Fairlady Z Confirmed for Tokyo Xtreme Racer As Familiar Hot Hatch Teased
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Just like we saw with TXR’s return after an 18-year hiatus, the team appears to be back to trickling out frequent teaser videos.
Their latest confirms what we suspected – the newest addition to the ever-growing roster is the JDM Fairlady Z. Version ST (RZ34), to be precise.
Image credit: Genki | YouTube
Nissan’s latest Z-car beauty will arrive alongside the previously unveiled Lexus RC F for version 1.0 of the game, launching after the Early Access period ends around September.
The Fairlady family’s roots trace back to 1969 with the introduction of the Datsun 240Z (before Nissan was even born).
Unlike the V8 of the Lexus, the Z packs a VR30DDTT under the hood, a 3.0L twin-turbo V6 delivering 400 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque, based on an evolved 370Z chassis.
If it looks familiar, it might be due to Chris Forsberg running a heavily modified Z in Formula DRIFT. However, it’s worth noting he swapped out the stock VR30 for a bonkers 1,300hp GT-R VR38DETT engine with (unsurprisingly) extensive chassis and suspension upgrades.
Image credit: Genki | YouTube
While you won’t be able to get it sideways in the highway racer, it’s certainly another solid addition to the growing roster.
Toyota’s Rally-Bred Beast Lurks in the Shadows
As we’ve come to expect from these Genki teaser videos, when a car gets announced, another gets teased at the end, so we’ve been left playing detective again. If you want to solve the puzzle yourself, don’t peek below!
Image credit: Genki | YouTube
It’s certainly not as easy to lift the shadows for an easy answer this time. But, looking closely, all signs hint at one of the most impressive modern performance cars – the Toyota GR Yaris.
The nippy powerhouse stunned the automotive world when it arrived, bringing incredible handling along with a 1.6-liter turbocharged inline-3 engine (the most powerful three-cylinder ever produced, no less). This helps the current 2025 model (Gen 2) achieve (up to) 296 horsepower and 296 lb-ft torque.
Based on the front bumper design, this TXR version appears to be the JDM-spec Gen 1 model, though, which delivered 268 horsepower and 295 lb-ft torque in stock form, primed for upgrades.
While the Z brings more power, the GR Yaris will likely offer pinpoint precision through traffic, dispatching its rivals with rapid-fire transitions.
An Unlikely Highway Racer, But We Love To See It
The GR Yaris leaves as all-wheel drive from the factory, making it an unlikely drifting candidate, and we’re yet to see one in Formula DRIFT USA.
However, across the ocean in Japan, the standout exception (again) comes from drifting legend Daigo Saito.
He successfully converted one to RWD for sideways action – with a 1,000+ horsepower 2JZ-GTE swap (of course!)
Image credit: Daigo Saito & HKS GR Yaris Shakedown | YouTube
The twitchy platform makes for epic viewing when thrown down at the track, similar to what we’ve enjoyed watching with Ryan Tuerck’s GR Corolla in Formula DRIFT.
Despite appearing much smaller, the GR Yaris surprisingly has a longer wheelbase than the Nissan Z, 2,560 mm (100.8 in) versus the Z’s 2,550 mm (100.4 in).
This is due to Toyota combining the front structure of its TNGA-B (Yaris) platform with the rear structure of the larger TNGA-C (Corolla) for added strength and rally-ready suspension geometry.
Admittedly, the Yaris isn’t typically known for its Wangan racing abilities, having focused primarily on (successfully) winning multiple WRC manufacturers’ and drivers’ championships since its debut.
However, the small, lightweight package with exceptional torque delivery should make for thrilling gameplay when using those rapid transition abilities to slip past rivals on the Tokyo highways!
After recent updates to Tokyo Xtreme Racer brought several highly-requested features from fans, there’s still plenty more to look forward to with the upcoming 1.0 release.
And no, before you ask, there’s still no Honda, PlayStation, or Xbox release confirmations yet.
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Bill is a writer and photographer who has been part of the Drifted team since 2015. His work extends to various print and online publications, including Wangan Warriors.
As part of the King of Nations team, he traveled extensively for several years, capturing top-tier international drift events worldwide. His hands-on experience, including rebuilding his own Nissan Silvia S15 drift car, gives him unique insights into drift car building and global drift culture.
When not behind the lens or keyboard, Bill can be found browsing classifieds for his next JDM project or shredding virtual tires on popular simulators like Assetto Corsa, CarX, and Forza.
You can learn more about Bill’s story here or follow his socials on X (formerly Twitter), Flickr, Facebook, and Instagram.
