The 25-year ban on imports is something that all JDM enthusiasts remind themselves with a heavy heart. But holding onto your patience helps as every year we get a batch of cool JDM cars that we have forever craved to enjoy (it's a kid in a candy shop kinda feeling!). As weird as the ban sounds, this rule has actually helped us uncover some gems over time. There are cars which we have been craving for a long long time, and at the same time, there are some which we didn't even have the slightest clue existed!
The rarer ones will most probably be a lot harder to get hands-on, there were some very common cars sold elsewhere, which are gold to us. Many of the cars this year, would be improved and performance-bumped ones of the 1995 MY. The likes of GT-Rs, Lancers, and Imprezas continue to carry forth the golden era of JDM but this year we also have a bunch of off-beat cars that can stir up the JDM vibe for families as well!
The latest bunch exempted from the 25-year rule packs a bunch of drool-worthy and off-beat JDMs to cheer you up.
Nissan Stagea - A Practical Skyline
The Nissan Stagea was a wagon version of the R33 Skyline GT-R. Not completely, but it did share a lot of parts with the R33 Skyline which made it very similar in dynamics and powertrain setups. The sober models were built with Nissan's 2.5L Turbo (RB25DET) Inline-5 motor which was also used in the Skyline GTS-Ts. It came with a 5-Speed manual gearbox and AWD.
You could also have a Stagea with an RWD setup as well. But the ones that we are craving were those powered by the R33 GT-R's 2.6L RB26DETT motor. It came with a more aggressive body kit and was named the 260RS and was built by Nissan's in-house tuner Autech, and pumped out 276 hp. This one looked rad and only 1,734 were ever made in its timeline. So, getting hold of one can be quite the task.
Mitsubishi Lancer EVO IV - All-Wheel-Drive Bonanza
This legend doesn't need an intro and it came with a modified version of the 2.0L 4G63T from the Evo III. It added a larger intercooler and for the first time came with a twin-scroll turbo for more power, 276 hp to be precise. This particular EVO was famous because it was the first in the batch to come with Active Yaw Control which adjusted the torque distribution at the rear based on the driving.
This EVO also had reworked mounting points for a reduction in torque steer which was quite a lot in this monstrosity. Mitsubishi only built 9000 of these iconic EVOs. And interestingly this didn't quite get the hype it deserved which is actually a good thing as you can easily get your hands on one.
Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 - The Lesser-Known JDM
Chances of you knowing about this Mitsubishi is very grim, as the EVO overshadowed this gem of a machine. The Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 also featured Active Yaw Control and came with a 2.5L Twin-Turbo V6 that pumped out 276 hp and came standard with a 5-Speed automatic gearbox. The 1996 MY was in its 8th Generation and did 0-60 mph in 5.7 seconds.
It also had a 6-Speed manual gearbox-equipped model that could cut down from the 0-60 mph time to 5.3 seconds (pretty fast for the time). This isn't quite popular but is very much deserving of attention as the EVO, and it also came in a wagon form - The Legnum.
Subaru Impreza WRX STI Version III - Rallying Legacy
There weren't any major updates for the 1996 Subaru Impreza WRX STI Version III. But a subtle aesthetic update went on to make the '96 Impreza, one of the most elusive looking ones. The mellow front fascia update gave it an intimidating look which amplified up its already cool appeal.
And it was also during 1996 MY, that both the WRX and WRX STI 276 hp (the magic number). The Subaru Impreza Line-up finally stood up in performance to its arch-rivals that included the likes of Nissan Skylines and Mitsubishi Lancer Evos.
Nissan Skyline R33 GT-R LM Limited - Commemorating The Skyline's Le Mans Effort
The Nissan R33 Skyline was given the green nod to be imported last year. But the R33 that we have here is a special edition model that was built in very limited numbers during the spring of 1996. The GT-R LM Limited was notably modified on the aesthetic front and all 118 of them came in Championship Blue color. It was built to celebrate the effort put down by the Godzilla at La Sarthe.
It wore special LM decals and got carbon fiber inserts in the rear spoiler, cooling ducts, and front bumper lip. Because of their insanely limited number and heightened appeal, the Nissan Skyline GT-R LM Limited is a tough one to come by, but making a few calls and trying won't hurt, will it?!
Sources: Thedrive.com, Hagerty.com, Motor1.com, Caranddriver.com, Roadandtrack.com, Carbuzz.com