It looks like replacement Hitachi coils are not created equal.
Some of them have big letter C molded on its side below part number:



I have not seen them on American market (unless someone got them from Rock Auto
The coils I bought in Autozone are looking like this:



All are made in Japan.
Is there any difference in performance/longevity?

 

You didn't show the part number on the boxes. Is it the same for both variations? Does the Hitachi part# you ordered end in 053?

The Hitachi coils we fitted on our '07 last fall had the part number (ending in 053) on top, on a sticker...

 

My coil has part number on the on the box and on the sticker (IGC0053); the coil itself has a serial number (or date code) and index 110M embossed on plastic.
At this point I could speculate that C marked-coils are for Japanese and European markets only

 

Meaning that they are made for the dual-sparkplug engines?

 

No, for 1.5 (perhaps without VVT) Aria and Airwave.