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That was a big thing with Japanese sports cars in general: proving more cylinders was a dead end and just extra weight. Pretty much all of the big JDM classics
by redwall_hp 11mo ago
That was a big thing with Japanese sports cars in general: proving more cylinders was a dead end and just extra weight. Pretty much all of the big JDM classics of the 90s and 2000s are 4-cyl (aside from Mazda's rotary engine cars) putting down 200-300hp range with favorable power/weight.
- giobox 11mo agoSure, if you completely disregard the legendary straight sixes from Toyota and Nissan (RB, JZ...). I agree 4 bangers are huge historically in JDM sports cars, but so too is the straight six - the classic Z cars, Supras, GT-Rs...
- ebbi 11mo agoAnd restrained power figures due to the 'gentlemen's agreement' they had in Japan.
- LgWoodenBadger 11mo agoI can't think of any from the 90s that weren't 6 cylinders. Nissan 300Z, Nissan Skyline GT-R, Honda/Acura NSX, Toyota Supra, and Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4 were all 6 cylinders. The only exceptions I can think of are the Subaru Impreza WRX/STI, and the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution.
- deleted 11mo ago[deleted]
- xeonmc 11mo agoToyota MR2, Honda S2000, Mazda MX-5, Nissan S13/14/15 and 180SX
- LgWoodenBadger 11mo agoA majority of those made in the ballpark of 150hp or less, with the exception of the S2000. A few variants of the MR2 and the Nissan made over 200, but not many. None ever came near Japan’s gentlemen’s agreement of “276” hp.
- deleted 11mo ago[deleted]
- olyjohn 11mo agoYeah except the LS engine is still lighter than most 4 cylinder turbos. It's lighter than a lot of NA 4 cylinders, in fact. The reason they stayed with smaller engines in Japan was because of taxes on displacement.