American giant Ford is one of those brands one can never get enough of. With memorable models in the pickup and SUV segments, its fame comes, arguably, in the first place from sports cars: the rally Focus, the Le Mans legendary GT, and so on. With a long history of cars that owned their right to a seat in the automobile hall of fame, one of their most iconic models, still produced to this day, is the Mustang.

Born in 1964, Ford is currently running the seventh iteration of the Mustang. This year's release, the 2024 Ford Mustang, came to carry the legacy of its predecessors. Of the two base trims, the EcoBoost and the GT, the latter drives much more attention due to its rumbling 5.0-liter V-8 engine, which has an output of 480 horsepower, and can race to 60 miles per hour in just 4.5 seconds. Those are impressive figures, without a doubt. But, how do those numbers look against other markets, and other eras even?

Japanese cars never cease to impress. Some fast, some reliable, some iconic. With both ideas in mind, we wondered, are there any Japanese rides from the past fast enough to challenge the newest version of one of America's core muscle cars? There sure are. Here, we compiled ten cars born in Japan that may, and will, challenge the 2024 Ford Mustang GT.

10 2015 Nissan 370Z NISMO

0-60 MPH: 4.9 seconds

The successor to the beloved Japanese modern classic that is the 350Z, the Nissan 370Z rocks the looks of the previous model, modifying them a tad more to the aggressive side. Its small size is already a good sign that it will be a responsive car, but the Nismo tuning takes it up a notch. Its 3.7-liter V-6 engine works wonders, even more so when you pair it with its 6-speed manual transmission.

Performance

NISMO is, of course, the racing division of Nissan, so you can be sure they treated the 2015 370Z accordingly. The 0.4 seconds it falls behind the 2024 Mustang GT can be won back in the corners if going head-to-head on, say, a racetrack. It would be fascinating to see both of these cars competing as rivals, to analyze who has the high ground on grip, acceleration, and overall performance.

9 1994 Toyota Supra Turbo

0-60 MPH: 4.9 seconds

One of, if not the most renowned Toyota ever, the MK4 Supra, also made an appearance in this list. Its happy-looking fascia and round design might appear underperforming in comparison to the aggressive-looking Mustang. But this model didn't make a name for itself for no reason: with a 0-60 time of 4.9 seconds, a 1994 Supra Turbo can put up a fight, even 30 years later.

Performance

Please notice this is the performance of a stock Supra. That actually leaves a lot of room for improvement considering the enormous aftermarket supply that's currently available for the fourth-gen Toyota, among the most sought-after vehicles to mod. There is no doubt that, although a winner in the 0-60 aspect, the 2024 Mustang will have to fight its way to the finish line against this Japanese masterpiece.

Related: 12 Best Toyota Supra Models, Ranked

8 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII RS

0-60 MPH: 4.7 seconds

One icon after the other, that's how this list is coming to be. The 3000GT and the different Eclipse generations (let's not talk about the current state of the Eclipse) all have contributed a ton towards Mitsubishi's reputation over the years. This one is no exception. The Lancer Evo VIII was built to run fast and wild. Its square design cues and aggressive look were actually decades ahead of its time. Its performance too, given it can smoke many of the current sports cars.

Performance

The traction the Evo VIII RS trim can offer is probably enough to beat the 2024 Mustang GT in a closed circuit. Falling just 0.2 seconds short of the American car, you better believe the Evo's turbo will help it get out of corners with ease and recover speed. With a four cylinder gap, the '93 Mitsubishi is absolutely capable of keeping up with Ford's latest.

7 1999 Nissan Skyline GT-R R34

0-60 MPH: 4.6 seconds

And speaking about icons. You don't have to know anything about cars to recognize our next entry. Nissan was well into their tenth generation of the Skyline when they rolled the GT-R R34 out of their factories. Little did they know, this car would become a staple of Japan from then on. Featured in countless videogames and, perhaps most iconically, as Paul Walker's ride of choice in the Fast & Furious saga, the whole world knows at least something about this Skyline.

Performance

With six cylinders, two turbos, all-wheel drive, and a strong liking for going fast, the R34 can accelerate to 60 miles per in just 4.6 seconds. The difference against the current Ford Mustang GT is so slim, it might as well be insignificant. No offense to the Mustang, but if you ever see these two running head-to-head, chances are, you'll be watching the Skyline. It's tough not to when you have a machine of this caliber in front of your eyes.

Related: The True Story Behind Paul Walker’s Nissan R34 Skyline GT-R From The Fast And Furious

6 2014 Lexus IS-F

0-60 MPH: 4.4 seconds

Nobody said a good sleeper couldn't be a sports car, and even beat a sports car for that matter. Lexus, for instance, proved that statement right nearly ten years ago. Without necessarily looking the part, the 2014 Lexus IS-F surprised the world with a 0-60 mph time of 4.4 seconds. All with the little help of its 5.0-liter V-8, running at full throttle under the hood.

