Fast and Furious - Honorable Mention

While the 3 main articles posted before, focused on model names that made the most appearances in all 7 Fast and Furious movies, there were some models that were more memorable or personal favorites for someone like me. So, I will be featuring 3 JDM sports car in this article that are special for me. 

First up we have the Honda NSX Type R. We first saw Mia Toretto driving this baby in Fast and Furious (2009) to meet with Dominic Toretto and Brian O'Connor after they ran away from the bad guys. Many might have missed this scene but fear not because we get to see it later in the movie. At the end of the movie, Dom was sent to prison in a prison transport bus and we hear engine roaring in the background. Then we saw Mia inside the awesome and beautiful facelift NSX-R and straight away we knew, a prison break is about to happen but that was it. It wasn't until Fast Five (2011), we get to see more action from the NSX-R in the beginning of the movie. Mia was speeding in it, drifting with it and all sorts of action. No one knows what happened to it as the crew went abroad right after Dom was "rescued". 

At the end of Fast Five (2011), each of the crew took their share of the loot and went their separate ways. Then from a distance, we could see a glimpse of a Supercar and came the Lexus LFA. The LFA was one of the hottest, new Supercar from Japan when the movie was released and I am sure many enthusiasts were screaming like little girls. The LFA did not play much of a role but I did not mind the short cameo because the series needs more JDM. It definitely is a nice car to zoom down the Autobahn where there is no speed limit. You could say that is when the LFA gets to shine the most. Giselle was asking Han where they are heading next and this is where Han hints he would be going to Japan, "eventually" but we know wherever Han and Giselle plan to go, it would definitely be in style. 

Last but not least, one of the most memorable car in the entire franchise for me, has got to be the "out of this world" Mazda RX-7, dressed in Veilside Fortune widebody bodykit. Add on a bright and striking orange and black paint job into that equation, you get what is definitely close to perfect. It is the primary car driven by Han in The Fast and The Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006) movie, up until his death inside the car. I was definitely overwhelmed when I saw the Mercedes hit the RX-7. It looks perfect and quick even when it is not moving. In the movie when it drifted around the Nissan Skyline GT-R R33, nothing could be more cooler than that and you get to get phone numbers from pretty girls. Not a bad night, indeed. 

So, there you have it. These above are my Top 3 memorable cars from the franchise. You might agree or disagree but feel free to comment in the comment section to give me your opinions. Which is your favorite of them all ? The photo below is really a great summary of the series.

Land of the JDMs

I was told that I would be going to Osaka for a business trip and all I can think of is spotting countless JDMs. I was so sure I could easily see one at every corner but I was wrong. In a slower pace prefecture like Osaka, there weren't as many sports car as it would be in Tokyo. However, I still managed to spot a few and luckily get photos as proof but not all of them. Anyway I really enjoyed my time in Japan.

I saw in total 19 JDM sports car when I was at Osaka and I think that is quite a number because I was there only for 3 days. Even before I fly back, I was thinking when will be the next time I could visit the land of the JDMs. 

Cars that were spotted:

• Nissan GT-R R35
• Toyota Altezza
• Nissan Skyline V35
• Honda S2000
• Mazda RX-8 x3
• Nissan Fairlady Z (350Z) x3
• Nissan Fairlady Z (370Z)
• Mitsubishi GTO
• Toyota 86 x2
• Subaru WRX STI
• Toyota Celica ZZT231
• Mazda MX-5 NC
• Honda S660
• Toyota MR-S

Fast and Furious - Nissan Skyline GT-R

Last on my Top 3 list of JDMs that appeared on screen from the Fast and Furious series, would be the Nissan Skyline GT-R. At the sight of the title, everyone would remember the silver R34 from 2 Fast 2 Furious or the beautiful, blue R34 from Fast and Furious. However, this list would include all the GT-Rs in all movie that is driven by cast members chronologically.

The first GT-R that came up in the franchise is the R33 driven by one of Dominic Torentto's friend/accomplice in the first The Fast and The Furious (2001). Leon was seen driving along Letty, Vince and Jesse in the beginning of the movie and with Dom when they were pulling off the heist.

In 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003), Brian O'Conner was called for an illegal race and arrived in his first car of the movie, the R34. This is the car that he drove recklessly and jumped over a bridge and made one hell of a slide the moment he won. Cops soon show up and Brian tried to make a run for it but was arrested thanks to Electronic Disruption Device on a grappling hook.

Remember when Sean asked Han, what does he drift for in The Fast and The Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006) ? Han then drives the Veilside RX-7 into the streets and spotted a purple and silver R33. Spotting the GT-R, Han made donuts around the car and later when he got the phone numbers of the 2 girls driving the R33, Sean finally knew the reason Han drifts for. I would do that too if I could drift. I am not sure whether you realized it or not but the car that Sean chased in the RX-7 was actually a blue R34 (although it was shown for only 2 seconds). 

