Last Updated on October 7, 2022 by E. Lindgren
There may not be an abundance of Japanese V8 engines, but the ones that do exist are quite amazing!
While the European and American automobile markets utilized V8 engines quite early on, Japan mostly kept to its smaller and more fuel efficient 4- and 6-cylinder engines. And while there were some exceptions like the 1967 Toyota Century which featured a 3.0L V8 it was only for the absolute rarest and high-end vehicles which got the privilege to be powered by a V8 engine.
During the 1990s most Japanese brands had established strong bonds in the international car markets, and many of their cars were manufactured to meet the demands of other car cultures. One of them was the American markets where V8s ruled the roads.
And so, most JDM brands started developing their own V8 engines but with a touch of Japanese craftmanship which meant strong and reliable engines.
And so, we’re going to present some of the best JDM V8 engines to have come out of Japan, enjoy!
Nissan’s VH45DE
Before the much-appreciated VK56DE engine there was the VH45DE. This engine featured a 4.5L naturally aspirated V8 which put out between 266-310 hp.
It was originally designed to be placed in the Infiniti Q45 but also made its way into the JDM Nissan President.
Be wary of models prior to 1994 as these used plastic timing chain guides which are known to occasionally fail which in worst cases could result in engine damage. All models after 1994 were upgraded to metal-backed chain guides which were much more reliable.
The VH45DE has actually become quite popular among enthusiasts. It is commonly used for racing, drifting, drag, and boat racing.
Used in:
- 1990-1996 Infiniti Q45
- 1990-2002 Nissan President
| Engine Specifications | |
| Engine code | VH45DE |
| Layout | Four stroke, V8 |
| Fuel type | Gasoline (petrol) |
| Production | 1989-2001 |
| Displacement | 4.5 L, 4,494 cc |
| Fuel system | Fuel injection |
| Power adder | 266–310 hp (198–231 kW; 270–314 PS) |
| Power output | 378-330 lb-ft (377-447 Nm)/4,000 RPM |
Toyota’s 1UZ-FE
The 1UZ-FE engine has in the past few years established itself as one of the greatest V8 engines of all time.
The 1UZ-FE is a 4.0L all-aluminum V8 engine predominantly used in the Lexus LS400 and Toyota Celsior and to date is considered one of the most reliable engines Toyota ever manufactured.
But this engine wasn’t just reliable, it was light, quick, and cheaper than its competitors Mercedes, and BMW. It was also on par with Rolls Royce’s V12 in terms of vibration levels. You could place a coin on its side, start the engine, and the coin would remain in position without falling.
Used in:
- 1989–2000 Lexus LS 400/Toyota Celsior
- 1989–2002 Toyota Crown/Toyota Crown Majesta
- 1989–2004 Toyota HiAce HiMedic Ambulance (Japan only)
- 1991–2000 Lexus SC 400/Toyota Soarer
- 1992–1997 Toyota Aristo
- 1997–2000 Lexus GS 400
- 1995–1997 SARD MC8/MC8-R
| Engine Specifications | |
| Engine code | 1UZ-FE |
| Layout | Four stroke, V8 |
| Fuel type | Gasoline (petrol) |
| Production | 1989-2004 |
| Displacement | 4.0 L, 3,968 cc (242.1 cu in) |
| Fuel system | Before 1994: Multi-port fuel injection (MFI) After 1994: Sequential multi-point fuel injection (SFI) |
| Power adder | None |
| Power output | From 259 PS (191 kW; 256 HP) at 5,400 rpm to 300 PS (221 kW; 296 HP) at 6,000 rpm |
| Torque output | From 333 N·m (34 kg·m, 245.4 ft·lb) at 4,000 rpm to 420 N·m (42.8 kg·m, 309.5 ft·lb) at 4,600 rpm |
| Firing order | 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 |
Toyota’s 3UR-FE
This 5.7L V8 manufactured by Toyota was specifically designed for the American market, just like Nissan’s VK56DE.
The 3UR-FE debuted with Toyota’s at the time brand-new second-generation Tundra pickup which was significantly larger than its predecessor. And in order to compensate for the extra weight, the 3UR-FE developed an impressive 381 horsepower and 400-pound feet of torque (in 2007!).
The previous generation had been very reliable, but the engine was quite weak and so it had a tendency to struggle. But this all-new version fixed that issue, all while maintaining a high level of reliability.
In fact, it was so good that Toyota decided to also put it into Lexus Luxury SUV the LX570.
And despite being rock-solid engine, the 3UR-FE has received only a handful of minor upgrades since its appearance in 2007, making it fall behind some of the competition in terms of power delivery and fuel efficiency.
