50+ Best Japanese Car Names: Meanings, Brands And Models

Japanese car names provide more than just a name. They have meanings, cultural stories and things behind them. Have you ever thought what, “Camry,” “Prius,” or “Impreza” mean in Japanese? You’re in good company because most people use these cars without any knowledge as to why they are called these names.

This will address your concerns, and gives you a few interesting facts you did not know. This guide is about Japanese car names, and it covers the most famous Japanese car brands as well as their well known models, and their translations to Japanese car script.

What Are Japanese Car Names Called in Japan?

Japanese car names combine katakana, hiragana, and sometimes kanji. Katakana is the preferred script for names, which means most car names are written in katakana. Companies belong to the katakana writing rule. An Indigenous person can write “Toyota” as トヨタ and not in English.

How Do Japanese Car Brands Write Their Names in Japanese?

Japanese car names are typically written in katakana on American models. Japanese automakers such as Toyota, Honda, and Nissan make use of katakana to brand in Japan.

A few old automobile manufacturer names do have Kanji origins, however, modern vehicle manufacturers dropped Kanji from logos decades ago. Some brands, such as Mazda and Toyota, also employ kanji characters in select heritage branding.

How Do You Pronounce Japanese Car Names Correctly?

Most people mispronounce these names without knowing. Although English and Japanese syllable stress differs, Japanese pronunciation remains consistent. Every syllable is pronounced at the same rate by the native speaker. Even one Japanese lesson on pronouncing syllables might be very impactful.

Name	Meaning	Pronunciation	Kanji
Toyota	Abundant rice field (family surname origin)	Toh-YO-tah	豊田
Honda	Main rice field (founder’s surname)	HON-dah	本田
Nissan	Japan Industries / Sun origin	NEE-sahn	日産
Mazda	Derived from Ahura Mazda (god of wisdom) + founder Matsuda	MAHZ-dah	マツダ
Subaru	Unite / Pleiades star cluster	Soo-BAH-roo	昴
Mitsubishi	Three diamond shapes / Three water chestnuts	Meet-soo-BEE-shee	三菱
Suzuki	Bell tree (founder’s surname)	Soo-ZOO-kee	鈴木
Isuzu	Fifty bells / Named after the Isuzu River	Ee-SOO-zoo	いすゞ

What Do Japanese Car Brand Names Actually Mean?

Each Japanese car name has a history behind it or, in some cases, an origin story, a surname, a sacred location, a god, or an actual star. They aren’t just random names from English added to the logo.

Japanese automakers put consideration into the meaning of what they think their Japanese name and own name represent to the world.

Toyota (トヨタ) – What Does Toyota Mean in Japanese?

Toyota does not actually originate from an actual Japanese word that means “great cars.” It is the family surname. Kiichiro Toyoda was the founder of Toyota Motor Corporation but the name changed to Toyoda (トヨダ) in the year 2000 to Toyota (トヨタ) due to the fact that it takes eight strokes for writing, which is a lucky number that is a popular one in Japan. Toyota Group still carries the original Toyoda spelling internally.

Honda (ホンダ) – Was Honda Named After a River?

It’s actually a resounding no, no river inspired naming Honda. Soichiro Honda named the car company after himself. Honda comes from Japanese meaning “main rice field,” and as a surname it stems from a family name. He named the company after himself. Soichiro was passionate about building Japanese engines after all. There is no river, and no mystery.

Nissan (日産) – What Does Nissan Mean?

Essentially, Nissan (日産) is a shorthand to Nihon Sangyo and can mean “Japan Industries.” The Kanji 日 means “Japan”/ “sun”, and 産 refers to “production”/”industry” can symbolize “made in Japan.” Nissan takes great pride in their company and country as they have been building cars since 1933, and understandably so, their name reflects that.

Mazda (マツダ) – Which Japanese Car Brand Is Named After a God?