I am not sure whether you realized it or not but the car that Sean chased in the RX-7 was actually a blue R34 (although it was shown for only 2 seconds). Here is the proof below. Sorry it is blurry.

5 years after the first movie, the now FBI agent, Brian has stumbled upon a case involving, you guessed it, illegal car races in Fast and Furious (2009). This time with the FBI's impound lots' help, he has a wide choice of cars to used in his attempt to infiltrate the race but he only has one car in his mind: the R34 although we see him pull up some R35 from the database. We even get a seen of him modding the GT-R before racing it. The car gets blown up by Dom and Brian switches to the Subaru WRX STI. In my opinion, the blue paint suits the R34 more than the silver in the second movie. 

Brian's pick from the impound lot

Time to start work !

All the sweat and blood pay off. Sweet Ride

After busting Dom out of prison transport bus, we see the gang retreats and hides in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to avoid the authorities in Fast 5 (2011). As the audience already know, Brian can not be without a JDM ride but have to blend in, not to mention the scarcity of JDM in Brazil. So, he drives a Nissan Skyline GT-R C10 coupe. Not so flashy, gets you to where you need but still wearing the GT-R badge. Although I do not know much about the C10, I do know it is the first GT-R.   

After successfully pulling off the greatest heist in Rio, we find our heroes all instant millionaires and Brian settles down with Mia in a nice, quiet beach side property in the end of the movie. I could have guessed Brian would spend his new wealth on a new R35. It is weird that you could get a R35 but could not get any parts to mod the R35 because it is like a virgin. 

Furious 6 (2013) started with a race between Brian's R35 and Dom's Challenger along some windy roads. It turns out, Brian was just rushing to the hospital because Mia was delivering their baby and decides to have a little fun with Dom on the side. It is presumably the same R35 we see at the end of Fast 5.

We only get to see the r35 again at the end of the movie back at the Toretto house. This time it is a modified R35 with the special Bensopra Body Kit with a huge GT-Wing. This is when the heart warming scene where the whole team celebrates their freedom and pardon from their crimes and becoming rich. They did not mention who was the owner but we can all just assume it belongs to Brian.  

From this point onwards, there might be spoilers. You have been warned !

Netizens were writing online that there was a R32 in Furious 7 (2015) and I remember opening my eyes wide to spot all the JDM present in the movie but I failed to find the R32 mentioned. So, I did some digging and I found my evidence. It was a black R32 in the background during Han's funeral scene. Dom spotted Deckard Shaw in the cemetery and rushed to get in his car to chase the bad guy. I have always like the R32 especially since it came out the same year I was born. 

Later in the movie, the main characters were all gearing up for the final showdown. We see the rather stock looking, blue R35 and Brian putting on a bullet proof vest from the boot along with some guns. It was rather badass looking the way he gears up, gets in the car and heads to where the danger is. I guess the Bensopra R35 we saw at the end of Furious 6 was sold and replaced by the mini van we saw Brian taking Jack to school in. In the midst of actions, the R35 was blown to pieces by a missile. What a waste !!

Lock on Target & Boom goes the R35.

Fast and Furious - Toyota Supra MkIV

Continue with the launch of the latest Fast and Furious movie, we have the next JDM that appeared on screen. The first iconic car from The Fast and The Furious (2001) is definitely the orange, gravity defying Toyota Supra MkIV. Although apart form the first movie, the Supra was never in the limelight and replaced by the Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 as the icon of the series, it appears in other movies as well.

After losing in a pink slip race against Dominic Toretto and trashing the Mitsubishi Eclipse he raced, Brian O'Conner now owes Dom a 10-second car. Brian then brings a wrecked/scrap Supra and says it is Dom's 10-second car. Soon, they rebuilt the Supra with sweat, blood and many shiny parts. When it was all done, it was time to hit the road to test and tune the bad boy. Brian and Dom soon met with a Ferrari 355 Spider and was insulted by the driver. Dom gave Brian the green light and ask him to smoke the Ferrari which of course, he smoked the Ferrari. The Supra continues to see a lot more action and in my opinion the most one single car have seen in all of the franchise. In the end of the movie, the Supra was given to Dom to make his escape.  

The Project Car

First Victim - Ferrari F355 Spider

Next, we see the Supra dressed in gold appearing in the beginning of 2 Fast 2 Furious and we know things are going to get down with a race. It is driven by a character named Slap Jack and in the race, followed Brian to jump a bridge. When he landed, the tire pops and steers him into a billboard. Later in the movie, we see the Supra in the scramble scene again and nobody knows what happened to it. 

One of the cars used to by the team to test in their hideout to slip through the many high speed cameras when they planned to rob the police station in Fast 5 (2011). Few of the characters including Tej, Roman and Rico were having a go at escaping the cameras but clumsy and maybe inexperienced Rico hit a column and damaged the Supra. So, the fun was cut short. 

