10 Japanese Cars That Are Basically Race Cars In Disguise

Japanese car brands have a long legacy of giving enthusiasts relatively affordable motorsports-inspired performance cars that are a blast to drive. In quite a few cases, these thinly-disguised race cars only exist to homologate their motorsports counterparts, and they’re barely any different from the cars you might see on track or out on a rally stage, and every gearhead deserves to know about them.

The cars on this list all have different backstories. Several of them are homologation specials, designed purely so that they can be used in racing. Others are track-focused developments of regular sports cars that have race car-like performance. What brings them all together, though, is that they’re basically race cars in a road car disguise.

10

Nissan R390 GT1

Nissan R390 GT1 Specs

The Nissan R390 GT1 is a remarkable homologation special—a car built solely to satisfy racing regulations. Created in 1998 to allow Nissan to compete in the GT1 class at Le Mans, the road version was essentially a race car with minimal modifications for street legality.

In an audacious interpretation of the rules, Nissan produced exactly one road-legal R390 GT1. This singular example has remained in Nissan’s collection ever since, emerging only occasionally for automotive exhibitions.

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While other manufacturers like Porsche and Mercedes-Benz created similar limited-production GT1 specials, the R390 holds a unique distinction: it’s the only Japanese manufacturer to create such a one-off homologation special for GT1 competition.

Despite its remarkable story, the R390 often sits in the shadow of its more celebrated rivals like the Porsche 911 GT1 and Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR. Yet as one of the most extreme interpretations of 1990s homologation rules and the sole representative of Japanese ambition in this exclusive club, it has undoubtedly earned its place among the most legendary homologation specials ever created.

9

Lexus LFA Nürburgring Edition

Lexus

The 2012 Lexus LFA, produced from 2010 to 2012 after nearly a decade of development, stands as one of the most acclaimed supercars ever created. Its naturally aspirated 4.8-liter V10 engine, co-developed with Yamaha, produces one of the most celebrated exhaust notes in automotive history—a soaring, Formula 1-inspired scream that redlines at 9,000 rpm. With 552 horsepower in standard form and a carbon fiber-reinforced polymer chassis that was revolutionary for its time, the LFA could compete directly with contemporaries like the Ferrari 458 Italia and Lamborghini Gallardo. However, Lexus wasn’t content to stop there. For those seeking the ultimate expression of the LFA’s capabilities, they created the Nürburgring Edition—a track-focused variant that amplified everything that made the standard car special.

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Lexus LFA Nürburgring Edition Specs

Limited to just 64 examples worldwide, the LFA Nürburgring Edition represented a comprehensive upgrade package specifically engineered for the legendary 12.9-mile German circuit that gave it its name. The engine received tuning to extract an additional 10 horsepower (bringing the total to 562 hp), while the 6-speed automated sequential manual transmission was recalibrated for quicker, more aggressive shifts.

The aerodynamic enhancements were substantial: front canards and a larger front splitter improved front-end downforce, while a massive fixed carbon fiber rear wing generated up to 33% more downforce than the standard car’s retractable wing. Ultra-lightweight BBS-forged magnesium wheels reduced unsprung weight, and the suspension was stiffened and lowered for improved track performance. Carbon ceramic brakes, race-spec tires, and unique interior appointments completed the transformation.

Lexus

Beyond the mechanical upgrades, Lexus elevated the Nürburgring Edition ownership experience to match the car’s exclusivity. Every buyer received an unforgettable package: a personalized professional driving course at the Nürburgring Nordschleife conducted by the circuit’s expert instructors, allowing owners to truly exploit their cars’ capabilities on the track that inspired them.

The experience included luxury accommodation at a nearby hotel, complimentary access to the Ringwerk leisure center, an official Nürburgring-branded jacket, and a full year of unlimited track access. This combination of extreme performance engineering and experiential luxury made the LFA Nürburgring Edition not just a limited-production supercar, but a complete celebration of automotive excellence, cementing its status as one of the most desirable Japanese performance cars ever created.

8

Subaru Impreza WRX STi P1

Subaru

Subaru Impreza WRX STi P1 Specs

The first of the rally specials on this list, the Subaru Impreza WRX STi P1 is one of the best versions of the first-generation Impreza. It was conceived by Subaru’s European division as a way of combating the high demand for high-performance Japanese-market versions of the Impreza in the West. These cars were tuned up by Prodrive, the company that made and prepared Subaru’s rally cars at the time. The result was an absolute animal of a road car that was barely different from its rally-spec sibling in some ways. Its 2-liter turbocharged inline-4 engine produced 276 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque like Japanese-spec Impreza WRX STis, but many of its components were better optimized for European roads.