Mazda is the one and only Japanese automobile brand that is named after a god. The name is derived from Ahura Mazda who is the God of Wisdom, intellect and harmony from the an ancient Persian mythology.

It also ties in with his founder’s surname, Jujiro Matsuda. Therefore, the name is based on two different levels, divine wisdom and family heritage. This is not accidental, but intentional.

Subaru (スバル) – Why Is Subaru Named After a Star Cluster?

Subaru is a Japanese word meaning “unite” in Japanese, and refers to the Subaru constellation, also known to the West as the Pleiades star cluster. The six stars in the Subaru logo are the five companies which merged to create Subaru in 1953. It’s among the most beautiful Japanese automobile brand names that are out there.

Mitsubishi, Lexus, Acura, Suzuki – Quick Meanings List

Here’s a quick overview of additional Japanese car names listed on the list worth having. Mitsubishi signifies “three diamonds”, you will see this on their emblem. Lexus is a word coined which combines “luxury” and “elegance.” Mitsubishi Motors is a branch of the larger Mitsubishi Group, one of Japan’s most storied industrial families.

Name	Meaning	Pronunciation	Kanji / Script
Mitsubishi	Three diamonds / Three water chestnuts	Meet-soo-BEE-shee	三菱
Lexus	Coined blend of “luxury” and “elegance” — not a Japanese word	LEK-sus	レクサス
Acura	Derived from Latin “acura” meaning precision — Honda’s luxury arm	AK-yoo-rah	アキュラ
Suzuki	Bell tree — founder Michio Suzuki’s family surname	Soo-ZOO-kee	鈴木
Infiniti	Coined word suggesting infinity and limitless performance — Nissan’s luxury brand	In-FIN-ih-tee	インフィニティ
Isuzu	Named after the Isuzu River in Mie Prefecture, Japan	Ee-SOO-zoo	いすゞ

Full List of Japanese Car Brand Names

Japan is home to many more car brands than most people are aware of. We all know Toyota and Honda, however the complete Japanese car brands list goes far beyond that.

From popular brands to popular car brand badges you’ve never seen in your neighborhood. Here’s all Japanese car brands names categorised by type, badges, symbols and emblems.

Mass Market Japanese Car Brands – Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Mazda, Subaru, Mitsubishi

These are the Japanese automobile brands which you will see everywhere. Toyota is a market company since the year 1937. Honda from 1948 and Mitsubishi since the year 1970. Nissan, Mazda, and Subaru complete the top six that have helped to build Japan’s global image in the world of automobiles.

Name	Meaning	Pronunciation	Kanji / Script
Toyota	Derived from founder’s surname Toyoda — changed for lucky 8-stroke kanji	Toh-YO-tah	トヨタ
Honda	Main rice field — founder Soichiro Honda’s family surname	HON-dah	本田
Nissan	Short for Nihon Sangyo — meaning Japan Industries	NEE-sahn	日産
Mazda	Inspired by god Ahura Mazda and founder Matsuda’s surname	MAHZ-dah	マツダ
Subaru	Unite / Pleiades star cluster — represents five merged companies	Soo-BAH-roo	スバル / 昴
Mitsubishi	Three diamonds — reflects the three-diamond logo design	Meet-soo-BEE-shee	三菱

Luxury Japanese Car Brand Names – Lexus, Infiniti, Acura

Japanese luxury car brands don’t get enough praise. Lexus is Toyota’s top-end automobile division, Infiniti belongs to Nissan and Acura is Honda’s top-of-the-line lineup.

They were all designed in order to directly compete against European luxury car brand names and they are doing it very well.

Name	Meaning	Pronunciation	Kanji / Script
Lexus	Coined word blending luxury and elegance — Toyota’s premium brand	LEK-sus	レクサス
Infiniti	Suggests infinite possibility and performance — Nissan’s luxury arm	In-FIN-ih-tee	インフィニティ
Acura	From Latin “acura” meaning precision — Honda’s high-end vehicle lineup	AK-yoo-rah	アキュラ

Other Japanese Car Company Names – Suzuki, Isuzu, Daihatsu, Mitsuoka

While some Japanese car brand names are lesser known internationally, they are still notable. There are the nostalgic designs of the Mitsuoka cars. The Hino Motors brand works only on trucks or commercial transportation.

