Get Hotcars Premium. Start your free trial today

Only the most deep-pocketed owners can unlock the true tuning potential of these JDM cars.

Japanese cars, also known as JDM cars, are renowned for tuning and mods. Several iconic models, from the Subaru WRX to the Toyota Supra MKIV, have seemingly unlimited tuning potential with parts as interchangeable as lightbulbs! These models claim severe horsepower numbers ranging from several hundred to several thousand!

Regardless of the overall power goal, these Japanese cars are the perfect tuning platform because of the generous aftermarket support. Many of these models have performance parts that can replace virtually every stock component. While they aren’t always cheap, they’re always worth it!

Owners with deep pockets can unlock the unreal power hidden in these cars. Here are the 10 Japanese cars with almost unlimited tuning potential!

Related: This Tuned Toyota GR Yaris Makes 500-HP From A Tiny 3-Cylinder

A staple of JDM tuners is the Subaru WRX/STI. Since the 1990s, when Subaru finally brought the beloved rally racer stateside, it has been one of the most famous Japanese sports cars ever built. The WRX/STI is a favorite for the almost unlimited tuning potential, thanks to dedicated aftermarket parts producers.

From Cobb to SubiSpeed, there’s no shortage of parts. And good thing, too, as die-hard fans love to strip every stock part and swap it for a more sturdy, street-ready piece. The WRX/STI is relatively easy to work on, but details can get pricey in a hurry!

Examples of how crazy the Mazda MX-5 Miata is could fill playlists on YouTube for days. Though, for pretty good reason. The Miata is virtually a blank canvas with a rock-solid engine block that can withstand upwards of 400 horsepower.

Fans of the MX-5 will also point to how fun the two-seater is to drive. There’s virtually no limit to the tuning potential of the Miata. They have tuning support, vast part inventories, and they’re incredibly affordable used. You’d be a fool not to tune a Mazda Miata!

Another classic Mazda that’s ripe for tuning is the Mazda RX-7. The rotary engine is compact yet packs quite a punch, especially once some upgraded turbochargers and blow-off valves. Reliability be damned, this thing has almost unlimited tuning potential!

There is no better example of an insane Mazda RX-7 than Rob Dahm’s 1200-horsepower monstrosity. With air wings, splitters, and great design cues, there’s not much you can leave stock on these bad boys!

Related:8 Things We Love About The Mazda RX-7 FD (2 Reasons Why We'd Never Buy One)

Mitsubishi brought some stiff competition to the tuning game with the Lancer Evo. It competed directly with Subaru’s WRX for years before finally getting the ax. It finally beat the WRX at something—it was the first to be canned.

All jokes aside, the Lancer Evo came ready for tuning thanks to mapping tools like the Piggyback ECU tuner. Plus, many aftermarket companies sell stage kits that upgrade everything up to the block, which can handle about 400 horsepower before some cam and piston swaps.

In the 2000s, the Honda S2000 competed with the Miata and MR2, but what makes it unique is the almost unlimited tuning potential. Tuners love the rev-happy 9000 RPM engine that’s just begging for some forced induction. With upgraded cams and the boost mentioned above, you can get upwards of 450 horsepower with a stock block!

The Honda S2000 benefits from a wide selection of tuning support, which at one point was on par with the Civic. Classic JDM looks, unlimited tuning potential—Honda, please bring back this iconic sports car!

Related: Here's What A 2022 Honda S2000 Could Look Like

The Honda Civic is the world’s most iconic tuner car. More iconic than the WRX, Evo, and even the BMW 3-Series. Practically every tuner started out on a Honda Civic. Thanks to a vast selection of aftermarket parts, incredibly versatile and reliable VTEC engines, and a simple-to-mod platform, it’s easy to see why!

Top Civic tuners claim performance well over the 1000-horsepower mark. However, with body kits, engine swaps, and ECU tuners, the Honda Civic has almost unlimited tuning potential!

Americans are still waiting for the Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 to make it to the shores of the United States. But in the meantime, everyone else has tuned the R34 into ravenous Godzillas they were meant to be!

The Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 has a massive selection of aftermarket parts. Although, these parts and tunes are far from affordable. Regardless of the cost, owners can take the stock twin-turbo V6, slap six tuning stages, and unlock somewhere in the neighborhood of 3,500 horsepower. That’s almost unlimited tuning potential in our book!

Related: YouTuber Unboxes 800 HP HKS Built RB26 Crate Engine, Will Swap Into R34 Skyline GT-R

JDM fans lament that the newest incarnation of the Supra is just a BMW in sheep’s clothing, but the MKiV had some real tuning potential. Many of the Supra’s parts are replaceable with aftermarket performance components, and the RWD makes for more than just a sporty drive.

In addition to the beautiful parts you can change on the Supra MKIV, those parts are often quite affordable. Tuners enjoy a somewhat easy platform to work on, and some of the craziest Supra tunes crack 2,400 horsepower!

Subaru has so much faith in the tuning ability of the BRZ that the company made it the platform for the Japanese Super GT. The Subaru BRZ and Toyota GR86 are perfect tuning platforms because of the naturally aspirated engine that comes in stock models. Pair that with the manual transmission, and you’re ready for some serious gains.

Both the BRZ and GR86 have vast aftermarket selections. Tuning kits are easy to find, affordable, and straightforward to install. They’re pure driving fun, built for the track, and you can take advantage of the unlimited tuning potential.

It was hard choosing just one Nissan Z car as virtually every model since the 240 has come with fantastic tuning potential. The 240 and 350Z are pretty affordable to find decent examples, and each has tons of parts to choose from.

The 370Z is a bit more modern and has a bit more oomph under the hood. With a naturally aspirated V6 under the hood, the 370Z can handle upwards of 500 horsepower before needing cam and piston swaps. We can only hope the Z Coupe is just as tuner friendly!

Michael Stroup is a seasoned automotive author with experience in SUVs, Trucks, and JDM sports cars. He credits his passion to gearhead friends and active involvement with car-related ghostwriting assignments. You can find Michael in the mountains, where he dedicates time to snowboarding, hiking, or off-roading!