Giving European enthusiasts a car partially developed by the people who built Subaru’s rally cars as a way of stopping them importing Japanese-market Imprezas was a stroke of genius. While the grey import market for JDM-spec Impreza WRX STis has never stopped, these P1 versions were (and still are) incredibly desirable. It really is a racecar in disguise in a lot of ways, and one that’s absolutely beloved.

7

Nissan Skyline GT-R R32

Nissan Skyline GT-R R32 Specs

A list of Japanese sports cars that are basically race cars in disguise wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Godzilla. The R32 Nissan Skyline GT-R exists entirely because of Nissan wanting to be a top manufacturer in Group A touring car racing. Producing that gentleman’s agreement limit of 276 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque from its legendary RB26DETT twin-turbo inline-6 engine and having a sophisticated all-wheel drive system, the R32 Skyline GTR was genuinely one of the best performance cars of its day.

That all-wheel-drive system that made the R32 Skyline GT-R a grip monster on the road was actually a necessity for the racing version. Due to Group A rules on the balance of performance regarding turbocharged engines, the Skyline GT-R would be racing alongside big V8s like the Holden Commodore and the Rover SD1 Vitesse, and would have to use wider tires. The wider tires meant that Nissan could get a better competitive advantage out of using all-wheel drive, even though it made the car heavier than its rivals.

Many consider the R32 Nissan Skyline GT-R to be the best JDM car of all time. When you look at its origin story and how great its performance was for a late-’80s to early-’90s sports car, it’s not hard to understand why. A car doesn’t get a nickname like Godzilla for no reason! It was incredibly successful on the track, beating out many of its European rivals, and the road-going version could hold its own against them too.

6

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV Tommi Mäkinen Edition

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Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV Tommi Mäkinen Edition Specs

Another rally special (from Mitsubishi this time), theLancer Evolution IV Tommi Mäkinen Editionis easily one of the most desirable Evos ever made. It was built to celebrate Tommi Mäkinen’s massive success with the Lancer Evolution VI in rallying. The Tommi Mäkinen Edition is fairly similar to the standard Evo VI. The main differences are the close-ratio 5-speed transmission, lowered ride height, and additional cosmetic and interior details and upgrades. As part of those interior upgrades, the GSR trim got special Recaro seats with Tommi Mäkinen’s logo embossed on them. Thanks to the mechanical differences, some people refer to the Tommi Mäkinen Edition as an Evo 6 1/2 or 6.5.

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While the Lancer Evolution IV Tommi Mäkinen Edition may not be that different from the standard Evo VI, the actual rally car that was based on it wasn’t that different from the road-going models. As a result, this car is a thinly-disguised race car. It’s one that’s incredibly desirable too, as examples have been known to sell for 6-figure prices.

5

Nissan GT-R R33 Nismo 400R

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Nissan GT-R R33 Nismo 400R Specs

Following on from the success of the original Godzilla, the R33 Nissan Skyline GT-R was almost identical to its predecessor. The only real changes were makng the synchromesh stronger in the transmission and correcting the R32’s weak oil pump drive collar problem. The oil pump drive collar was a part that easily failed on the R32 when the power was pushed up higher. Nissan did make some special higher-powered variants of the R33 Skyline GT-R, though, and perhaps the best was the Nismo 400R. Only 44 examples were made, and they were all produced in 1997.

The Nismo 400R had a different version of the RB26DETT engine that was engineered and produced by REINIK (later REIMAXX). This was the same company that produced the engines for the racing versions of the Skyline GT-R. As a result, the Nismo 400R had 400 hp (hence the name) and 347 lb-ft of torque. It also had a lot of Nismo parts, including a Nismo exhaust system, intercooler system, clutch, brake pads, and aero kit.

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The Nissan Skyline GT-R Nismo 400R has passed into legend as one of the best GT-R variants ever made. That’s not surprising, thanks to its racing-derived engine and abundance of Nismo parts. This is probably one of the most racecar-like GT-Rs ever made, and it’s all the better for it!