Used in:
- 2007–2021 Toyota Tundra
- 2007–2022 Toyota Sequoia
- 2007–2021 Toyota Land Cruiser 200 Series – US and Middle East markets only
- 2007–2021 Lexus LX 570
| Engine Specifications | |
| Engine code | 3UR-FE |
| Layout | Four stroke, V8 |
| Fuel type | Gasoline (petrol) |
| Production | 2006- |
| Displacement | 5.7 L, 5,663 cm2 (345.6 cu in) |
| Fuel system | Sequential multi-point fuel injection (SFI) |
| Power adder | None |
| Power output | From 362 PS (266 kW; 357 HP) at 5,600 rpm to 383 PS (282 kW; 378 HP) at 5,600 rpm |
| Torque output | From 530 N·m (54 kg·m, 391 ft·lb) at 3,200 rpm to 546 N·m (55.7 kg·m, 402 ft·lb) at 3,600 rpm |
| Firing order | 1-8-7-3-6-5-4-2 |
| Weight | 220 kg (485 lbs) |
Mitsubishi’s 8A80
It may be unknown, but Mitsubishi actually manufactured its own V8 engine for a brief period. The 8A80 engine utilized an aluminum block and featured a 4.5L displacement that put out around 276 hp.
However, despite not being a bad engine, due to financial struggles from the Mistubishi Motor Company they had to shut down their only two models (Mitsubishi Proudia, and Mitsubishi Dignity) that utilized this engine just two years after development.
It did however live on in the Hyundai Equus up until 2009 when it got replaced by Hyundai’s own V8 engine.
Used in:
- 1999-2001 Mitsubishi Proudia
- 1999-2001 Mitsubishi Dignity
- 1999-2009 Hyundai Equus First generation
| Engine Specifications | |
| Engine code | 8A80 |
| Layout | Four stroke, V8 |
| Fuel type | Gasoline (petrol) |
| Production | 1999-2008 |
| Displacement | 4.5 L, 4,498 cc (274,5 cu in) |
| Fuel system | Direct injection |
| Power output | Power — 280 PS (206 kW; 276 hp) at 5000 rpm |
| Torque output | Torque — 412 N⋅m (304 lb⋅ft) at 4000 rpm |
| Firing order | – |
| Weight | Torque — 412 N⋅m (304 lb⋅ft) at 4000 rpm |
Nissan’s VK56DE
The VK56DE is one of Japan’s most famed engines and could be considered Japan’s workhorse for its durability and torque nature.
The VK56DE was actually closely related to the Nissan 350Z engine, the 3.5L V6 VQ35DE, and shared some of its ground structure with each other.
And while it is often known to power robust pickup trucks or large luxury sedans, the VK56DE was actually also used in some of Nissan’s race cars, although they had been heavily modified the ground structure was all the same.
The 5.6L V8 by Nissan became a hit in the U.S. with the Nissan Titan being one of the most powerful pickup trucks in its class. And it became one of the first Japanese engines to be deemed a “muscle V8”.
Used in:
- 2004–2015 Nissan Armada
- 2004–2015 Nissan Titan
- 2004–2010 Infiniti QX56
- 2010–2016 Nissan Patrol
- 2008–2012 Nissan Pathfinder
- 2012–2016 Nissan NV2500 HD
- 2012–2016 Nissan NV3500 HD
- 2012–2016 Nissan NV Passenger
- 2009–2011 Nissan GT-R GT1
- 2013–2019 Nissan Altima, Supercars Championship
- 2015- Various LMP3 racing cars
| Engine Specifications | |
| Engine code | VK56DE |
| Layout | Four stroke, V8 |
| Fuel type | Gasoline (petrol) |
| Production | 2003-present |
| Displacement | 5.6 L, 5,552 cc (338.80 cu in) |
| Fuel system | Multi Point Fuel Injection |
| Power adder | None |
| Power output | 305 HP (227 kW, 309 PS) at 4,900 rpm 315 HP (235 kW, 319 PS) at 4,900 rpm 320 HP (240 kW, 326 PS) at 5,200 rpm |
| Torque output | 522 Nm (53.2 kg·m, 385.0 lb·ft) at 3,600 rpm 530 Nm (55.4 kg·m, 390.0 lb·ft) at 3,600 rpm 533 Nm (54.3 kg·m, 393.0 lb·ft) at 3,400 rpm |
| Firing order | 1-8-7-3-6-5-4-2 |
| Dimensions (L x W x H): | – |
| Weight | 225 kg (496 lbs) |