The Mazda brand’s compact kei cars was called AutoZam. The Japanese companies Suzuki, Isuzu, and Daihatsu, all went their own way in the already crowded Japanese car market.

Name	Meaning	Pronunciation	Kanji / Script
Suzuki	Bell tree — founder Michio Suzuki’s family surname	Soo-ZOO-kee	鈴木
Isuzu	Named after the Isuzu River in Mie Prefecture, Japan	Ee-SOO-zoo	いすゞ
Daihatsu	Great Osaka Industrial Company — regional pride in the name	Dye-HAT-soo	ダイハツ
Mitsuoka	Three hills — founder Susumu Mitsuoka’s surname	Meet-soo-OH-kah	光岡
Hino Motors	Day / Sun — refers to Hino city in Tokyo where brand originated	HEE-noh	日野
Autozam	Mazda’s compact kei car sub-brand — discontinued in 1996	AW-toh-zahm	オートザム

50+ Best Japanese Car Model Names: The Complete List

Japanese models of cars cover everything from the legendary sports cars to reliable daily drivers. Japanese automakers have always come up with innovative names.

Certain individual car models use English words, some are Japanese while others are simply fabricated combinations which work seamlessly. This is the most comprehensive analysis of motor vehicle manufacturers across every segment.

Iconic Japanese Sports Car Names – GT-R, Supra, NSX, RX-7, MR2

Japanese sports car names have created an entire fan-based culture. For example, the Nissan GT-R earned the nickname “Godzilla” in Australia.

In Australia, the Toyota Supra became a global iconic car partly due the movie Fast and Furious. The Nissan Skyline GT-R is still one of the most talked about and top-selling sports cars in tuner history. Every name listed below has serious importance in the Japanese automotive scene.

Name	Meaning	Pronunciation	Kanji / Script
Nissan GT-R	Gran Turismo Racing — high-performance heritage name	NEE-sahn JEE-TEE-AHR	日産 GT-R
Toyota Supra	Latin for “above” or “beyond” — signals superior performance	TOH-yo-tah SOO-prah	スープラ
Honda NSX	New Sports eXperiment — Honda’s supercar answer to Ferrari	HON-dah EN-ES-EKS	NSX
Mazda RX-7	Rotary eXperiment, 7th generation — famous for its rotary engine	MAHZ-dah AHR-EKS SEV-en	RX-7
Toyota MR2	Mid-engine Runabout 2-seater — compact mid-engine sports car	TOH-yo-tah EM-AHR-TOO	MR2
Mazda RX-8	Rotary eXperiment, 8th generation — successor to the iconic RX-7	MAHZ-dah AHR-EKS AYT	RX-8
Honda S2000	S stands for Sports — built to celebrate Honda’s 50th anniversary	HON-dah ES-TOO-THOW-zand	S2000
Nissan Skyline GT-R	Skyline series with Gran Turismo Racing spec — nicknamed Godzilla	NEE-sahn SKY-lyne JEE-TEE-AHR	スカイライン GT-R
Mitsubishi Eclipse	Named after a famous undefeated 18th-century racehorse	Meet-soo-BEE-shee Ee-KLIPS	エクリプス
Subaru BRZ	Boxer engine, Rear-wheel drive, Zenith — pure driver’s car	Soo-BAH-roo BEE-AHR-ZEE	BRZ

Best Japanese Sedan and Hatchback Names – Corolla, Civic, Accord

These are the top Japanese car names to use for everyday driving. For example, the Toyota Corolla is the best-selling automobile in the history of.