4

Nissan GT-R Nismo (R35)

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Nissan GT-R Nismo (R35) Specs

The R35 GT-R has become one of the most celebrated sports cars in recent times. Its 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V6 is very powerful from the factory, and it can be tuned to deliver absolutely astonishing power figures. It’s also not difficult to handle, thanks to its all-wheel-drive system. Those characteristics make it one of the easiest entry points into owning something with supercar or near-supercar levels of performance. The Nismo variant is one of the best versions of the R35 GT-R you can get from the factory. Producing 600 hp and 481 lb-ft of torque, this is a seriously powerful GT-R that can hold its own against cars that are much more exotic and expensive.

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While the GT-R Nismo may look fairly similar to the regular GT-R, it does have some very interesting differences. One of those is that it has the same turbochargers as the GT3-spec racing version of the GT-R. That’s something you’d probably never guess unless you were told about it. It also gets a more track-tuned suspension with Bilstein adjustable dampers, lighter forged wheels, more aggressive aero, and lots of carbon fiber for weight savings.

3

Toyota Celica GT-Four (ST185)

Toyota Celica GT-Four (ST185) Specs

When it comes to rally specials, there aren’t many that are better or more beloved than the Toyota Celica GT-Four. That’s especially the case for the ST185 generation’s version of it. It’s probably one of the most recognizable Japanese sports cars ever, thanks to featuring in plenty of video games and being a staple of the World Rally Championship in its day.

Some people may also remember it for the scandal that involved its restrictor plates, widely regarded as one of the best motorsports cheats of all time. Whatever the case, the Celica GT-Four has rally DNA absolutely everywhere. That’s especially evident in the RC homologation special. It’s better known to European enthusiasts as the Carlos Sainz edition, named after the rally driver who was very successful with it (not the Formula 1 driver, that’s his son!), or the Group A Rallye to Australians. This version shared a lot of similarities with the rally car. This included a water-to-air intercooler instead of an air-to-air one (water-to-air units are more suitable for competition use), a different hood with a different air intake, a different front bumper, and some changes to the transmission.

Some people have gone as far as arguing that the Toyota Celica GT-Four is one of the best all-wheel drive sports car ever made. It’s small, light, agile, and that all-wheel-drive grip means that it’s just as fine on a gravel track or a muddy rally stage as it is on the open road or on a racetrack. It’s not too powerful to only be fun on a circuit, either. It’s a true classic in the Japanese sports car world, and one that in many ways is a lightly-disguised rally monster.

2

Toyota GR Yaris

Toyota

Toyota GR Yaris Specs

The most recent entry on this list, the Toyota GR Yaris is yet another rally special.Created so that Toyota could homologate a 3-door Yaris for the World Rally Championship, this pocket rocket has a very characterful 1.6-liter turbocharged inline-4 engine coupled with a 6-speed manual or an 8-speed automatic transmission. The result of that is 300 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, sent to the wheels through a rally-style all-wheel drive system. The GR Yaris really is a thinly-disguised race car in many ways. The version of the car we see in the World Rally Championship shares a lot of components with the road-going version. That’s thanks to an unusual development method, where the rally car was developedfirst,and a road-going version was made out of that rally car later.

Sadly, the Toyota GR Yaris isn’t available in North America. That’s due to the regular Yaris not being sold there. North America may have received the brilliant GR Corolla as a consolation prize, but a lot of gearheads would have loved to have had the GR Yaris.

1

Honda NSX-R GT

Honda NSX-R GT Specs

The Honda NSX is widely considered one of the best Japanese cars ever made. It’s also thought of as one of the world’s most underrated supercars. The latter of those definitely has a lot of weight to it, considering that many people have forgotten that there was a crazy homologation special version.

The NSX-R GT was created so that Honda could race the NSX in the GT500 class of Japan’s Super GT championship. The road-going version kept the same powertrain as the regular NSX-R from that era, but it had some absolutely crazy cosmetic and aerodynamic changes. This included a roof scoop!

As it was a homologation special made just so Honda could enter something competitive in Super GT’s GT500 class, only 5 of them were ever made. Only 1 of those production road cars is privately owned. It was originally sold to Yoshiaki Yoshida, the head of DHC Corporation (a Japanese health food and cosmetics company). He’s allegedly a huge NSX enthusiast and has owned several of them, so it makes sense that he’d be the only one to have a privately owned NSX-R GT.