Japanese not innovative. Does not produce high end cars.
Tell that to super car enthusiasts that KNOW a
Nissan gtr even the older skyline pedigree was just about as good as it got. And that legacy spans as far back as the 60's! You realize in class production gtr variants factory fresh set Nurburgring RECORDS. And not by small margins!
The only reason most Americans are clueless about the
Nissan gtr breed is because most of the highest production cars worth a damn are not permitted to be sold here. You find them everywhere in
Asia. It is truly a engineering marvel!
Anyone say
Honda acura NSX? 1992?
TALK about innovation in production. The huge list of first in production with that performer was truly a super car killer. Yes it was. And at a
price that embarassed the most spoiled italian car patriot. The latest release model after a hiatus unfortunately was not going to be nearly competitive; looks great lots of improvements. But not nearly in the same caliber that the first generation NSX brought to the table and then ate everyone's dinner!
Yes it is true in recent years the Japanese have stalled what producing truly high end cars. But just like the have in the past the likes of Nissan,
Honda, and even mazda, when they decide to really give it a go, it's true substance they deliver verified on the track...and pricing. Noonne does it like
Japan when.it comes to affordable high end sports cars.
I'll make a prediction. In a few years Honda will produce another super car killer. All
electric, all
wheel drive, maybe hybrid like the Porsche 918. But faster at every benchmark than even the Tesla, and probably less than 150 k USD! I can't even imagine what be tech innovations that will disrupt the market... Again!
To be fair and objective,
Japan innovates auto just as well as any.. Definitely better than US production! By a huge margin.
Here is a good list of Japanese cars that are just a small composite of very solidly engineered super fast, super performer cars.
http://www.cheatsheet.com/automobiles/10-of-the-fastest-japanese-cars-to-ever-grace-americas-shores.html/?a=viewall
You just can't ignore the reality that Japan produces fantastic cars...for the
money and performance, noone touches Japan!
If we are going to see mass production highly efficient affordable, solidly performer electrics. I wager it will come from Japan.
I agree with sentiments about Tesla. Fast sure...in a straight line. Efficient, not so much. And nothing particularly ground breaking in tech.
To me the next big thing in auto innovation is electrical, but also efficient high end performance. The real world street street stuff. Not straight line or boring banked ovals. That is what Japan and
Germany as known for. The experience of aggressively tackling a road course...
Couple that with efficiency and excellent mileage between
charging is where the next mark will be.
I predict Japan will get there first.. Figuratively and literally. They have the heritage for it.