Late-Model Japanese Domestic Market Odditites
I have always been very interested in models of cars that are not offered in the U.S. I guess I get bored with the same old offerings, and we all like forbidden fruit, right? I felt like I knew quite a bit about Japanese cars when I got to Japan, but while I was walking around Japan in early 2001, I saw a number of JDM cars that really surprised me, puzzled me, or blew me away with their sheer existence. I thought some of you (especially us Americans who can't get much info on JDM) may be curious to know what I found interesting to see out there roaming the roads in Japan.

Mazda
Astina-a four-door liftback with angular styling.
Lantis-323/Protege-based thing-proportions sort of like a big four-door MX-3, comes in a Type R version too!
Mazda Protege AWD-late-80's hatchback, called 323 in the U.S.-with non-turbo FWD in the U.S., excepting the turbo AWD we got on the rare 323 GTX. In Japan they got naturally-aspirated FWD *and AWD*, as well as the turbo AWD.


Honda
Civic hatchback-the generation sold in the U.S. from '89-91, but with a 1500cc 16-valve motor and dual carbs from the factory! There is also a CR-X version featuring the same motor.
Honda Beagle-Japanese name for the uncommon (in the U.S.) AWD Civic wagon-quite popular in Japan
Honda Integra Type-R four-door-No such thing as Acura in Japan, (we all knew that) but the real suprise is the four doors!
Late-90's Honda Civic sedan with all-wheel-drive!
Honda Sabre 32V and 25V-big and sort-of Accordish-Any ideas what it is?
Lots of Honda Vigors-we got these in the U.S., but they are quite rare in America-these are real wierdos with a longitudinal 5-cylinder engine with front-wheel-drive, Audi would be proud!
Honda Domani-???
Honda Civics labelled as "Honda Ferio"


Toyota
EP9x Starlet five-door hatchback with all-wheel-drive (non-turbo?)-I was familiar with the EP92 three-door hatch, front-wheel-drive, turbo, but not the five-door.
Toyota AE102 Corolla wagon, with all-trac (Toyota all-wheel-drive), which in itsself isn't so wierd to imagine in another market, but with a 20-valve 4AG! Variable-valve-timing and individual throttle bodies in an all-wheel-drive wagon-It boggles the mind, and it is so cool!!!
Estima minivan-smaller than a Previa/Sienna, but comes in a version with a hybrid all-wheel-drive drivetrain! And rumor has it they may bring it to the U.S.!


Others
Daihatsu Micra-micro-minicar that comes in a variety of configurations, but there is a factory version with minaturized Jaguar MkII styling...truly wierd!
Nissan Primera-Now maybe I watch way, way too much British Touring Car Championship on TV, but I have to admit to being a little suprised to see these in Japan...I associate them with the British market.
Mitsubishi Galant-There are not as many of these in the U.S. as there are in Japan. In America I keep my eyes peeled for the rare VR-4 with 4G63 and all-wheel-drive-In Japan there seems to be a range of models and generations with all-wheel-drive!


If you like this list, you may want to read the excerpts from my Travel Diary for more of these types of observations buried in the text.

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