1996 Japanese Performance Car Comparison Test Drive
Mazda RX-7 Mazda’s 1996 RX-7 didn’t appear in showrooms until January of the same year, and rumors abounded of a normally aspirated companion to the twin turbo rocket. Until then we had to settle for the lightweight, reduced mass supercar that blasted to 160mph in a top speed fight the year prior, on the strength of the 255 horses bursting from its 1.3 liter two rotor engine.
Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4 Brawny and broad, the Mitsubishi 3000GT, especially its 320-horsepower twin-turbo all-wheel-drive VR-4 variant, digested the road. Few cars were such able all-weather continent spanners. Changed for the 1996 were limited to new interior trim, new seat materials, some new paint colors, and OBD-II engine electronics. Topping the range of three (Standard, SL and VR-4), was the retractable hardtop Spyder, available as either and SL or VR-4. The marvel of watching the top retract alone was worth the extra cost. Nissan 300ZX Turbo Except for the addition of an OBD-II engine control computer, Nissan’s ’96 lineup of two passenger and extended wheelbase four passenger 300ZXs was wholly unchanged from 1995. All 300ZXs were powered bya 3.0 liter 24-valve DOHC V6 which when breathing on its own produced 222hp. Forced inhalation through a twin turbocharger system swelled output to an inspiring 300-horsepower. While the two passenger coupe was available in either powerplant, both the convertible and the 2+2 came packing only the n/a engine. Toyota Supra Turbo A rear drive car with a 3.0/320-horsepower twin sequentially turbocharged inline six would thrill anyone. If the Turbo is too intense, the normally aspirated 220-horsepower version returned unchanged except for the deletion of heated outside mirrors. If you wanted those mirrors, look for the Turbo, and consider its torrid performance a bonus.
Mazda RX-7 Mazda’s 1996 RX-7 didn’t appear in showrooms until January of the same year, and rumors abounded of a normally aspirated companion to the twin turbo rocket. Until then we had to settle for the lightweight, reduced mass supercar that blasted to 160mph in a top speed fight the year prior, on the strength of the 255 horses bursting from its 1.3 liter two rotor engine.
Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4 Brawny and broad, the Mitsubishi 3000GT, especially its 320-horsepower twin-turbo all-wheel-drive VR-4 variant, digested the road. Few cars were such able all-weather continent spanners. Changed for the 1996 were limited to new interior trim, new seat materials, some new paint colors, and OBD-II engine electronics. Topping the range of three (Standard, SL and VR-4), was the retractable hardtop Spyder, available as either and SL or VR-4. The marvel of watching the top retract alone was worth the extra cost. 
Nissan 300ZX Turbo Except for the addition of an OBD-II engine control computer, Nissan’s ’96 lineup of two passenger and extended wheelbase four passenger 300ZXs was wholly unchanged from 1995. All 300ZXs were powered bya 3.0 liter 24-valve DOHC V6 which when breathing on its own produced 222hp. Forced inhalation through a twin turbocharger system swelled output to an inspiring 300-horsepower. While the two passenger coupe was available in either powerplant, both the convertible and the 2+2 came packing only the n/a engine. 
Toyota Supra Turbo A rear drive car with a 3.0/320-horsepower twin sequentially turbocharged inline six would thrill anyone. If the Turbo is too intense, the normally aspirated 220-horsepower version returned unchanged except for the deletion of heated outside mirrors. If you wanted those mirrors, look for the Turbo, and consider its torrid performance a bonus.
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