- Mid-engined Honda Z packs exotic layout beneath practical kei bodywork.
- Turbocharged three-cylinder sends power through standard all-wheel drive.
- Rare California-titled example in straight condition heads to virtual auction.
Many kei cars are interesting simply because they look hilariously tiny to those of us not living in Japan. But the 1999 Honda Z is interesting for a different, not immediately apparent reason. Because it shares its drivetrain layout with some of the world’s most exotic performance cars, and hides it under a regular hatchback body. And now one is up for grabs on Cars & Bids in the US.
At first glance, the Z looks like a perfectly ordinary Japanese city car. It’s tall, boxy, and about as supercar-like as a washing machine. But appearances can be deceiving. Hidden beneath the rear seats is a turbocharged 656 cc three-cylinder engine sending power to all four wheels through a four-speed automatic transmission.
Yes, it’s mid-engined, turbo’d, and AWD, just like a Ferrari 849 Testarossa or Bugatti Chiron. Only quite a bit slower.
A Supercar Layout With A Kei Car Pedigree
Photos Cars & Bids
Honda called the setup UM-4, short for Under Midship 4WD. Rather than stuffing the engine under the hood, engineers tucked it ahead of the rear axle. This was probably more down to expediency than dreams of delivering exotic car-like handling: the Z shared a lot of hardware with Honda’s also mid-engined Acty kei trucks and vans.
Related: This $21K Mini Chevy K5 Blazer Is Actually A 64-HP Suzuki Jimny
The unusual layout helped create a flat floor, improved interior packaging – there’s a conventional rear trunk and a small cubby in the nose – and delivered near-perfect 50:50 weight distribution. And just to make the whole package even more bizarre, Honda hired bearded rock legends ZZ Top to star in the commercial.
Inspired By A 1970s Micro Classic
Photos Cars & Bids
The Z was introduced in 1998 as a revival of Honda’s classic Z nameplate from the early 1970s, a car which was briefly sold in the US as the Z600. Turbo models got the maximum 63 hp (64 PS) allowed under kei regulations, while all-wheel drive came standard. Sadly, the only transmission available was a four-speed auto.
Also: Subaru’s Cheapest New Car Is A $7,200 Kei Van With Three Pedals
What The Auction Car Brings To The Table
Cars & Bids’ California-based example shows 84,500 km (52,600 miles). Finished in silver over a gray and blue interior, it comes equipped with air conditioning, power windows, folding rear seats, and a few period-correct accessories, including a JVC CD changer and radio-controlled clock.
The listing notes a cracked windshield, cosmetic blemishes, some interior wear, and minor underbody corrosion, so it’s not museum-grade perfect. But it wears its 27 years well, and if you’re looking for one of the strangest engineering exercises Honda ever approved, it’s hard to imagine a better conversation starter. Check out the full listing here.
