Theme: Kei Icons
Contains some of the most iconic Japanese kei cars in history.
(All cars are new to Forza.)
New division: Kei cars
2017 Honda N-Box Custom -
Kei cars
One of the best-selling kei cars in Japan in recent times, if not, all time, would have to be the Honda N-Box, with more than 1.7 million examples sold since its inception in 2013. The "N" comes from Honda's N series from the 60s and 70s. The model you see here is the front-wheel drive Custom L Turbo variant, powered by a 660cc turbocharged three-cylinder engine with a smooth power delivery and CVT transmission, producing 63 horsepower, the maximum output of any production Kei vehicle. The unique styling, ride quality, maximization of space, practicality, ease of customization and smooth power delivery are among a few factors why the N-Box sells like hotcakes in its native Japan, and this makes this one-of-a-kind machine a true icon that matches up with some of the all-time Kei car greats.
1991 Honda Beat -
Kei cars
The Honda Beat, along with the Mazda Autozam and Suzuki Cappuccino, are known to be the among Kei sports car trio, or Kei ABC's, and that in recent times, they were referred to as "American immigrants" due to their popularity with American car collectors ever since they were legal to be imported. It also has an important history as well, with the car bearing some similarities to the Ferrari F40 - being the last car to be witnessed and approved by Soichiro Honda before his passing, and that it was designed by Pininfarina. Its fellow rivals may have been powered by turbocharged engines, but given Honda's expertise in engine design, they chose the tried-and-tested naturally aspirated approach, giving the car a more high-revving roar that set it apart. In many ways, it can also be considered the spiritual successor to the iconic S800 from 1970, which had been featured in past Forza titles.
1992 Mazda Autozam AZ-1 -
Kei cars
As Mazda were steadily hard at work with the Miata and RX series during the most part of the 80s and 90s, one such vehicle tends to be underestimated, and that would have to be the AZ-1 from their Autozam sub-brand. In some cases, this car was also branded as the Suzuki Cara, as it had used the same engine as the Alto, but the more popular and well-known version of this car was definitely from Mazda. Powering the car was a 660cc, 63-horsepower turbocharged three-cylinder engine that gave it torque and character like no other. It also featured gullwing doors, commonly used on exotics, mostly for ease of use and better practicality, as it wasn't just for show. A Mazdaspeed variant, known as the A-spec, was also released with specialized aero parts and a more aggressive suspension setup, which proved that while it may look like one cute machine, one must not underestimate its potential to be a very beastly car when tuned right. Like its fellow rivals, the Honda Beat and Suzuki Cappuccino, being that of the Kei ABC's, it has gained a cult following amongst American car enthusiasts and collectors ever since they have been legal to import.
1997 Subaru Vivio RX-R -
Kei cars
Compared to the iconic Kei sports car trio, the Subaru Vivio RX-R seems to be built different, being based around a hatchback-like body to begin with. The name comes from the Roman numerals for six and zero (VI, VI and O), an allusion to its 660cc engine, which is common for Kei cars. The Vivio RX-R was indeed Subaru's best-known Kei car since the 360 Deluxe/Young SS of the 60s, and has that typical Subaru flair: being that of an all-wheel drive machine, just like the Impreza, Legacy and their best-known rally cars. What also set it apart was that the Vivio uses a supercharged engine, normally unheard of in most Kei cars where most were either turbocharged or naturally aspirated, allowing it to stand out from all the rest.
1991 Suzuki Cappuccino (EA11R) -
Kei cars
Up there with the likes of the Swift Sport, Alto and Jimny, the Cappuccino may well be among Suzuki's most famous cars. Being a member of the Kei ABC's, or the Kei sports car trio of the 1990's, the Cappuccino was unique for being the only front-engined example of the bunch, while it still retained the familiar 63-horsepower turbocharged three-cylinder and lightweight driving character. It was also an icon of pop culture, as well, being featured in the Initial D anime and manga, beginning with Fourth Stage. It was said that in 1992, when Bugatti was under Italian ownership, they decided to create a more market-friendly version of the Cappuccino called the Espresso, which would have been sold in both Europe and Japan, but the project was canceled when the Italian-owned incarnation of Bugatti went bankrupt three years later, and was sold to Volkswagen, along with their return to France. Nonetheless, the Cappuccino is capable of almost unlimited customization, and demands to be raced. It had a resurgence of popularity, especially with American car collectors, ever since it became legal to import after the car had reached 25 years old.
