Six Japanese performance car oddities

Dull-looking hen’s-teeth supermini has blown 3cyl of 105bhp, way before we got the Ecoboost. Little car, big fun.

Looked puny, but had 227bhp and Skyline-type electronic 4WD. Homologation-special, great to drive, like an Integrale.

Three gens of 4WD Celica contested the WRC, with road versions to match. Stopped improving after the 1995 ban.

Had it all: active aero and damping, 4WD, 4WS. Faster than rival GT-R and A80 Supra. Yet it felt oddly numb to drive.

Kei-microcar madness, this had a 660cc turbo triple, five valves per cyl and 4WD. Driving? As manic as it sounds.

Back when little coupes were common, even this was a rarity: had a 2.0 V6 nat-asp engine. Most were grey imports.