Performance

If you like an extra dimension of "running wild", you might take the IS-F over other cars previously discussed, as its rear-wheel drive will require a bit of skill to master around corners. It's no easy task to get behind the wheel of 416 ponies, all at the same time. The 2014 IS-F will definitely be up there with the 2024 Ford Mustang GT, and even, if you're daring enough, it'll be ahead.

5 2020 Toyota GR Supra

0-60 MPH: 3.9 seconds

The rebirth of the Supra was quite a controversial one. Designed and assembled between Toyota Gazoo Racing and BMW, some considered it a bit too much of a stretch from the beloved MK4 Supra. Others loved its pointy design and small size. Love it or hate it, the numbers say the 2020 GR Supra, the 3.0-liter in particular, is a part of the sub-4.0 zero-to-sixty club.

Performance

Although still in production, you can get a used GR Supra for around $60,000 at places like Bring A Trailer. It's not a small amount, but it will sure provide some fun in return. Its inline-6 engine has to be praised, for Toyota doesn't produce them anymore. And instead of breaking the Supra tradition, they decided to partner with BMW to fit one of theirs inside the GR Supra. And it turned out to be a great decision.

4 2011 Lexus LFA

0-60 MPH: 3.7 seconds

Another one of Japan's modern icons. This one didn't receive the love it needed at first, and then, when it stopped rolling out of factories, people began to realize what they'd missed out on. Well, those who could pay the $400,000 price, anyway. Can the Lexus LFA and its amazing engine roar beat the 2024 Mustang GT? Of course, it can. In fact, there's nearly a one-second difference between both 0–60 mph times.

Performance

At 202 miles per, you're most likely not checking out how far behind the Ford runs, but rather holding tight onto the seat and gripping the steering wheel with full force. With over 550 horsepower, the LFA's naturally-aspirated V-10 engine will gladly provide if given the right inputs. A gem ahead of its time, for sure. A legendary sports car? We agree. Faster than a current-year Mustang GT? Yes.

3 1998 Nissan R390 GT1

0-60 MPH: 3.1 seconds

Homologation sure brought some amazing car concepts to the average citizen's life. One of those was this, a very, very rare Nissan R390 GT1. The sentence "one of those" had never been put to better use. Because the R390 GT1 saw a unique, one-of-a-kind road version. Just one. That one car, though, works wonders. A second version was made, and sold at an auction, privately. No further details are known, but estimates price this car at a very slightly costly $1,000,000. It probably bid higher, though.

Performance

In terms of performance, there are absolutely no doubts: the 25-year-old Nissan is far better suited for the racetrack than the 2024 Ford Mustang GT. 3.1 seconds of 0-60 mph and over 220 miles per hour of top speed will bring the R390 to the checkered flag before you can process the news. There's one thing that the Nissan does worse than the Mustang, though, and that's practicality. Would you have this track monster as your daily driver? Neither would we.

Related: Why The Nissan R390 Is The Rarest Supercar From The 90s

2 2018 Acura NSX

0-60 MPH: 2.7 seconds

There are cars like the Audi R8 which impact the whole world with their innovative designs. The rebirth of the Acura NSX is a part of that same, honorable group. It had been rumored for a while that a second-gen NSX could happen, and when it was finally unveiled, gearheads couldn't get enough (well, those who loved it). One of the first memorable hybrid sports cars, the NSX rocked impressive numbers, starting with its acceleration.

Performance

Its electric motors in unison with the V-6 present what Honda calls a Super Handling-All Wheel Drive. With a sub-3-second 0-60 mph time, you'd better be grateful for the traction traveling to all wheels. For a car that is the comeback of a beloved older model, the Acura NSX provides power, speed, handling, and style, all combined and farther propelled by its hybrid nature. It's a worthy successor, although, to relieve the tension of fans, it could've been given its own name to leave the legendary NSX untouched.

1 2020 Nissan GT-R R35 NISMO

0-60 MPH: 2.5 seconds

NISMO makes an appearance yet again on this list. The GT-R has made headlines for decades on end, and its latest iteration, the R35, is no exception. Even though some may argue this generation has been running for way too long — 16 years now —, it's a fact that its looks are intense, to say the very least. Very pointy lines, a great amount of aero, and the widest of bodies, are just some of the visual features that captivate when looking at an R35. That is, until you look under the hood of a NISMO-treated one.

Performance

You're looking at the performance of a supercar right here. The wolf disguised as a sheep. The next level of sleeper, if you will. Perhaps, the only true way to beat the current Mustang GT is with a car with an equally menacing look. Be sure to floor the R35's doubly turbocharged V-6 engine and prepare to have the ride of your life, and give spectators a world-class show.