismiss the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII as a rice rocket. While it could be debated that undercarriage neon and a plethora of vinyl stickers would be considered as cringe today, the Lancer Evo VIII still came with enough power to annihilate American cars of the same caliber during that era. In fact, the Lancer Evo VIII was a true beast in professional racing.
Introduced in 2004, the WRC04 is based on the Lancer Evo VIII. Unlike previous Lancer Evo made for WRC, the WRC04 was not a success. With that said, the WRC04 did not represent all the Lancer Evo VIII across the board. The Lancer Evo VIII in its more conventional form took place in smaller rally events and came out victorious.
5 Subaru Impreza WRX STi 22b: World Rally Championship Tribute
The 1990s were quite interesting. The World Rally Championship, commonly referred to as WRC, saw some of the most talented drivers duking it out on the most dangerous roads. Only a handful of years after the release of the Impreza WRX STi, Subaru was bullying its competitors on the track. Whether it was on the windy asphalt roads of Corsica or the muddy and icy roads of Finland, Subaru was humiliating its rivals.
Things were looking bright at Subaru during the 1990s. After securing four constructor titles with Colin McRae, Subaru decided to celebrate by creating the 22b. Borrowing several elements from the WRC version, the 22b sports the legendary metallic blue, hood scoops, and golden rims. Subaru did the right thing by keeping several racing elements on the 22b.
4 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII: 4G63T
Mitsubishi is no stranger to amazing compact engines. The widely unknown FTO GP Special and the underrated Galant VR-4 are the perfect examples. The latter comes with a 2.0L DOHC V6, while the former is fitted with a monstrous twin-turbocharged 2.5L DOHC V6. Consequently, it is quite normal that Mitsubishi shoehorned its most valuable mass-produced engine in the Lancer Evo VIII.
The unit found on the Lancer Evo VIII is a legacy engine. Found on every Lancer Evo made between 1992 and 2007, the third generation 4G63T is a robust powerplant that aged like fine wine. After having undergone several improvements over the years, the 4G63T found on the Evo VIII remained a turbocharged 2.0L inline-four that is however capable of pumping out 276 hp at 6,500 rpm and 295 lb-ft of torque at 3,000 rpm.
3 Subaru Impreza WRX STi 22b: EJ22G
Subaru is well-known for its Boxer engine. In use for more than 45 years, the engine has pleased a decent number of gearheads. Capable of producing an incredible amount of power, the engine found on the Subaru Impreza WRX STi has earned its reputation since its introduction. The only other car company that has released other legendary Boxer engines is Porsche.
Based on the STi's EJ20K, the EJ22G is one of Subaru's most epic engines of the '90s. The version found on the 22b is a turbocharged 2.2L inline-four engine rated at 280 hp at 6,000 rpm and 268 lb-ft of torque at 3,200 rpm. Subaru failed to respect the Gentlemen's Agreement that would be in force until 2005. With that said, most Japanese sports cars released during that era were known to be able to produce far more than 276 hp.
2 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII: Prize Winner
Dismissed for being a Japanese car, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII is known for being a true sports car. As a matter of fact, the Lancer Evo VIII remains one of the most stylish and modular Lancer Evos ever made. The Japanese sedan has so much potential that its value has barely decreased over the years. It is fair to say that the Lancer Evo VIII is up there with the Supra MK4 and the Skyline R34.
The Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X was the end of the Evo, but it was not the most revered Evo ever made. The Lancer Evo VIII collected six awards including Playboy Sports Car 2004 and 2005 All-Star. The Evo VIII is the Lancer that won the most awards during its tenure. As a result, it is quite understandable why the Lancer Evo VIII is not depreciating rapidly.
1 Subaru Impreza WRX STi 22b: Tribute
Not everybody had the chance to get their hands on the Impreza WRX STi 22b. Today, a 22b in mint condition goes for as much as a Lamborghini Aventador. Consequently, only true 22b lovers with a humongous wallet may want to do what it takes to own one. However, there is a company out there that manufactures replicas that are worth every penny.
When the Prodrive P25 made its debut at the Goodwood Festival Of Speed, it was clear that the British company wanted to make a statement. For those that do not know, Prodrive has been working hand-in-hand with Subaru for decades. Some of the beasts taking part in WRC underwent Prodrive's treatment, which may explain why they are so remarkable. Unlike the 22b, the P25 comes with an EJ25 unit that develops 400 hp. Though more powerful than the original 22b, the P25 also costs an arm and a leg. With that said, the 25 units made ensure their buyers bumping into another P25 is statistically unlikely.