In addition, both the Honda Civic and Accord are the perfect models of economy cars done right, functional, reliable and constructed to last. The durability of these cars has have shaped the way people think of Japanese quality.

Name	Meaning	Pronunciation	Kanji / Script
Toyota Corolla	Latin for “small crown” — world’s best-selling car nameplate	TOH-yo-tah Koh-ROH-lah	カローラ
Honda Civic	Relating to citizens — a car built for everyday city life	HON-dah SIV-ik	シビック
Honda Accord	French/English for “agreement” or “harmony” — Honda’s flagship sedan	HON-dah Ah-KORD	アコード
Nissan Sentra	Derived from “center” — a balanced, central choice for commuters	NEE-sahn SEN-trah	センtra
Toyota Camry	From Japanese “kanmuri” (冠) meaning crown — a step above Corolla	TOH-yo-tah KAM-ree	カムリ
Mazda 3	Numeric name — third generation of Mazda’s compact lineup	MAHZ-dah THREE	マツダ3
Subaru Impreza	Italian for “enterprise” or “endeavor” — rally racing roots	Soo-BAH-roo Im-PREH-zah	インプレッサ
Nissan Altima	From Latin “altus” meaning high or elevated — premium positioning	NEE-sahn Al-TEE-mah	アルティマ

Classic and Old Japanese Car Names You Should Know

Old Japanese cars have a an interesting history that the majority of people do not know about. Datsun vehicles were among the earliest Japanese automobiles that were exported to America.

Prince vehicles which were later taken over by Nissan produced the first of Japan’s performance vehicles. Kurogane vehicles created the first three-wheeler produced in Japan in the 1930s.

Name	Meaning	Pronunciation	Kanji / Script
Datsun	Originally “Datson” meaning “son of DAT” — later changed to Datsun (son of sun)	DAT-sun	ダットサン
Prince	Named after Crown Prince Akihito — merged into Nissan in 1966	PRINS	プリンス
Kurogane	Black steel / iron — Japan’s first domestically made three-wheeler brand	Koo-roh-GAH-neh	黒金
Toyota 2000GT	Japan’s first true sports car — a national pride milestone from 1967	TOH-yo-tah TOO-THOW-zand JEE-TEE	トヨタ 2000GT
Honda N360	N for “Nippon” and 360cc engine size — Honda’s first major kei car	HON-dah EN-THREE-SIK-stee	N360
Nissan Cedric	Named after a character in the novel Little Lord Fauntleroy — luxury image	NEE-sahn SED-rik	セドリック

Japanese Kei Car Names – What Are the Small Japanese Cars Called?

Small Japanese cars built in accordance with Japan’s kei regulations are referred to as”kei cars” (軽自動車 — keijidōsha). The cars must remain within the certain limits in terms of size and engine that are set in Japanese law.

They’re all over Japan small, functional motor vehicles and vehicles made to be used on tight urban roads and mountains roads in rural areas.

Name	Meaning	Pronunciation	Kanji / Script
Honda Beat	Energetic rhythm — a tiny open-top mid-engine kei sports car	HON-dah BEET	ビート
Suzuki Alto	Italian for “high” — one of Japan’s longest-running kei car nameplates	Soo-ZOO-kee AL-toh	アルト
Daihatsu Mira	Spanish for “look” or “wonder” — lightweight and fuel-efficient kei car	Dye-HAT-soo MEE-rah	ミラ
Nissan Pao	Named after a Mongolian felt tent — retro-styled limited edition kei car	NEE-sahn POW	パオ
Subaru Sambar	Named after the Sambar deer — compact kei truck and van lineup	Soo-BAH-roo SAM-bar	サンバー
Honda Life	Straightforward English word — built for everyday practical life in Japan	HON-dah LYF	ライフ
Suzuki Jimny	Possibly derived from “journey” — beloved compact off-road kei vehicle	Soo-ZOO-kee JIM-nee	ジムニー

What Do Japanese Car Model Names Mean?

