Yamato Fujin SP-Turbo
Manufacturer: Yamato Motor Corporation
Nationality: Japan
First assembled: January 14th, 1996
Birthplace: Osaka, Japan
Engine: 2.2 L Turbocharged Flat-4
HP: 276 BHP
0-60: 5.1 seconds
Top speed: 157.42 MPH
In the early 1960s, Yamato Motor Corp was one of the largest industrial manufacturers in Japan, but would have a way's to go before it became the global juggernaut it is today. That's why it was frequently relying on consultation from foreign marques. Yamato was one of many parts of Japan's economy that was helped back up by western powers shortly after WWII, so taking a helping hand from overseas was nothing new. Yamato was looking into building an entry-level sports car at the time, but had little experience building more performance-oriented cars. Friedrich Goertz was a German designer for Maude Motors, responsible for some of their most well-received models, and saw great potential in Yamato. He was right to believe in his intuition as Yamato had already kickstarted a technical development program specifically for a sportscar at the time. Goertz and Yamato would work together on the program for years, but their professional relationship would cease in 1965. Regardless, their work together would contribute to what Yamato would call the YCS platform. While the YCS platform would begin life as a low-production, hand built sports car that was outright antithetical to the program's original entry-level goals, that ship would right itself in later generations. Later generations is also when the YCS platform would get the name that its commonly known by. "Fujin" is the Japanese god of wind and one of the eldest gods in the Shinto faith. With the YCS platform being famous for its light weight and agile handling, being named after a wind god was nothing short of fitting. The name would only get more fitting at the very end of the 20th century, as the most well-regarded iteration of the Fujin would hit the roads. Built on the "YCS5" platform, the Fujin SP-Turbo was meant to be the top-of-the-line variant of the model. The first hint to this was in the name, with "SP" standing for "Street Performance". With a curb weight of just over 2,600 Ibs and a newly-developed multi-link rear suspension made just for the platform, the Fujin would certainly bring some impressive performance to the streets. The other half of the name, the "Turbo" part, also made clear that it the Fujin would have the grunt to back up its finesse. The YCS5 came standard with Yamato's venerable Flat-4 engine powering the rear wheels. This powertrain has been in production in one form or another since the late 1970s. With actual decades of refinement behind it Yamato really couldn't have picked a more robust engine for the Fujin, and the inclusion of turbocharging ensured it was brought up to modern standards. Yamato officially stated the power of the SP-Turbo was just 276 BHP, but that was simply to comply with the "gentlemen's agreement" of Japanese manufacturers to officially limit all their cars to that number. 3rd parties however would dyno SP-Turbos and find that it's power would be very near or even exceed 300 HP. Regardless of what its true power was, it ensured the SP-Turbo was very quick for its time. 0-60 was knocking on the door of under 5 seconds, and top speed maxed out at just under 160 MPH. The performance and design of the SP-Turbo would make it a white whale among the Fujin's fanbase, which was already large by the time the YCS5 arrived. It would especially gain a large following in the west due to it being a Japanese domestic market vehicle a thus never having a large presence overseas, giving it a major "forbidden fruit" aspect. Base model YCS5's would become very popular amongst tuner culture and would be a common choice for drift, time attack and even rally motorsports. This is due to the impressive versatility of the platform and expansive aftermarket, not to mention how affordable it was. Unlike the SP-Turbo, base YCS5s actually would see roads overseas, further increasing its accessibility. Even decades after its introduction and the Fujin nameplate being dropped and revived multiple times over, the YCS5 is still a legendary name in car culture, with the SP-Turbo still being the most desirable iteration.
Yamato Fujin SP-Turbo
Manufacturer: Yamato Motor Corporation
Nationality: Japan
First assembled: January 14th, 1996
Birthplace: Osaka, Japan
Engine: 2.2 L Turbocharged Flat-4
HP: 276 BHP
0-60: 5.1 seconds
Top speed: 157.42 MPH
In the early 1960s, Yamato Motor Corp was one of the largest industrial manufacturers in Japan, but would have a way's to go before it became the global juggernaut it is today. That's why it was frequently relying on consultation from foreign marques. Yamato was one of many parts of Japan's economy that was helped back up by western powers shortly after WWII, so taking a helping hand from overseas was nothing new. Yamato was looking into building an entry-level sports car at the time, but had little experience building more performance-oriented cars. Friedrich Goertz was a German designer for Maude Motors, responsible for some of their most well-received models, and saw great potential in Yamato. He was right to believe in his intuition as Yamato had already kickstarted a technical development program specifically for a sportscar at the time. Goertz and Yamato would work together on the program for years, but their professional relationship would cease in 1965. Regardless, their work together would contribute to what Yamato would call the YCS platform. While the YCS platform would begin life as a low-production, hand built sports car that was outright antithetical to the program's original entry-level goals, that ship would right itself in later generations. Later generations is also when the YCS platform would get the name that its commonly known by. "Fujin" is the Japanese god of wind and one of the eldest gods in the Shinto faith. With the YCS platform being famous for its light weight and agile handling, being named after a wind god was nothing short of fitting. The name would only get more fitting at the very end of the 20th century, as the most well-regarded iteration of the Fujin would hit the roads. Built on the "YCS5" platform, the Fujin SP-Turbo was meant to be the top-of-the-line variant of the model. The first hint to this was in the name, with "SP" standing for "Street Performance". With a curb weight of just over 2,600 Ibs and a newly-developed multi-link rear suspension made just for the platform, the Fujin would certainly bring some impressive performance to the streets. The other half of the name, the "Turbo" part, also made clear that it the Fujin would have the grunt to back up its finesse. The YCS5 came standard with Yamato's venerable Flat-4 engine powering the rear wheels. This powertrain has been in production in one form or another since the late 1970s. With actual decades of refinement behind it Yamato really couldn't have picked a more robust engine for the Fujin, and the inclusion of turbocharging ensured it was brought up to modern standards. Yamato officially stated the power of the SP-Turbo was just 276 BHP, but that was simply to comply with the "gentlemen's agreement" of Japanese manufacturers to officially limit all their cars to that number. 3rd parties however would dyno SP-Turbos and find that it's power would be very near or even exceed 300 HP. Regardless of what its true power was, it ensured the SP-Turbo was very quick for its time. 0-60 was knocking on the door of under 5 seconds, and top speed maxed out at just under 160 MPH. The performance and design of the SP-Turbo would make it a white whale among the Fujin's fanbase, which was already large by the time the YCS5 arrived. It would especially gain a large following in the west due to it being a Japanese domestic market vehicle a thus never having a large presence overseas, giving it a major "forbidden fruit" aspect. Base model YCS5's would become very popular amongst tuner culture and would be a common choice for drift, time attack and even rally motorsports. This is due to the impressive versatility of the platform and expansive aftermarket, not to mention how affordable it was. Unlike the SP-Turbo, base YCS5s actually would see roads overseas, further increasing its accessibility. Even decades after its introduction and the Fujin nameplate being dropped and revived multiple times over, the YCS5 is still a legendary name in car culture, with the SP-Turbo still being the most desirable iteration.