Most beautiful Japanese car?

[white_goodman]

There are many iconic Japanese cars, Evos, Imprezas, Skylines, Type-Rs etc but would you buy one for its looks or is it all about the engineering? When buying a car, styling is quite high up my list of priorities. I wouldn't buy a European car such as a BMW that wasn't good looking and a Ferrari that wasn't beautiful would be unforgivable, so why is it different with Japanese cars. I'm thinking of things like the AE86 Corolla Coupe for instance. Boxy and not very stylish but still iconic. I kind of get it, as I have an Impreza WRX Estate which is a great car but I wouldn't call it beautiful. My wife's base Fiat 500 beats it hands down for style inside and out and also has a better quality interior with more features but somehow I still prefer my Impreza! I can think of a few good looking but bland Japanese cars such as the pre-facelift Legacy estate but are any of them actually beautiful? What is it that appeals? Sure, an NSX is no minger but most Ferraris/Lamborghinis beat it hands down for style which is probably why they are more common! I guess the original MX-5 was quite a pretty car albeit heavily influenced by the Lotus Elan. The first Honda CRX was also pretty but beautiful? I guess the only really striking, cohesive design I can think of is an RX8 but I can't quite decide whether it is truly beautiful. So, has there ever been a beautiful Japanese car?

[hornetrider]

Toyota 2000GT

[AlpineWhite]

Early z car, I think it might have been a 240?

[BarnatosGhost]

hornetrider said:

Toyota 2000GT

Close thread. Great post.

[Baryonyx]

Probably the Lancer Evolution VI or the Autozam.

[Mr Obertshaw]

hornetrider said:

Toyota 2000GT

[chriis]

2000GT Stunning .

I like the RX7 FD and Mkiv Supra

[les3002]

Got to be the FD RX-7 for me, such a nice looking car. NSX is pretty too.

But I'm afraid in the spirit of PH I need to hand you one of these:



You seem to have misplaced yours......

[iva cosworth]

Baryonyx said:

Probably the Lancer Evolution VI

Serious ?

a 4 door saloon most beautiful compared to whats already been nominated

[richie barry]

hornetrider said:

Toyota 2000GT

+1 the jap e type and more butiful

[les3002]

Ooooh infact I forgot the classics! Datsun 280Z

[hornetrider]

They're a bargain as well.

http://www.carandclassic.com/car/C110129

[peeves]

hornetrider said:

Toyota 2000GT

^This

[Stu R]

2000GT all day long, despite being somewhat of a pastiche of european influences.

Worthy of a mention just because it's a bit different, Tommy Kaira ZZ-S

[ChiChoAndy]

hornetrider said:

Toyota 2000GT

This...

[glazbagun]

The original pre-facelift NSX & this have been mentioned, but I also like the stock Supra.

[War Pig]

[white_goodman]

I forgot about the 2000GT but it does look a bit like a not so beautiful E-Type. A lovely looking car but I'm not sure if the front works for me! Good shout on the early Z cars (the newer Zs don't look so convincing though)!

[Vladimir]

That 2000GT wins it by miles!

[Ten Ninety]

BarnatosGhost said:

Close thread. Great post.

Can't argue with the 2000GT's side view, but posting that is a bit disingenuous really, given that it's got a face that surely only a mother could love?



I always thought the Japs were best when they went for the subtle brutality thing rather than trying to ape traditional European notions of beauty. Even then they didn't often get it right, but when they did... Mmmm.