The majority of people don’t consider what a car model’s name actually signifies. However, within the automotive world the names are meticulously selected, ranging starting with Latin origins and Japanese kanji to invented names that sound good.

This is a list of the most popular Japanese car models that are actually boiled down to a nutshell.

Which Car Model Name Comes From a Japanese Word for Crown?

Toyota Camry is the car model whose name is the Japanese word that means crown. It is derived from the Japanese term kanmuri (冠) which is a reference to the crown.

The Toyota brand was positioning the Camry as an upgrade over the Corolla which is why it was a step above the Corolla. The “crown” name was a deliberate indication of the superiority in their lineup.

What Do Corolla, Civic, Accord, Impreza Mean in Japanese?

There’s a fact that many motorists don’t know: none of these are actually Japanese terms. They’re Latin, English, and Italian. However, each among these automobiles was named after an obvious purpose. In fact, even electric vehicles carrying these names have the origins.

The Corolla refers to “small crown” in Latin. Civic refers to the city and its citizens. Harmony is the word used to describe. Impreza originates from the Italian word enterprise. Simple words, yet each was chosen to convey a specific message about the purpose for which the car was made to do.

Name	Meaning	Pronunciation	Kanji / Script
Toyota Corolla	Latin for “small crown” — world’s best-selling car nameplate since 1966	TOH-yo-tah Koh-ROH-lah	カローラ
Toyota Camry	From Japanese kanmuri (冠) meaning crown — positioned above Corolla	TOH-yo-tah KAM-ree	カムリ / 冠
Honda Civic	From English “civic” relating to city and citizens — built for urban life	HON-dah SIV-ik	シビック
Honda Accord	From French/English “accord” meaning agreement or harmony	HON-dah Ah-KORD	アコード
Subaru Impreza	Italian for “enterprise” or “bold undertaking” — rally racing heritage	Soo-BAH-roo Im-PREH-zah	インプレッサ
Toyota Prius	Latin for “before” or “ahead” — the world’s first mass-produced hybrid	TOH-yo-tah PREE-us	プリウス
Nissan Leaf	English word — stands for Leading, Environmentally friendly, Affordable, Family car	NEE-sahn LEEF	リーフ
Honda Fit	English word “fit” — designed to fit every lifestyle and tight parking spot	HON-dah FIT	フィット
Mazda Miata (MX-5)	From Old High German “miata” meaning reward — pure driving joy as the payoff	MAHZ-dah Mee-AH-tah	ロードスター
Toyota Avalon	Named after the legendary island of Avalon from Arthurian myth — signals luxury and comfort	TOH-yo-tah AV-ah-lon	アバロン
Nissan Maxima	From Latin “maxima” meaning greatest — Nissan’s flagship full-size sedan	NEE-sahn MAK-sih-mah	マキシマ
Subaru Legacy	English word — built to carry on Subaru’s lasting engineering reputation	Soo-BAH-roo LEG-ah-see	レガシィ

Cool, Funny and Weird Japanese Car Names Worth Knowing

Indeed, Japanese cultural tradition is always brought with a unique side when it comes down to names and cars. Some Japanese cars have names that are truly amazing, others are head-scratchers as well as some are so odd that they have become famous.

Fans of Mighty Car Mods have pointed out how crazy the names are. Japanese traditional values meet contemporary branding in the most bizarre ways here.

What Are the Coolest Japanese Car Names Ever Made?

The most cool Japanese car names typically come from lesser-known, smaller brands. Aspark vehicle produced the Owl which is quiet, but hard to hear.

Dome vehicles as well as Tommykaira vehicles named their cars with names that are straight out of a sci-fi flick. These are amazing Japanese vehicle names which merit much more focus.

