What Japanese Luxury Cars Had Turbochargers in the US?

"Wobbles the Mind" (wobblesthemind)
10/15/2016 at 00:15 • Filed to: Questions

The RDX had a turbo 2.3L I4 from model years 2007 to 2012 (I think). Then the Lexus NX popped up with a turbo 4-cyl for the 2015 model year in the US. Here’s my question, what other Japanese luxury brand cars had a turbocharger between model years 2007-2015 in the US? I’m drooling a blank, and no the GT-R doesn’t count since it isn’t luxury branded. What Japanese luxury cars in the US market had a turbocharger prior to the RDX? My brain just isn’t working tonight.

*edit: QX60 Hybrid should have a supercharged 4-cyl like the Murano and Pathfinder Hybrids, right?! Ok, from the time Acura, Lexus, and Infiniti were created which cars had any kind of factory forced induction? Help me out here, Oppo!

DISCUSSION (16)

j250ex > Wobbles the Mind
10/15/2016 at 00:21

Technically not what you asked for but you could throw a supercharger on a land cruiser from that era.

Wobbles the Mind > j250ex
10/15/2016 at 00:23

Any factory forced induction I’ll take, good trivia. Did the LX have that, so that it counts as luxury a brand?

bob and john > Wobbles the Mind
10/15/2016 at 00:25

lexus GS300 and Sc300 come to mind 2JZ-GTE baby

Wobbles the Mind > bob and john
10/15/2016 at 00:33

Both of those had V8 options so I don’t think they were ever offered in the US with turbos on the I6 versions. I’ll have to check.

macanamera > bob and john
10/15/2016 at 00:36

Neither had turbos

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Wobbles the Mind
10/15/2016 at 00:41

I really don’t think there were any. That’s what made the RDX so interesting - it was the only turbo from a Japanese luxury brand until recently. There were a few models here and there that might have had a turbo outside of the US (the Acura SLX comes to mind if you go back further than 2007 - it was a rebadged Isuzu Trooper and the Trooper had a turbo in some markets, I believe).

dogisbadob > Wobbles the Mind
10/15/2016 at 00:42

The Mazda Millenia S had a supercharger (Miller-cycle is Atkinson with a supercharger

Wobbles the Mind > dogisbadob
10/15/2016 at 00:45

I’ll take that one at this point since it was supposed to start Mazda’s Amati Luxury brand in the US. This is surprisingly difficult. I’ve decided to check hybrid models since I’m pretty sure the QX60 Hybrid is Miller-cycle according to that definition.

Wobbles the Mind > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
10/15/2016 at 00:52

That’s what I’m thinking too, but Im finding it ridiculous that between the time Acura, Lexus, and Infiniti were formed only the RDX had factory forced induction followed by the Lexus NX and Infiniti QX60 Hybrid. I mean seriously! All those turbocharged mainstream Japanese badged cars during those periods and it’s a bunch of recent CUVs and brand new sedans/coupes that had forced induction?! That can’t be right...

bob and john > macanamera
10/15/2016 at 01:01

uhh. the GTE ALWAYS had turbos.

the GE didnt. and that was here only in the IS300.

dogisbadob > Wobbles the Mind
10/15/2016 at 01:22

I didn’t even know there was a QX60 hybrid!

The use of a supercharger on it is surprising since it doesn’t seem to be necessary with a hybrid (as the electric motor fills in the low end)

Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura > bob and john
10/15/2016 at 01:43

We never got the GTE-powered models in the US.

Benjamin Rolland > Wobbles the Mind
10/15/2016 at 07:54

I mean, Lexus currently sells a GS and IS 200t, in addition to the NX

Wobbles the Mind > Benjamin Rolland
10/15/2016 at 08:50

Yeah, and I think the RC has a 4-cyl variant too. I just find it strange that from 1986 to 2014 the only Japanese luxury vehicle in the US with factory forced induction was the Acura RDX.

macanamera > bob and john
10/15/2016 at 10:34

Never had the GTE in the states my dude

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > bob and john
10/15/2016 at 15:22

We never got the GTE here.