This Japanese sports car will have you questioning whether it goes harder than anything out of the US
- This is the Tommykaira ZZ
- Most people may not be familiar with this car because it was a JDM product
- There’s one exception, though
Published on May 30, 2025 at 3:11 PM (UTC+4)
by Keelin McNamara
Last updated on May 30, 2025 at 3:24 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Alessandro Renesis
The Tommykaira ZZ is JDM Japanese sports car that most people may have never heard of, but it’s tremendous.
It was designed as a JDM vehicle, as in for the Japanese Domestic Market, which is why most people around the world may have never seen it.
There’s an exception, though.
Because fans of a specific video game will love it.
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It is entirely possible that Tommykaira is a car company that you have never heard of, unless you’re a keen Gran Turismo fan.
Tommykaira vehicles were omnipresent in the first three Gran Turismo videogames.
But it is a company with a pretty amazing history.
Tommykaira (founded as Tomita Yume Koujou) is a Japanese tuning company, headquartered in Minami-ku, Kyoto, Japan, and was founded in 1986.
The Japanese tuning company became famous for tuning some of Japan’s biggest brands.
Cars from Nissan and Subaru ultimately became the exclusive focus of Tommykaira.
However, the brand turned its hand to building its own, light, two-door sports car.
In late 1991, Tommykaira conceived the ZZ – and was first unveiled in 1995.
The tuners sourced a 2.0 liter, SR20DE inline-four engine from Nissan to power its car.
Its top speed of 150mph and 0-60 time of four seconds might seem impressive, but that’s not all.
The Tommykaira ZZ itself weighed just 1,400lbs.
This car has quickly become the subject of a very popular video on YouTube.
Dino Dalle Carbonare runs the YouTube channel Dino DC.
And the Italian YouTuber recently featured this cool little Japanese sports car on his channel.
Dino takes the ZZ on an extensive road test through the mountain roads of Japan.
And he very quickly falls in love with it, especially the incredibly light chassis.
Unlike the American philosophy, the Japanese have always emphasised less horsepower and more fun.
Lightness and usable power are clearly prioritised with the Tommykaira ZZ – and it makes for such an experience.
It will have you, in fact, wondering if it is better than anything from the U.S.
Keelin McNamara is a content writer at Supercar Blondie from Ireland, covering cars, technology, and lifestyle. Despite being a Law graduate, he discovered his passion for journalism during the COVID-19 pandemic, and has worked in the industry ever since. Outside of work, he is an avid MotoGP fan, and is a self-confessed addict of the sport.