Name	Meaning	Pronunciation	Kanji / Script
Aspark Owl	Named after the owl — silent, fast, and precise like the bird of prey	AH-spark OWL	アスパーク アウル
Dome Zero	Zero as in ground zero — Japan’s bold supercar concept from 1978	DOHM ZEE-roh	ドームゼロ
Tommykaira ZZ	Named after founders Tommy Kaira — ZZ signals double the performance intent	TOM-ee-KAI-rah ZEE-ZEE	トミーカイラ ZZ
Mitsubishi Starion	Blend of “star” and “Orion” — or possibly a mispronunciation of “stallion”	Meet-soo-BEE-shee STAIR-ee-on	スタリオン
Honda Legend	Straightforward English — Honda’s flagship luxury sedan built to leave a mark	HON-dah LEJ-end	レジェンド
Nissan Fairlady Z	Named after the Broadway musical My Fair Lady — founder loved the show	NEE-sahn FAIR-lay-dee ZEE	フェアレディZ

What Are the Funniest or Weirdest Japanese Car Names?

Japan produced a variety of truly funny and weird car names, and a lot of them were sub-brands. Eunos vehicles were an Mazda sub-brand that had the name that caused a stir in the English-speaking market. Efini vehicles, a different Mazda sub-brand, utilized the phonetic symbol for their brand name. These quirky and funny Japanese car names show that Japanese marketers were in their own lane.

Name	Meaning	Pronunciation	Kanji / Script
Eunos Cosmo	Eunos was Mazda’s luxury sub-brand — name caused unintended laughs in English markets	YOO-nos KOZ-moh	ユーノス コスモ
ɛ̃fini RX-7	ɛ̃fini used a phonetic IPA symbol as its brand name — French for “infinite”	AN-fee-nee AHR-EKS SEV-en	アンフィニ RX-7
Subaru Brat	BRAT stood for Bi-drive Recreational All-terrain Transporter — deliberately bold name	Soo-BAH-roo BRAT	ブラット
Mazda Bongo Friendee	Bongo from the African antelope — Friendee added to make it sound warm and family-friendly	MAHZ-dah BONG-oh FREN-dee	ボンゴ フレンディ
Daihatsu Naked	Marketed as stripped-back and honest design — name was completely literal about its boxy look	Dye-HAT-soo NAY-ked	ネイキッド
Honda Life Dunk	A kei car named after a basketball move — meant to sound energetic and fun	HON-dah LYF DUNK	ライフ ダンク
Mitsubishi Carisma	A deliberate misspelling of “charisma” — meant to sound unique but mostly caused confusion	Meet-soo-BEE-shee Kah-RIZ-mah	カリスマ

What Is the Famous Japanese Blinking Car Name?

The most famous Japanese blinking car is the Toyota Celica XX, but the car people think of is the Suzuki Alto Works, or, more generally, cars with retractable headlights, such as those on the Mazda RX-7 and Toyota Supra. When they were in the automotive world, these pop-up headlights provided cars with that a “blinking” or “winking” style that was adored by fans.

The Cars film Japanese car name that people commonly seek is Chuki A fictional character that is loosely influenced by Japanese Tuner culture from the Volkswagen era and drift-style.

Name	Meaning	Pronunciation	Kanji / Script
Toyota Celica	From Spanish/Latin “celica” meaning celestial or heavenly — sporty coupe icon	TOH-yo-tah Seh-LEE-kah	セリカ
Mazda RX-7 (Pop-up lights)	Rotary eXperiment — famous for retractable “blinking” headlights loved by car fans	MAHZ-dah AHR-EKS SEV-en	RX-7
Toyota Supra (A70/A80)	Latin for “above” — pop-up headlight versions became icons of 80s and 90s car culture	TOH-yo-tah SOO-prah	スープラ
Chuki (Cars Movie)	Fictional character in Disney’s Cars — inspired by Japanese drift and tuner car aesthetics	CHOO-kee	チュウキ

Famous Japanese Drift Car Names You Need to Know

JDM automobiles have a history unique to them. They are the Japanese domestic market has produced several of the renowned sports car platforms ever created which are cars that sports car drivers worldwide still pursue in the present. The Japanese drift car models are more than just model codes. Each of them represents an entire time of drifting as well as late nights at mountain roads with touges and a love of domestic market cars that never did fade away.

