Top 10 car suv in japan october 2023
From one small, car-mad island to another, cars built in Japan have a particular appeal here in the UK for all the significant differences in our respective cultures and geographical distance between us. While its car industry is still relatively young all things considered, the Japanese evolved quickly from making cars that mimicked American and European tastes into confident expressions of local engineering skill and – now – design too. There’s still a strong degree of uniqueness about Japanese cars, in particular performance models, which require a strong degree of bespoke engineering compared with the increasingly homogenised offerings of European car-makers. Here are some of our current favourites. Show
1. Mazda MX-5It’s quite incredible to think that this generation of Mazda MX-5 is still going strong, let alone the badge – drop-top sportscars are all but extinct in every other carmaker’s line-up. It could be argued that the fourth-generation ‘ND’ model’s reign as the king of modern small sportscars has been so convincing that other manufacturers have decided not to bother. The Mercedes SLK (SLC when it disappeared) is gone, the Audi TT is going next year, but the ND MX-5 introduced in 2015 just seems to keep going, and will almost certainly get a replacement when the time is right, given its special place in the Mazda range. The current version is a car true to its original brief, keeping its footprint and ultimately its weight strictly in line with the original of 1989. A Small, high-revving 1.5-litre entry-level engine plays off against the thrills of the more powerful 2.0-litre. 2. Toyota GR86Despite the chaos of the last few years in the real world, one thing has remained constant in the automotive industry: Toyota is still the world’s biggest carmaker, regaining its title in 2022. So perhaps it’s no surprise to see in among the manufacturing giant’s myriad wares lies a sportscar or two. The GR86 is the latest addition to Toyota’s growing ‘GR’ line-up, and as the name heavily implies, it is a follow up to the GT86 petrolheads have been enjoying for the last decade. The format for the newcomer doesn’t upset the apple cart – it’s been designed to carefully evolve what we’ve loved about the GT86, but with more power, more grip and updated technology. The 2.4-litre flat-four engine cranks the power up to 234PS (172kW), but power still goes to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox. 3. Nissan Z CoupeNissan’s latest ‘Z’ car is forbidden fruit in Europe. We won’t get this replacement for the 370Z, which is a shame, as the monstrous GT-R has also been pulled from our market, leaving us with no Nissan sportscars at all. The new Z Coupe’s design is a modernised ‘greatest hits’ of the car’s extensive lineage, returning to a purer shape reminiscent of the S30-generation 240/260/280Z cars, while some touches like the rear lights are a nod to the 300ZX of the nineties. Built on an evolution of the 370Z’s platform, a twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 develops 400PS (294kW) and as you’d expect, a six-speed manual gearbox is equipped, though a Mercedes-sourced nine-speed automatic is also offered. 4. Honda Civic Type RThe Honda Civic Type R has been a common sight on British roads in its 25 years as one of the best hot-hatchbacks out there. The new one, codenamed FL5, is aiming to land a knockout blow on the current brigade of 300PS plus rivals. But unlike many of those adversaries, the Civic aims to do it in the only way it knows – using front-wheel-drive, a manual gearbox, and VTEC power. The new car is a strong evolution of the former-favourite FK8 model, the updated appearance combining with an engine developing 329PS (242kW), suspension and chassis revisions designed to introduce more grip, and an interior that’s heavily updated and brought into the modern world. You’ll pay a pretty penny more for this Type R than its predecessor though, with prices starting from just under £47k. Related Articles
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