These old Japanese cars from the 80s and 90s feature fancy tech you see in modern cars these days

Buying a new car these days feels more like shopping for gadgets than a mode of transportation. Every new model seems to come with a slew of latest high-tech features, ranging from fancy screens, trick suspension for performance or comfort, to cars that can almost drive themselves.

Of course, if you want all these cutting-edge technology, you'll likely want to go for a flagship European car model. But that's not how it always was...

If you are a fan of Japanese cars, you'll know that the ones from the 80s and 90s are heralded for their upgradability and performance - cars like the Skyline GT-R, Mitsubishi Evolution and Toyota Supra come to mind.

However, did you know that many of these Japanese cars that you love were also pioneers of the fancy technology that has become common on top-tier cars in recent years? Here are six classic JDM cars with some truly interesting high-tech features.

1. Toyota AE86 Levin GT-Apex rotating grille

Mention active grilles, and most people will likely bring up the modern BMW and Mercedes-Benz cars that utilise such systems to improve efficiency. It does so by shutting the grille openings at speed to reduce drag and open only when the engine requires more effective cooling. Incorporating automation to such a minor part of the car for the sake of small aerodynamic improvements sure sounds like a pretty fancy piece of modern automotive technology.

But Toyota actually offered the same thing on the Toyota Levin GT-Apex back in the 1980s. The early version of the Toyota Levin's front grille was controlled by a thermostat and opens only when the coolant reaches a certain temperature. So, yes, a Toyota from almost 40 years ago has the feature that BMW is currently raving about on its latest M240i.

2. Nissan Skyline R31 GTS-X active front lip

Active aero to alter downforce is often seen implemented on modern supercars - you get spoilers that adjusts its height and angle accordingly to stabilise the car at speed, or even to assist in braking. Then there's the memorable Zenvo TSR-S with a spoiler that pitches and yaws to assist in cornering performance!

While one of the earlier implementation of active aero that many will likely know of is the Porsche 964's rear spoiler, did you know that this feature can be found on classic Japanese cars as well? The Nissan Skyline R31 GTS-X and GTS models had the option for an active front lip spoiler. The lip spoiler extends automatically when the car reaches 60km/h and can also be manually operated via a switch to the right of the steering wheel.

Similarly, Mitsubishi's 3000GT also featured an active front lip that activated at speed. While it's for the sake of aerodynamics, we reckon there's actually another benefit of active front lips - ground clearance (especially for lowered cars).

3. Honda Prelude four-wheel steering

Active four-wheel steering is yet another tech that made a recent comeback. You'll find them on modern performance cars such as the Renault Megane RS and Porsche 911 GT3 to aid with cornering performance. Such systems are also applied on luxury cars such as the Audi A8 and BMW 7 Series to improve low-speed manoeuvrability in tight spaces.

But did you know that systems that steered the rear wheels on a car can also be found on older Japanese cars? The Honda Prelude was one of the prominent 80s Japanese cars that has an active four-wheel steering system. Meanwhile, Nissan, Mazda and Mitsubishi also had their own interpretations of the four-wheel steering system in their cars.

However, due to the technical limitations of the 80s, all of these four-wheel steering systems were actuated mechanically, which resulted in added weight and complexity. This probably explains why you don't see many four-wheel steering systems before they were once again brought to the spotlight in recent times.

4. Toyota Cressida digital cluster

The shift from analogue instrument clusters to fully digitalised screens on new cars is one of the latest developments in recent times. But for people who have been meddling with cars for quite some time, they might be experiencing a little bit of dejà vu.

You see, from the early 80s as well as into the 90s, many car brands were experimenting with digital instrument clusters. Examples of such cars include the Toyota Cressida from 1984 to 1988, which had it as an option. A similar option was also available on the Corolla Levin and Trueno from the same period as well. And the trend persisted through the 90s with cars like the Mazda 323 Astina, and Honda's legendary S2000 which was produced till the late 2000s.

Needless to say, the old-school digital clusters are far from the vibrant, high resolution digital displays we get these days. But hey, this shows that the whole going digital idea isn't exactly new.

5. Mitsubishi 3000GT active exhaust and electronically controlled suspension

You know how the modern performance cars from AMG, BMW M, and Audi's RS range tend to have variable exhausts that turn up the noise when you set it to sport mode?

Well, the Mitsubishi GT3000 had the same system, and it was from 30 years ago - you could toggle between sport and tour exhaust modes, which alters performance along with the sound. You could choose to enjoy a smooth and quiet drive or an aggressive soundtrack to go along with a spirited drive - the best of both worlds!

In fact, Mitsubishi had really gone all out with the 3000GT, the trick exhaust wasn't the only fancy features, it also had four-wheel steering, active aerodynamics and an electronically-controlled suspension - much like a modern performance car!

6. Nissan S13 (180SX/Silvia) Head-Up Display

Head-Up Displays (HUD) make a lot of sense. They present vital information to you without requiring you to take your gaze away from the road. And as an added perk, it kind of makes you feel like a fighter pilot.

It isn't surprising that car makers have decided to add HUDs to their latest cars - just think of the modern cars from BMW, Audi and Mazda. Having personally experienced cars with HUDs, I can say that they are pretty handy, especially the ones which show the speed limit of the road you are driving on.

What's interesting is how Nissan actually included a HUD option for the 1990s 180SX and Silvias. These cars also included a partially digital cluster and a special windscreen to go along with the setup. Just imagine how cool it will be to have such a feature in your car, back in the 90s.

This article was first published in sgCarMart.