What Japanese Car Names Are Most Popular in JDM Drift Culture?

Within the Japanese market there are a few names that are the most important to the drifting culture. It is the Nissan Silvia lineup as well as the AE86 which are the main reason for creating this sport completely from the bottom up. Everyone serious about drift knows about these motors by their chassis codes not just by their name.

The S13, S14, and S15 are all variations that are all versions of the Nissan Silvia, each generation more refined than the previous. They are the AE86 Toyota Corolla Levin and Trueno were immortalized because of the manga and the anime Initial D. The R32, R33, and R34 GT-R have earned them their fame on touge roads and circuits similar to. They’re not only Japanese drift car names, they’re also cultural landmarks.

Name	Meaning	Pronunciation	Kanji / Script
Nissan Silvia S13	Silvia — named after a Roman mythological figure; S13 is the chassis generation code	NEE-sahn SIL-vee-ah ES-THUR-TEEN	シルビア S13
Nissan Silvia S14	Same Silvia nameplate — S14 generation known as “Zenki” and “Kouki” in drift circles	NEE-sahn SIL-vee-ah ES-FOR-TEEN	シルビア S14
Nissan Silvia S15	Final and most refined Silvia generation — considered the pinnacle of the nameplate	NEE-sahn SIL-vee-ah ES-FIF-TEEN	シルビア S15
Toyota AE86 (Hachi-Roku)	Hachi-Roku means “eight six” in Japanese — chassis code that became a cultural icon	TOH-yo-tah HAH-chee ROH-koo	ハチロク / AE86
Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R	R32 is the chassis code — first GT-R in 16 years, nicknamed Godzilla by Australian press	NEE-sahn SKY-lyne AHR-THUR-tee-TOO JEE-TEE-AHR	スカイライン R32 GT-R
Nissan Skyline R33 GT-R	R33 — wider and more refined than R32; respected for its Nürburgring lap time	NEE-sahn SKY-lyne AHR-THUR-tee-THREE JEE-TEE-AHR	スカイライン R33 GT-R
Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R	R34 — most iconic generation; V-Spec trim and ATTESA AWD made it a legend	NEE-sahn SKY-lyne AHR-THUR-tee-FOR JEE-TEE-AHR	スカイライン R34 GT-R
Mazda MX-5 (Roadster)	MX stands for Mazda Experiment — called Roadster (ロードスター) in the Japanese market	MAHZ-dah EM-EKS-FYVE	ロードスター
Mazda RX-7 FD	FD is the third and final RX-7 chassis — rotary-powered drift favorite worldwide	MAHZ-dah AHR-EKS-SEV-en EF-DEE	RX-7 FD3S
Toyota Chaser / Mark II	Chaser means “one who chases” — rear-wheel drive sedan turned drift weapon in JDM culture	TOH-yo-tah CHAY-ser	チェイサー

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Most Famous Japanese Car Name?

Toyota is the most popular auto brand in the world of Japan. They are the second biggest auto company in the world and the most well known Japanese brand on all continents.

Which Japanese Car Brand Changed Its Name in the 1980s?

In the early ’80s, the name Datsun was changed to Nissan. A switch was made worldwide, but took place gradually. To make things more confusing, Nissan also makes the Toyota Century in the luxury car segment.

Which Japanese Car Brand Is Named After a God?

Mazda is a Japanese automobile manufacturer, whose name is derived from the Persian god of wisdom, Ahura Mazda. Afeela is an emerging Japanese EV brand that doesn’t have a divine naming association.

What Does JDM Mean and How Does It Relate to Japanese Car Names?

JDM means Japanese Domestic Market; it is a car or parts made in Japan for local use. Numerous JDM vehicles are dubbed as different names as compared to the international versions.