6/10 Japan,
Japan Automobile Manufactures Association (JAIA) concluded that the industry's voluntary regulation of horsepower to 280hp applied to Japanese vehicles will be terminated.

As many of i-clubbers know, all the Japanese cars in Japanese Domestic Market had the limit of 280 horsepower to its horsepower. As a standpoint of enthusiasts living overseas, it was the biggest mysteries of JDM performance cars.

-to be continued right after-

source: sankei news (japanese)
http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20040611-00000017-san-bus_all
article: go go go

The background of the 280 limit
The 280 limit came in effect in 1990 responding to increasing number of traffic accidents associated with high output cars. Also, the gentleman's agreement was there to avoid unneccesary unlimited power race between Japanese manufactures. 1990 was around the year when R32 GTR, 80 Supra, FD3S, NSX came out.

The reason of the termination
Being that the imported cars are not restricted, there were vehicles on road that were sold with more horsepower, recently 400 horsepower is not a surprise anymore looking at Porsches and AMGs. Also Japanese cars are sold more than 280hp elsewhere on the world. For instance, Lexus LS, Infinity Q45.
Considering the inefficiency of manufacturing vehicles in double standards, JAIA concluded that the gentleman's agreement is nonsense.
Another story is that there was opinion that the 280 limit is actually restricting the manufactures development. While foreign manufactures builds vehicles around their high performance output, Japanese cars were designed around the 280 package. The opinion was that development of chassis, brakes, suspensions, and all the other components were suffered from 280 limit.
Now, manufactures are freed to develop vehicles competing with rivalries overseas.

How would it affect Subaru?
JDM STi might come with more horsepower next time around :)

Subaru limited edition cars that got around with 280hp limit
Subaru Impreza S201 300 horsepower
Subaru Impreza S202 320 horsepower
Subaru Legacy S401 293hp

source: sankei news
article: go go go

I think I just messed myself over that S202

The thing of the limit though, is that if you were to dyno these supposedly 280hp (crank) cars, many are way over that and some are even verging on 280whp. So despite the "law" there were many cars easily exceeding the limit of 280crank hp...and many of those cars would push 400+hp with minor tuning (supra, Skyline etc.)

The first car to break the 280 limit is said to be the next generation ACURA RL (called Honda Legend in Japan) with 300hp.

Lexus RX300 hybrid is said to have more than 280 too.

What will be interesting is the coming GTR and the Toyota supercar.

hey is there any way i can read that article? As go go go said, i too will be very interested to see how much hp the new Skyline will pump out. Speaking of skylines, does anyone know when it is coming here and if there is a final pict of it yet?

Just wanted to throw out the idea that because of the limit on horsepower, Japanese manufacturers were required to focus more on handling and power delivery (i.e. that wonderful, performance oriented AWD) and the world has benefited from it.

A thought.

I doubt they will bring the Skyline over since the new Z is doing so well.

Just wanted to throw out the idea that because of the limit on horsepower, Japanese manufacturers were required to focus more on handling and power delivery (i.e. that wonderful, performance oriented AWD) and the world has benefited from it.

A thought.

They will continue to do both, it's Japan's way, build a great all around car, it's their honor and pride, and most likely they will continue with it.

I doubt they will bring the Skyline over since the new Z is doing so well.

The Skyline is already here, it's call the G35. You're thinking about the next GTR, Nissan has already confirmed that they will release it here in the U.S.

At last a horsepower war between sportcompact cars!

That was mostly a "gentlemans" agreement and it was pretty obvious to most in the motoring industry that it was a 280ps (275hp) "quoted limit". Many cars were pushing out more than that quoted amount, but none of the makers wanted to actually advertise that they had more power than the agreed limit.
Kinda like the 155mph German car speed limit. Many cars have been tested well past that limit even though it is supposedly strictly enforced by the manufacturers.

The Japanese restriction is now officially over, I think they've been done for a while.

The Skyline is already here, it's call the G35. You're thinking about the next GTR, Nissan has already confirmed that they will release it here in the U.S.
2007 Baby!

That was mostly a "gentlemans" agreement and it was pretty obvious to most in the motoring industry that it was a 280ps (275hp) "quoted limit". Many cars were pushing out more than that quoted amount, but none of the makers wanted to actually advertise that they had more power than the agreed limit.
Kinda like the 155mph German car speed limit. Many cars have been tested well past that limit even though it is supposedly strictly enforced by the manufacturers.

The Japanese restriction is now officially over, I think they've been done for a while.

A lot of german's are limited at 155. Motor Trend did a top speed test a while back, and an AMG Mercedes came in second (they had M-B disable the limiter) at around 172 iirc, they called up M-B and their response was "Yes, we know, that's the stage 2 limiting"

AMG Benzes have been known to approach the 200mph zone with relatively few mods..and of course proper gearing..