From this point onwards, there might be spoilers. You have been warned.

I was one of those who thought that they would kill Brian in Furious 7 (2015) because that is the usual and easiest way to bring closure to a character. However, if you watched the movie, you knew that they changed it to make Brian retired instead. The unexpected thing for me was seeing Brian drive a JDM at the ending of the movie and expected a GT-R but when I saw a white Supra, I honestly did not see that coming. It is said that the white Supra used in the movie actually belongs to Paul Walker. It is symbolic to see both cars cruise down the empty road and finally split. Thanks for making this another tear jerking moment. Thank you, Paul Walker for all your hard work. You will be missed.

Fast and Furious - Subaru WRX STI

March 2015 was THE MONTH when it is all about the Fast and Furious franchise, which lasted for 14 long years. This latest installment was already much anticipated by fans but with one of its main character's actor's recent demise, even the non-fans rushed to the cinemas to catch the latest movie, Fast and Furious 7. I was one of the earliest who watched on the first day it was released in Malaysia. Despite what critics said, I thought it was a great movie with everything from action, cars, family values and story closure. This article may contain spoilers. At first I was waiting for the part where they were going to kill Paul's character off and kept guessing when it was going to happen. Luckily, they changed their decision and made him retire instead. Of course some cried when they were watching the ending, which is a tribute to Paul Walker and it showed clips of each of the Fast and Furious movies which brought back memories for every audience. I immediately downloaded all 6 other movies of the franchise and decided to make a TOP 3 list of JDMs that appeared in the all movies. However, the list does not include many cars that appear as background cars in the first 3 movies in the series.

First up, we have the Subaru WRX STI. It is a model that made its debut quite late in the series but maintain appearance in every movie onwards. It made its first appearance in Fast and Furious (2009). Brian O'Conner was driving his iconic Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 through the desert but was later blown up by Dominic Toretto. After that, Brian told him Dom owes him a 10 second car, he smashed the WRX STI's window, gave him the keys and told him they are now even. After a great action scene, the WRX STI was filled with bullet hole and later smashed.

Before all the holes and beating it took.

That is how you buy a WRX STI

Rally Gene Shining

Next, it appeared in Fast 5 (2011) in its Face-lift, sedan form. It was one of the few cars that the team collected and tested in their hideout to slip through the many high speed cameras installed exactly like how it would be in the police station. I think Han thought the WRX STI could beat the camera (I certainly agree to this) but even with him driving, it was not enough. Even though it was only 20 seconds of footage but clearly it is worth the mention. Especially with Han stating that if this (WRX STI) could not get pass the camera, they are going to need invisible cars.

Han: The only way is to get invisible cars.

Talking about short appearance, who could forget the appearance of the WRX STI for 2 seconds in Furious 6 (2013). Dom was in London seeking out Letty and we were shown the racing scene in London. Out come 2 cars that were sideways on 2 wheels and one of them is a hatchback WRX STI. As if you can't tell it is a WRX STI, it even have a STI decal right on the hood. There some other more expensive cars but only JDMs count in this list.

Must be bad for tires

From this point onwards, there might be spoilers. You have been warned.
Last but not least, the WRX STI is one of the main stars (to me) in the latest, Furious 7 (2015) and it is driven by our Brian O'Connor. Clearly if you have watched the trailer before the movie was released, you already know that the WRX STI will be drop off a plane and what will happen to it. It is one of the most difficult sequence to shoot and timing was crucial to land on the ground via parachute. Then, we see a lot of action with the WRX STI and it was the end for it when Brian jumped into the bad guy's trailer. What a waste when I saw it crashed and they certainly could have donated it to me instead (wishful thinking).

Is it me or bullet holes goes well with the WRX STI ?

Drop Time

In action

STI Surfing !!

You'll be missed !!

Here I will reveal a surprise that many of you fans might have missed or maybe you saw it just like I did. Before the "dropping cars from a plane scene", we see the team reunite in an army-like base and were discussing their plans to infiltrate and stop the enemy. There was a sedan WRX STI parked in the base with almost the same color as the hatchback that was used in the drop. It was weird that they had a sedan but used a hatchback instead. I was happy though because I prefer the sedan version and do not want to see it get wrecked.

Also, since this is a Subaru article, I want to mention that there was a surprise Subaru that many might missed out or have forgotten about. In Furious 6, there was a blue Subaru BRZ in the background. In the beginning when Dom pays Brian and Mia a visit, you could see a BRZ when Dom's Dodge Challenger SRT8 drives in. However, a better shot of it would be when Shaw's men were after Mia and Elena. Does this ring a bell to all of you ?

The best shot

Remember to come back for the next JDM on the list: Toyota Supra MkIV.