Author Archives: Ben Hsu
Honda NSX interpreted by ItalDesign debuts at Tokyo Auto Salon
The Honda NSX that ItalDesign teased last September was shown at the Tokyo Auto Salon over the weekend. Turns out, the Giugiaro-founded design firm’s reimagining of the Japanese supercar is based on the NC1, the second-generation NSX, rather than the … Continue reading
Posted in Tokyo Auto Salon
Tagged 2009 tokyo auto salon, advan, honda, Italdesign, NC1, nsx
3 Comments
Nissan Fairlady Z gets a new nose and green paint code
Unveiled at the Tokyo Auto Salon, the facelifted Nissan Z finally addresses the car’s biggest design flaw. Its new nose gets rid of the large rectangular grille and replaces it with a sleek divided opening that’ makes it the best-looking … Continue reading
Honda goes heavy on heritage in Tokyo Auto Salon lineup
The headliner for Honda at the 2026 Tokyo Auto Salon is the Prelude, but the company really leaned into its history for much of its display. For example, this Civic e:HEV RS, which shares a powertrain with the Prelude, was … Continue reading
Posted in Tokyo Auto Salon
Tagged civic, Civic Type R, FL5, honda, Honda Heritage Parts, n-one, nsx, prelude, racing mate, SuperGT
4 Comments
Toyota 86 with pop-up headlights to debut at Tokyo Auto Salon
People love a pop-up headlight. What was once a compromise between aerodynamics and a lighting rules has become, like tailfins or stripe decal packages, a beloved marker of a bygone era. Updated laws and technology have made retractable headlights obsolete, … Continue reading
Is Akio Toyoda bringing a Toyota MR2 to the Tokyo Auto Salon?
Toyota has released an audio clip in which the big man himself, Akio Toyoda, suggests that he’s bringing a Toyota MR2 to the Tokyo Auto Salon. The soundbite, in which the chairman discusses a mid-engined sports car with an unnamed … Continue reading
Posted in Tokyo Auto Salon
5 Comments
Mitsubishi teases Pajero return with video touting rally history
New year is a time for renewal, and 2026 is starting off with a big declaration from Mitsubishi. On January 1 the company released a video teasing a new SUV. While it doesn’t explicitly state what that SUV is, the … Continue reading
Daihatsu Charade, Flying Feather, Nissan-Diesel Minsei inducted into Japan Automotive Hall of Fame
Each year the Japanese Automotive Hall of Fame inducts a selection of historic cars. Past examples have included iconic sports cars like the Toyota 2000GT and S30 Nissan Fairlady Z, or race cars like the Honda RA272 and Mazda 787B. … Continue reading
Happy New Year from JNC
The Japanese tradition for New Year is hatsuhinode, or first sunrise. It means getting up early to view the year’s first daybreak, representing hope, aspiration, and renewal. Many who observe the tradition travel up a mountain, to the coast, or … Continue reading
Posted in News
3 Comments
QotW: What’s your new year’s resolution for 2026?
It’s that time of year again. As one journey through the calendar ends and another begins, we are confronted with the unrelenting march of time. What will you accomplish in the next 365 days? Personally, I am finally going to … Continue reading
Posted in News
7 Comments
Happy Boxing Day from JNC
It’s Boxing Day in many parts of the world today, so we at JNC want to wish everyone who celebrates that holiday a happy one. What better way to commemorate the occasion than with a classic boxer-engined Subaru? The one … Continue reading
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from JNC
Seasons greetings from all of us at JNC! As we roll into the holiday season. We hope you get to spend time with cherished loved ones, both human and vehicular. If you’re traveling, may your roads be smooth and salt-free, … Continue reading
Nissan Automotive College students create a Skyline Silhouette and retro mash-ups for 2026 Tokyo Auto Salon
It’s almost time for the Tokyo Auto Salon, and that means students from Japan’s technical colleges are getting their projects ready for the show. Nissan Automobile Technical College usually turns out some fairly wild stuff, and this year is no … Continue reading
Posted in Tokyo Auto Salon
2 Comments
The first Mitsubishi Pajero to win the Paris-Dakar Rally has been restored
In 1985 Mitsubishi finished the seventh running of the Paris-Dakar Rally with a pair of Pajeros in a 1-2 sweep, becoming the first Japanese carmaker to win the event. The first place Pajero was immediately shipped to Mitsubishi’s collection in … Continue reading
Toyota has filed a GR MR2 trademark application with Japan’s patent office
Last week it was discovered that Toyota has applied for trademarks for the GR MR2 and GR MR-S names. There have been rumors of an MR2 revival swirling around for a couple of years, and Toyota has shown off a … Continue reading
Posted in News
6 Comments
Boring no more: Toyota unveils 2000GT, Lexus LFA successors
In a one-two punch that will reverberate though the ages, Toyota pulled the curtains off of two flagship supercars today. The birth of a Japanese supercar doesn’t come along very often, and in fact there have only been five since … Continue reading
Posted in News
Tagged akio toyoda, GR GT, hiromu naruse, lexus, lfa, Simon Humphries, toyota
12 Comments
Toyota 2000GT appears in teaser for its next supercar, and the location is an easter egg
On November 27 televisions in Japan began airing a commercial that teases Toyota’s next supercar. The spot opens with a Toyota 2000GT, followed by a Lexus LFA, followed by a sleek black sports car. The words “The Soul Lives On” … Continue reading
‘Pluribus’ offers compelling car options for an alien invasion apocalypse
If you need something to watch during this Thanksgiving holiday, the smash sci-fi series Pluribus set a new record as Apple TV’s most-viewed show. Though it takes place in Albuquerque, New Mexico, it’s a complete departure from Vince Gilligan’s previous … Continue reading
Honda S660 gathering sets ‘Largest Honda parade’ Guinness world record
Last week a meet for Honda S660 owners broke a Guinness world record. On November 15, 832 of the mid-engined kei cars gathered at Suzuka Circuit in Mie Prefecture and filed down the track. A Guinness adjudicator was on site … Continue reading
